John Blashford-Snell
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Colonel John Nicholas Blashford-Snell OBE (born 22 October 1936) is a British army officer and explorer.
John Blashford-Snell was educated at Victoria College, Jersey and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, then commissioned into the Royal Engineers.
Amongst his expeditions have been the first descent of the Blue Nile (in 1968); a north–south journey from Alaska to Cape Horn with the first vehicular crossing of the Darién Gap (in 1971 to 1972); and a complete navigation of the Congo River (in 1974 to 1975).
In 1978 he established Operation Drake, which later developed into Operation Raleigh, an educational initiative for young people, of which he is Director General.
He was awarded the Segrave Trophy in 1974.
He is an enthusiast for Jowett Jupiter cars, having owned one for the years 1957 - 8.
In 2006 Blashford-Snell helped the London hatmakers James Lock to design a hat especially to meet the needs of explorers (as reported by Country Life under the headline, "Hats off to Blashers", 29 June 2006).
His publications include an autobiography, Something Lost Behind the Ranges (1994). Since 2001 he has been the Hon. Life President of the Centre for Fortean Zoology.
