Mike Horn set sail from Ushuaia in Argentina on the first stage of his epic journey to Antarctica. His route will take him through Australia, China, Russia, to the North Pole, then across Canada, North America and South America and back to Argentina. (Photo credit: web: zar.co.za)
Mike Horn departed for his first ever trek to the South Pole 38 days ago from Hercules Inlet on the northern coastline of Antarctica. Laden with 196kgs, including 80 days of food and equipment, Mike is gradually ascending onto the Antarctic plateau. The head-on winds, deep snow and unrelenting ascent has made the trek very challenging but Mike continues to advance at a steady pace and remains in good spirits.
Mike Horn says: “It's interesting to reach the South Pole after having also trekked to the North Pole. The differences are numerous. I am delighted to be joined by Borge Ousland and two Young Explorers, sharing the pleasure of exploration and challenge with the younger generation. It's a magical environment and one we must appreciate and preserve for the future.”
In October 2008, the Pangaea team along with Mike Horn, successfully completed the first YEP (Young Explorers Program) Expedition taking six young international explorers to Antarctica. An additional two YEP candidates, Clémence Cadario (20 yrs, France) and Nicolas Valdivieso
(18 yrs, Chile), are now preparing to ski the last degree to the South Pole. Along with Norwegian explorer Borge Ousland, Clémence and Nicolas will acclimatize at Patriot Hills for several days before joining Mike on the ice. In mid January the team will unite with the lone explorer, share some invaluable days in his company and bring home the important message about beauties of the continents and the importance of the protection of our planet.
Meanwhile, the Mike Horn Team in Switzerland, is preparing to meet with 16 international young adults for the Second Training Camp in Château-d’Oex, Switzerland.
The selected candidates are:
Africa
South Africa: Daniel Maidment, 14
Asia
China: Jun Lee, 17
Russia: Alisa Baranskaya, 20
Europe
Germany: Simon Straetker, 15, Philipp Griedl, 20
Belgique: Annelies Vanherck, 16
Bulgaria: Vesela Manolova, 19
France: Lisève Fierens, 17
Poland: Zofia Drapella, 17
Spain : Gerd Coenen Gajardo, 19, Pilar Orti Lopez, 19
Switzerland: Raphael Gabella, 19, Claire Von Siebenthal, 19
UK (Swiss living in UK): Baptiste Glassey, 16
North America
Canada: Maxime Thibault-Le Blanc, 17
USA: Andrew Lynch, 18
These 16 youths (representing 13 nationalities and 4 continents) were chosen from the international pool of young adults, who applied through www.mikehorn.com to join the Pangaea Expedition. On the 11th of January the young adults will meet for the first time at the Mike Horn Expedition Centre in Château-d'Oex, situated in the swiss pre-alps. The camp will last for 10-days and the Young Explorers will undergo various exercises including the renowned Pangaea overnight raid. Upon completion of the camp a second selection process will take place and the Mike Horn Team, trained guides and together with the results of the various physical and mental endurance tests provided by the Mayo Clinic, will select eight young adults. These eight young adults will become YEP ambassadors and gain the unique opportunity to join Mike Horn himself on an expedition in the Fiordlands of the South Island, New Zealand, in May 2009 aboard Pangaea.
The selection camp in Switzerland includes intensive courses on technology, environmental, physical, medical and communication skills - each of these qualities an important step in preparing the YEP participants to meet the challenges of the expedition on the terrain and to communicate their experience to their peers around the world.
The training camp will be opened with a visit of the Group E energy plant in Broc, Switzerland. As Technical Performance Partner to the Pangaea Expedition, Group E and their innovative team, will complete the tour with a discussion concerning renewable energies and approches towards a sustainable future. Any journalists who would be interested to join our YEP group on their Groupe E tour are asked to please contact the Mike Horn offices.
PRESS
All journalists interested to know more about Mike Horn’s South Pole expedition or who would like to meet the young explorers and find out more about YEP and the Pangaea Expedition are invited to contact our press office or join the Mike Horn team in Chateau-d’Oex, Switzerland throughout the week 11-21 January.
A press conference will be held in the Hotel de Ville (Place Centrale, Château-d’Oex) on the 21st of January at 10h00.
www.mikehorn.com
Pangaea Press Office
info@mikehorn.com
+41 (026) 9243725
PANGAEA FACTS
EXPLORE - LEARN - ACT
Throughout his journey, employing YEP (the Young Explorers Program), young adults aged between 13-20, from every continent will be invited to join Mike Horn on various stages of his four-year expedition. These young adults will act as ambassadors by sharing and communicating their experience with others. They will be encouraged to bring their new visions, emotions and knowledge and to lobby other young adults throughout the world.
With specialists from various educational institutions and with the expertise of local guides, the young adults will learn about the flora and fauna and the cultures and traditions of the places they visit. While discovering nature, they will be helped to understand important environmental issues that affect the world today.
Environmental projects will be established in the countries that Mike Horn visits. Among the problems which will be focused upon are:
Water Projects – emphasizing the need to study and monitor the oceans, their bio-diversity and the impact humans have on them. The projects will also engage in ocean clean-ups, debris removal and the cleaning of coastlines and water sources.
Biodiversity Projects – studying, understanding and appreciating flora and fauna, and the importance of a balanced ecosystem, with roadmaps as to how to achieve these.
Social Community Projects – aiding and educating local communities on optimizing water supplies in villages, improving sanitary and hygiene conditions and becoming self-sustainable from an environmental perspective.
The Pangaea Expedition started on October the 18th when Mike Horn set sail from Ushuaia in Argentina on the first stage of his epic journey to Antarctica. His route will take him through Australasia, China, Russia, to the North Pole, then across Canada, North America and South America and back to Argentina.
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