Welcome to the first newsletter of the North Pole '09 expedition project. In March, 2009 we (John Huston and Tyler Fish) will attempt to be the first Americans to ski unsupported from northern Canada to the North Pole. Unsupported means that we will receive no outside assistance once the expedition begins, no resupplies, no sled dogs, no airplane drops. This expedition will be completely self-reliant, 2 men, 4 sleds and over 520 pounds of food, fuel and equipment. Skiing from Canada to the North Pole has been called the hardest trek on the planet.
Motivated by those who have inspired us and by our lifelong passion for education we will use the expedition as a captivating vehicle to inspire people to embrace challenge with optimism, humility and responsible action.
Over the past 6 months we have been working hard to grow our expedition project by partnering with organizations and individuals who share our values. The project has quickly grown from its infancy to include our charity partner CaringBridge, as well as a climate-change education program, several expedition-based research projects and a quickly expanding group of major expedition sponsors. Our website www.northpole09.com features in-depth information on all aspects of the project, photo and video galleries and our recently launched weekly expedition journal or blog.
During the expedition, late February 2009 through late April 2009, we will send daily text, photo and audio dispatches from the ice to www.northpole09.com via satellite phone.
We approach this immense challenge with value-based decision making and the realization that expeditionary success is directly linked to preparation and experience.
Over the past few years we have skied over 2500 miles in the polar regions. Most notably John completed a 72-day expedition on the Greenland ice cap in 2005 and this past winter he led a 720-mile, 57-day ski expedition to the South Pole. Our expedition preparations include intense mental and physical training and close consultation with the most successful polar explorers in the world. We strongly believe in honoring those who have gone before and in building on their successful (and in many cases little known) approaches to extreme challenge.
This expedition is truly a team effort. Knowing that this project was made possible by the generosity and support from people like you gives us a significant mental boost while we are on the ice.
North Pole '09 is a values-based expedition that strives to inspire people to embrace challenge. Our values of optimism, humility and responsible action represent who we are as people, how we interact with others and how we approach seemingly insurmountable challenges. If you identify with our mission, then consider being a part of our team by making a contribution.
We accept tax-deductible and non-tax-deducible contributions.
Choose a contribution level
Contribution levels:
$ contribution
Contributors receive:
1. Inspiration (It all starts with a spark)
Up to $100
Your name listed on our website and in newsletters, name entered in raffle for a Bergans of Norway fleece
2. Optimism (Belief in positive potentials)
$250
All of the above + Expedition T-Shirt
3. Humility (Adaptability, modesty)
$500
All of the above + Signed Expedition Photo + Victorinox/Swiss Army Multi-tool
4. Responsible Action (Action with regard to impact)
$1000
All of the above + Victorinox/SwissArmy Watch + Bergans of Norway fleece
5. Leadership Circle
$5000 and above
All of the above + DeLorme GPS + Bergans of Norway outerwear jacket with expedition patches, Invitation to January 2009 send off party in Chicago and to May 2009 Expedition Wrap Party in Oslo, Norway
Contribute a Gift or Assist with Networking: Do you have goods, services or contacts that can support the North Pole '09 project? You also can contribute products of financial value or donate stocks and bonds.Contact Us
CaringBridge our charity partner, a unprecedented partnership with limitless potential.
CaringBridge.org provides free, personalized websites that support and connect loved ones during critical illness, treatment and recovery.The Minnesota-based charity is a major internet success story. Founded in 1997, two weeks after the first blog was ever posted, CaringBridge is the largest charitable nonprofit website in the world, featuring over 100 new websites per day, over 20,000,000 unique visitors per year and is in use in all but two of the world's countries.The goal of the service is to ease the burden of keeping friends and family updated, while also providing a way for them to send their love, support and encouragement. The CaringBridge North Pole '09 partnership is founded on strong philosophical similarities and a shared recognition of people's optimistic capacity to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. CaringBridge will feature North Pole '09 on its website and use the expedition as a vehicle to raise awareness of and funds for CaringBridge. Expect more information about the CaringBridge/North Pole '09 pledge drive in the coming months.
Partnerships with companies rich in tradition, innovation and craft
Three leading outdoor equipment companies have signed on as major expedition sponsors: Victorinox/Swiss Army and Bergans of Norway have both been making quality products for over 100 years and have thriving international distributions. DeLorme, of Maine, has been a mapping industry leader for over thirty years.
