Going to Extremes with Mark Jenkins Episodes

Stories of adventure with Mark Jenkins is a production of Wyoming Public Media 2025.

New episodes will be released every other week

A stone plaque with an engraving of a spider web and the words "Community is the Source of the World" at the top.
A smiling elderly man with a muscular build standing waist-deep in a body of water, wearing black swim trunks, surrounded by green trees and reflecting sunlight.

Season 3, Episode 10: Deportation

Deportation. This is a story about solace. Kuningas, a Lithuanian cyclist who I met on the shores of Lake Baikal while bicycling across Siberia. The Solace family was deported to Siberia. So this is also a cautionary tale about the horror and depravity of deportation in an authoritarian regime. Everyone loses their freedom eventually.

Season 3

A person in winter clothing is kneeling on snow, filling a water bottle from a hole in the ice while on skis.
Aerial view of a mountainous landscape with two blue alpine lakes, surrounded by rocky terrain and snow patches, extending into distant hills and valleys.
Person standing outdoors near a small pile of rocks with a mountain range in the background, holding a trekking pole and waving.
Climber ascending a steep rock face wearing a helmet, harness, and gloves, with a landscape of rocky terrain below.

Season 2

A man standing next to a large white sphere at the Tropic of Cancer sign in Mexico during sunset, with bricks in the background.
A man rock climbing outdoors at night, wearing a pink bandana, blue jacket, and harness, holding onto climbing equipment.

Season 2, Episode 8 - El Vedauvoo

One man made me a rock climber: Layne Kopishka. He was my high school swim coach and a P.E. instructor who taught young athletes how to climb on the granite walls of Vedauwoo, in southeastern Wyoming. He pushed us to become more than we were, and in the process, made us what we are today.

A person ice climbing on a frozen waterfall in a snowy landscape.

Season 2, Episode 7 - Guerillas in the Mist - Rwenzori

We all have a place we dream about. We have visited it without ever having set foot there. For me, that place was the Mountains of the Moon, the Rwenzoris, in western Uganda. I dreamed about it for years: the massive glaciers on the equator, the hypertrophic plants, the constant rain, and impenetrable mist. But it was only after I’d learned that global warming was radically altering these mountains that I bought a plane ticket I went there.

Women wearing traditional clothing and hair ornaments walking past stacks of colorful textiles at a marketplace.

Season 2, Episode 6 - The Bike Messenger

 I had failed on another Himalayan expedition and felt lost. I took a bus from Lhasa north into the heart of Tibet. I wanted to get a pony but ended up getting a bicycle.

An old two-story brick hotel with a sign that reads 'Tibooburra Hotel' at night, illuminated by warm yellow lighting, with a dark blue sky in the background.
A man walking alone on a dirt road in a barren, flat landscape under a clear blue sky.
A historical plaque mounted on a stone wall, commemorating William John Wills, second-in-command of the Burke & Wills expedition, born in Totnes, Devon, England in 1834, died near that location around June 29, 1861. The plaque was erected by the passengers of a Rover Charter Tour in March 1973.
A small brown deer and two insects near the water's edge on muddy ground.
A dirt road in a desert landscape with three cows crossing, under a clear blue sky.
Close-up of a carved stone with wavy lines, set within a textured stone frame.
Mountaineer dressed in yellow gear on snowy peak with mountain range and blue sky in background.
A group of mountaineers, dressed in colorful gear, climbing a snowy slope in a high-altitude, icy environment with tents visible in the background.
Snow-covered mountain peaks with rocky ridges and clouds in the background.
A person hiking along a trail next to a lake with mountains in the background during a clear day.

Episode 11: Lost and Found

Lost and found. This story is about being lost in the wilderness, and the methods used for staying calm and finding your way out. No one dies from being lost. People die when they panic and make bad decisions. This story is about how to make good decisions in a bad situation.

A young girl with long brown hair, smiling, sitting on a rock, equipped with climbing gear, including harnesses and carabiners, outdoors on a rocky surface.

Season1, Episode 2 - Everest - The Madness and the Macabre

Today's story is about my two expeditions to Mount Everest and how it has changed from a worthy mountaineering goal to nothing more than a trophy.

Season1, Episode 3 - Fame & Glory

Today's story is about Australian explorers who perished in the outback because of their arrogance, ignorance, and hubris.

A climber resting on a snow-capped mountain summit with mountain ranges and clouds in the background. The climber wears a blue jacket, dark pants, and sunglasses, and is sitting amidst climbing equipment including crampons, axes, and a summit marker.
Volcanic landscape with steep, rocky, and ash-covered slopes, emitting steam and gases, with clouds and fog in the background.
A man with a cigarette in his mouth wearing a dark coat and hat, smiling while holding onto a bicycle with a large red bag attached to it. The background features a stone wall, some miscellaneous objects, and a foggy, rural setting.
Back to Top
An elderly man with a gray beard and long gray hair, wearing a beige shirt and brown coat, is standing outdoors in a busy area. He has a multicolored headband and appears to be holding a small, ornate metallic container on a stick.

Season1, Episode 4 - A Real Mountain Man - Ginge Fullen

Today's story is about the most successful mountaineer in the world who is utterly unknown.

