'Dead sea to death zone' Lancashire explorer prepares for his most ambitious challenge yet
“This is about more than reaching the top of the world.”
Lancashire adventurer, TV personality and Army Cadets national ambassador Jordan Wylie is preparing an ambitious expedition that will see him travel from the lowest point on Earth to the highest.
The Xtreme Everest – Dead Sea to Death Zone project will take Jordan from the Dead Sea, which is 430m below sea level, across land and sea to Nepal, to a 2028 summit attempt of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak at 8,848m above sea level.
Along the way, 10 Army Cadets from across the UK will join him for a fully-funded trek to Everest Base Camp – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity designed to build confidence and resilience.
The expedition will raise funds for the Army Cadet charitable Trust UK (ACCT UK), supporting wider access to life-changing experiences for cadets nationwide.
Best known as one of the Hunters on Channel 4’s Hunted and Celebrity Hunted, Jordan’s latest expedition goes beyond endurance with a clear mission to inspire young people and expand access to opportunity.
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“This is about more than reaching the top of the world,” said Jordan, who grew up in Blackpool and was awarded the MBE in 2023 for services to charity and education in the UK and overseas.
“It’s about helping others realise what they’re capable of. We will be opening the doors to opportunity for those young people from the most challenging backgrounds and some of the hardest to reach areas across the UK.”
One army cadet from each UK region including Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – will be selected to join the expedition in Nepal.
The cadets will be participating in the Basecamp trek but will not be climbing Everest.
Their journey will include a fully-funded trek from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp, hands-on experience of a world-class expedition environment and opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, and resilience skills.
The wider cadet community will also be able to follow the expedition through educational content, leadership lessons and behind the scenes access, bringing the journey to life across the UK.
The expedition also aims to challenge common misconceptions around the Army Cadets – highlighting that it is not a recruitment pathway into the Army, but a youth organisation focused on personal development, skills, and opportunity.
Over the next two years, Jordan will be undertaking extensive training in the UK, Alps, and Himalayas.
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The entire journey will be documented through a dedicated YouTube series, with bi-weekly episodes capturing every stage of the expedition – from preparation to the final ascent.
Xtreme Everest is supported by headline partner Dyno-Rod, following their successful collaboration with Wylie’s Antarctica expedition last year, while additional support comes from Wainwrights Chemist and The Ulysses Trust.