Victorinox/Swiss Armyis our official expedition timekeeper and provider of multi-tools. The Victorinox/Swiss Army Mission: Our effort to provide consumers around the world with functional and practical high-quality products at affordable prices gives our lives deeper meaning and adds joy and satisfaction to our work. The Victorinox Swiss Army Knife is over 100 Years Old. Over 34,000 of these pocket tools with the distinctive Swiss cross leave the factory in central Switzerland each day. Victorinox/Swiss Army manufactures classically styled watches with Swiss quality and durability at an accessible price. Victorinox/Swiss Army's absolute commitment to environmental and social responsibility throughout all aspects of manufacturing and employee experience have made it a leader in sustainable industry.
DeLormeis our official GPS sponsor. DeLorme has been directly responsible for many of the major technological advances made in the mapping industry over the past 30 years. Widely known as the maker of the Gazateer Atlases, DeLorme now engineers the most state-of-the-art GPS on the market. The newly-released, high-performance GPS PN-40 is the first hand-held receiver capable of displaying DeLorme software maps and Aerial Data Packets. John Huston navigated to the South Pole this past winter using the DeLorme PN-20 GPS.
Bergans of Norway is our official clothing and equipment sponsor. Bergans is the largest outdoor equipment company in Norway and one of the largest in Europe. Bergans's philosophy has always been to provide functional equipment of the highest quality. By 1912 explorers like Roald Amundsen, Robert F. Scott and Ernest Shackelton all were using Bergans packs. Product testing is extensive and performed in close cooperation with all categories of users - from the ordinary man and woman to extreme users on expeditions where the equipment's functionality and durability is challenged to the end.
Who may identify with our values and mission? if so, send them this newsletter and encourage them to join the team.
Who work for companies who may identify with our mission and values, or make products that could be used on the expedition? If you can connect them to us, these folks may link to potential expedition sponsors.
Who can host an evening to the North Pole '09 fund raising event? Invite your friends to your home or another location with a presentation and discussion by John or Tyler as the entertainment. You provide the venue, a bit of food and drink and round up the guests. John or Tyler provides everything needed for the entertainment as well as invitations, if you need them. For more information on how to set this up, contact us. It's easy.
When you trudge up and down North Avenue beach, dragging five SUV tires behind you, you tend to attract gawkers.
"They say, 'It's easier to roll the tires, you know,' " said the tire-dragger, John Huston, 32.
"They say, 'Where'd you get those? Off my car?' Or, 'What did you do to your wife? Are you being punished?' "
The truth, if the wise guys would stop and listen, is more amazing than the sight of Huston dragging tires.
He and his friend in Minnesota are training to become the first Americans to trek to the North Pole from land -- unsupported. That means no food waiting along the way. No helicopter to take them halfway. No dogs.
It's just two guys on cross-country skis dragging sleds for 475 miles over 55 days in temperatures that could drop to 60 below.
That's why Huston is dragging the 45-pound tires -- to simulate the two sleds he'll pull. On days when he trains for endurance, he drags five tires for up to four hours. On sprint-training days, it's two tires for short bursts.
Chicago Beach Boy, John pulling tires on North Ave. Beach. Photo by Matt Taplinger.
Our Mission: Forward Expeditions uses ambitious wilderness expeditions to inspire people to embrace challenge with optimism, humility and responsible action.
In this issue:
Letter from the Expedition Team
Fund-raising Campaign
Partners and Sponsors
How you can help network
In the News, Video
Photo of the Month
Upcoming Events/Presentations:
Oct 25, Outdoor Camping Expo, Ely, MN -- Tyler
Oct 29, St. Michael-Albertville Middle School, St. Michael MN -- Tyler
Oct 29, Fieldstone Elementary School, St. Michael, MN -- Tyler
Oct 29, Big Woods Elementary School, St. Michael, MN -- Tyler
Oct 30, St. Michael-Albertville High School, Albertvilee, MN -- Tyler
Oct 30, St. Michael Elementary School, St. Michael, MN -- Tyler
Oct 30, Energy Solutions, San Fransisco, CA -- John
Welcome to the first newsletter of the North Pole '09 expedition project. In March, 2009 we (John Huston and Tyler Fish) will attempt to be the first Americans to ski unsupported from northern Canada to the North Pole. Unsupported means that we will receive no outside assistance once the expedition begins, no resupplies, no sled dogs, no airplane drops. This expedition will be completely self-reliant, 2 men, 4 sleds and over 520 pounds of food, fuel and equipment. Skiing from Canada to the North Pole has been called the hardest trek on the planet.