Silhouette of a person with a backpack and headlamp standing inside a cave, with a bright opening revealing trees and mountainous terrain outside.
Two hikers sitting on a large rock at the mountain summit, smiling and giving thumbs up, with mountains, a partly cloudy sky, and distant peaks in the background.
A person rock climbing on a steep cliff face, wearing climbing gear including a helmet, harness, and backpack.

Season 3, Episode 9 - Right in your own Backyard

Right in your own backyard. It is a mistake to think of adventure as something that takes place somewhere far away. Nepal or Namibia? The Congo or Cambodia? I admit to having done my fair share of foreign expeditions, but many of my favorite trips have been accomplished right here in my backyard. This story tells the tale of three low cost, high value micro expeditions I did in the Rockies.

A man on horseback and a woman kneeling on the ground in a desert landscape with leafless trees. The woman is pointing to a large map on the ground, while a black dog sits nearby and watches.
Man with sunglasses and a colorful beanie smiling for a selfie at Alexander Peak, which is 16,703 feet high, above sea level.
Close-up of a young girl with dirt and dust on her face, wearing a rugged jacket, looking to the right with a concerned expression.
The image shows the interior of a large cave with a wide opening letting in sunlight. There are two small figures of people standing among rocks on the cave floor, illuminated by the light.

Season 2, Episode 5 - The Largest Cave on Earth - Vietnam Cave

Today's story is about the first descent of the largest cave in the world. Hong Kong Dong, located deep inside Vietnam.

Season 1

Snow-covered mountain peaks at sunset with a partly cloudy sky.
Group of climbers ascending snowy mountain with rugged peaks in background.
Man wearing a red and black jacket sitting by a stone wall, holding a black mug, with snowy mountain peaks in the background.
Woman in traditional colorful attire with layered necklaces and head wrap, standing outdoors.
A mountain climber on a snowy and icy mountain slope, wearing gear including goggles and a backpack, surrounded by steep snow and ice-covered rocks.
Two men in outdoor hiking gear taking a selfie in front of a rocky cave or formation."
A person wearing a helmet and climbing gear ascending a rock face inside a cave with textured, brownish walls.
Sunlight streaming into a dark cave or cavern, illuminating moss-covered rocks inside.
A person lying on a rocky mountain slope with snow, wearing climbing gear and a jacket with a red cross emblem.
Mountaineers climbing a snow-covered mountain peak with blue sky in the background.
Person climbing a large rock formation outdoors, wearing a blue and red jacket, camouflage pants, and black gloves, with a cloudy sky in the background.
A man is crawling through a small cave or crevice among rocks, smiling at the camera with a bandage on his arm and a hiking stick nearby.
A man in caving gear, including a helmet and protective clothing, is underground inside a narrow, muddy cave passage, holding a camera or flashlight, with climbing equipment attached to his harness.
View from inside a large cave looking out towards a green forest and bright sky, with two small people standing near a small body of water.
Two children sitting outdoors on a mountain landscape, eating snacks. The child on the left wears a purple jacket and blue hat, and the child on the right wears a blue jacket and a red and blue hat. Snow-capped mountains and evergreen trees are in the background.

Season1, Episode 1 - Coach - Iron in the Blood

Today's story is about the man who taught me how to rock, climb and life lessons from the mouths of babes.

A man wearing a red jacket, white gloves, and a yellow helmet with a headlamp is exploring a dark cave.
A young mountain goat kid standing on rocky ground with a white coat, black nose, and upright ears, and an adult goat with curled horns grazing nearby.
A male rock climber with a colorful headscarf, blue jacket, and beige pants, sitting against a rock wall while holding a large metal tool, with climbing equipment attached to his harness.
Two men standing next to each other outdoors near a window with black iron bars, on a white wall, with bright sunlight.
A person wearing a helmet and harness climbs a narrow crack in large granite rock formation.
Two men hugging, one holding a box of Jungle Oats, with one man wearing a yellow hat and jacket, the other wearing a colorful sweater.
A man in a red jacket, helmet, and outdoor gear inside an ice cave with icy walls and floor.
Two men riding a bicycle together down a dirt road, with one man carrying a large backpack. The background shows a few other cyclists and rustic buildings.
A man sitting on rocks outdoors, wearing a blue shirt, black pants, and black boots, with a large blue backpack on his back, and a yellow head covering, in a rural or forested setting.
A man and a girl rock climbing on a large rock face together, both smiling and wearing climbing gear.
A climber with a red backpack and yellow gloves ascending a steep rocky slope on a mountain.
Mountain with reddish and gray rock formations, some patches of snow at the base, under a pale sky.
A person riding a bicycle along a rural road with green trees and yellow fields in the background, under a clear blue sky.
Two people climbing a steep rock face with safety gear and ropes.
A woman climbing or rappelling on a steep rock face, wearing sunglasses, a white visor, and a pink shirt, holding onto climbing gear.
A young girl in a colorful tie-dye shirt climbing in a narrow rocky crevice, smiling at the camera, with climbing gear and a white plush toy bear hanging nearby.