The first to drive cross the Darién Gap by land, Loren Upton was a rare example of an adventurer. This is the story of his life’s goal — a drive around the world from north to south and back up again.
An overlanding and adventure driving legend has died. Loren Upton was in the first team to cross the Darién Gap by land and drove around the world on a north-south course, part of a journey that would take more than 40 years to complete. Upton is survived by his wife, son, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter. He was 87.
Born in Southern California in 1935, Upton joined the Marine Corps in 1952 and served for 4 years. Following an honorable discharge, Upton began a career in bridge and highway construction — experiences that provided the challenge he needed in his life and that helped build the skills needed to head to some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world. And then, drive across it.
The Goal: Be First to Circumnavigate by Land in an American Vehicle
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Like many of us, Loren was fascinated by tales of the world’s great explorers: their goals, their journeys, and their stories.
To put his own mark on the world, Upton set a life goal of becoming the first person to circumnavigate the globe in an American-made vehicle.
If that wasn’t enough of a challenge, Upton’s plan meant doing it from north to south. That’s tip to tip of North and South America, followed by the bottom of South Africa to Norway. That’s a massively longer route than the east-west drive around the globe. Forget around the world in 80 days, just one single mile of this trip took almost 30 years.
It would take Upton multiple attempts to pull off the route. The first started in June of 1975, when he left his home in Death Valley driving a 1972 Ford F-250 and headed north to the Atlantic Ocean, intending to follow the Pan-American highway south. The Darién Gap would stop this first adventure attempt.
The Gap That Would Be Nearly Impassable
The Darién Gap is one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet. The 125-mile stretch separates Panama from Colombia and is covered with thick jungle, rugged mountains, and a vast swamp. To this day, no roads cross The Gap. Anyone else trying to pass takes a boat around instead.
The first attempt ended when a member of the team was shot and killed in The Gap while Upton was away from the group.
In 1977, Upton set off again behind the wheel of a CJ-7 Jeep. With this smaller vehicle, he was able to cross The Gap in 49 days, though floating the Jeep on dug-out canoes for a short section meant he didn’t consider it an all-land crossing.
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Finally, Success in The Gap
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South Africa Beckons
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The Haunting Mile
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Another Attempt at Completion
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