FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jack Klobucar
For Forward Expeditions
(952) 925-9566 office
(952) 292-8331 mobile

HISTORIC EXPEDITION SPRINTS TO REACH THE POLE BEFORE THE LAST FLIGHT OUT DEPARTS

Adventurers Forego Sleep As Deadline Looms

Minneapolis, Minn. (8 a.m. April 24, 2009) - Forward Expeditions LLC announced today that John Huston and Tyler Fish will now have to ski, snowshoe and possibly swim 28 nautical miles in approximately 50 hours to reach the North Pole by Sunday morning, April 26. Huston and Fish are on Day 53 of their historic Victorinox® North Pole '09 Expedition, and the Russian base that has agreed to fly them out from the Pole is closing on Sunday due to deteriorating sea ice conditions. If they have not reached the Pole by that deadline, the flight will pick them up where they are - even though that might be just a few miles from their goal.

Huston, from Chicago, Ill. and Fish, from Ely, Minn., are striving to become the first Americans to complete an unsupported ski trek to the North Pole - what is widely regarded as the toughest trek on the planet. They began their Expedition on March 2 from the northern tip of Ellesmere Island, and since that time they have received no outside assistance such as airdrops or re-supplies. Instead, Huston and Fish have carried and pulled along with them all of the gear, food, cooking fuel and navigational equipment they needed for the two-month trek - more than 650 pounds in all. In recent days, very strong winds created a negative drift of sea ice, which put them on a conveyor of sorts, moving them further from the Pole whenever they stopped to rest or eat. Over the last 24 hours the winds have subsided, and this steady, purposeful Expedition has now gone into sprint mode with the Team alternating 12-hours of skiing with two-hour naps. Huston and Fish reckon they have just enough food and cooking fuel to get them to Sunday morning, and they will keep this pace up until they reach the Pole or their evacuation flight, whichever comes first.

Huston and Fish have undertaken this challenge to raise awareness and funds for CaringBridge®, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization that creates supportive online communities for people facing serious medical conditions. Those wishing to follow the progress of the Expedition over the next 48 hours can visit northpole09.com, or the Victorinox web site: northpole.swissarmy.com. Those interested in supporting CaringBridge through the Victorinox North Pole '09 expedition initiative are encouraged to visit firstgiving.com/northpole09, where they can make a tax-deductible financial donation.

About Forward Expeditions LLC
Forward Expeditions is a values-based company founded by Huston and Fish for the purpose of using ambitious wilderness expeditions to inspire people to embrace challenge with optimism, humility and responsible action. The Victorinox North Pole '09 expedition receives major support from Victorinox/Swiss Army, DeLorme, and Bergans of Norway. For more information visit www.northpole09.com.

About CaringBridge
CaringBridge® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering free personalized Web sites to those wishing to stay in touch with family and friends when facing a serious medical condition, treatment or recovery. For more information visit www.CaringBridge.org.

About Victorinox
Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Victorinox, A.G., is the exclusive United States, Canadian and Caribbean marketer of VICTORINOX multi-tools, forged cutlery, and LED lighting products; VICTORINOX SWISS ARMY timepieces, and R.H. FORSCHNER BY VICTORINOX cutlery. It sells apparel throughout the world under the VICTORINOX trademark and has flagship retail stores in New York and Tokyo. Under license from Victorinox A.G., the Company sublicenses the VICTORINOX trademark and the famous Victorinox Cross and Shield to selected manufacturers and distributors of fine products including VICTORINOX TRAVEL GEAR. The company Web site is located at www.swissarmy.com. Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc. is based in Monroe, CT. "VICTORINOX," the famous Victorinox Cross and Shield, and "SWISS ARMY" are trademarks owned by Victorinox AG and its affiliates and are registered in many countries.