'Polartec Challenge 2001' expeditions

All the 'Polartec Challenge' projects for 2001

April 2001

Some expeditions have departed already, others will leave in the next few months; the 18 Polartec Challenge 2001 award recipients, announced last October at Banff, Canada are either busy preparing for their adventures or have just returned from far-flung corners. Selected by an international and highly qualified jury, the expeditions are supported with funds totalling $75,000.

A list of the 2001 Polartec Challenge expeditions is published below. These projects range from high-altitude mountaineering to long sea kayak traverses. They have the following characteristics in common: exploratory, original and innovative, they all respect the local culture and environment.

Arctic: A 6,200 mile arctic crossing
Giles Elkaim, France (15.10.2000 - 30.09.2001)
This trip proposes to link the North Cape to the Bering Strait by kayak, ski and reindeer sledge. Elkaim will travel over 6,200 miles solo. If successful, this would be the first arctic crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Walk/Ski Solo Traverse of the Canadian Rockies
Kanya Tanaka, Japan (01.11.2000 - 01.06.2001)
The goal is to traverse 2200 km solo in winter traveling from Waterton Lakes National Park north to Summit Lake in northern British Columbia.

Makalu - K2 in Winter 2000 - 2002
Krzysztof Wielicki, Poland (23.11.2000 - 15.02.2002)
In winter 2000, Wielicki will lead a national team to climb Makalu, followed by K2 in 2002. This would complete the overall project to ascend the five highest peaks in winter; Wielicki has already topped Everest (1980), Kanchenjunga (1986) and Lhotse (1988 - solo) in winter.

Antarctic Peninsula Sea Kayak Expedition
Graham Charles, New Zealand (15.12.2000 - 17.02.2001)
An ambitious trip to kayak the open water length of the Antarctic Peninsula. Beginning in Hope Bay in the north, this is the longest self supported sea kayak expedition in southern waters.

Ecuador 2001 A River Odyssey
Matt Terry, USA (30.12.2000 - 12.03.2001)
The expedition will investige the southern Amazon and Napo Valley as well as promote the protection of the Napo watershed against a large-scale dam and gold mine which would destroy this beautiful terrain.

Himalayan Ski Traverse (India)
Seb Mankelow, UK (10.01.2001 - 16.02.2001)
This two-person team plans a winter crossing of the Zanskar Himalayan and Pir Panjal ranges in northern India. The expedition will travel on frozen rivers on telemark skis, moving light and fast between pre-placed food caches.

British Darwin Range Expedition
Simon Yates, UK (01.02.2001 - 15.03.2001)
A small group will sail into the remote Darwin Range of Patagonia and make a first ascent of the East Ridge of Mount Bove. The difficult weather in this part of the world will be a constant challenge for the sailing and climbing.

L’Odyssee Amne Machen (Tibet)
Jean Michel Asselin, France (10.03.2001 - 15.04.2001)
This experienced French group of skiers, paragliders and snowboarders will attempt the rarely climbed peak Amne Machen (6288 meters). This trip is a pilgrimage to this holy mountain in northeastern Tibet.

2001 International Melungtse Expedition
Carlos Buhler, USA (15.03.2001 - 31.05.2001)
Buhler and three Russians will attempt to open a new technical route on the unclimbed North Face of Melungtse (7181 meters) which has only been climbed once before.

Nuptse East Alpine Style (Nepal)
Steve House, USA (25.03.2001 - 25.05.2001)
Steve House, Mark Twight and Scott Backes will attempt the east face of Nuptse (7855 meters) in pure alpine style - one of the great unclimbed Himalayan problems.

First Ascent of Peak 43 (Nepal)
Mick Fowler, UK (01.04.2001 - 15.05.2001)
This aesthetic line on an unclimbed peak in the Nepal embodies the essence of adventure. Peak 43 is over 6,000 meters, and this four-man team will climb in impeccable alpine style in an area formerly closed to westerners.

Thule Expedition - completion of a circumnavigation of Greenland
Lonnie Dupre, USA (01.04.2001 - 30.08.2001)
The final stage of this two man expedition to circumnavigate Greenland. Dupre will dog sled in Melville Bay and sea kayak further south.

Unclimbed South Face of K7 (Pakistan)
Jimmy Chin, USA (15.05.2001 - 16.07.2001)
K7 is an area that will be opened for the first time in many years to westerners. A successful ascent of the South Face would be the second overall ascent of the peak.

Ogre 2001 International Expedition (Pakistan)
Rolando Garibotti, Argentina (15.05.2001 - 30.07.2001)
A strong international team will attempt the South Pillar of the Ogre. Success would mean the second ascent of the mountain.

Rakaposhi 2001 (Pakistan)
Manu Pellissier, France (01.08.2001 - 15.09.2001)
A strong European/Pakastani team will attempt the unclimbed northwest ridge of Rakaposhi (7788 meters) in Pakistan.

First Ascent of the SE Face of Kizil Asker (Kyrghyzstan - China)
Sean Isaac, Canada (27.08.2001 - 15.10.2001)
Kizil Asker is a peak on the border between Kyrghyzstan and China; the southeast face has a compelling mixed ice gully that splits the massive granite face. A two-man team will attempt this 1300-meter route.

Taklimakan Desert Traverse (China)
Mike Libecki, USA (05.09.2001 - 25.11.2001)
Titled the Year of the Snake Expedition, this two man team will traverse from west to east over 1,400 kilometers on foot. Using camels for support, Libecki and Josh Helling will transfer their skills as big wall climbers to the horizontal plain.

First Descent of the Yigong Tsangpo River (Tibet)
Jed Weingarten, USA (20.09.2001 - 10.10.2001)
Two father and son teams will kayak to the confluence of the Po Tsangpo starting near the source of the river, high on the southeastern plateau of Tibet.

Information:
www.polartec.com

Top left: Lonnie Dupre (Thule Expedition).
Above: Matt Terry (Ecuador 2001 River Odyssey).

Jimmy Chin (K7 South Face - Pakistan).

> POLARTEC CHALLENGE
Supported by Malden Mills, the Polartec Challenge fund is dedicated to sporting activities in the fields of alpinism, exploration and canoeing. The cadidates are chosen each year by an international jury composed of journalists and adventurers.

> Further information www.polartec.com

> The Jury

Chairman Stephen Venables (UK), John Harlin (USA), Gretel Ehrlich (USA), Bernard Amy (FRA), Jack Tackle (USA), Giorgio Daidola (ITA), Tatsuno Isamu (JAP), Arlene Burns (USA), Greg Child (AUS), Nicho Mailaender (GER) and Mark Jenkins (USA).