16 Nov 5 modern explorers and their crazy claims to fame
Posted at 23:15h in Adventures
For many adventurists, extremely cold environments are the ultimate testing ground. But unlike in past eras, all peaks have been climbed and poles traversed. With nothing new to discover, the age of the heroic explorers and alpinists is long over––or is it? These 5 modern-day explorers don’t think so.
Why climb towering, snow-capped mountains? Or ski off into the white nothingness of Antarctica? To quote sir Edmund Hillary, “it is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” But for the Hillarys, Shackletons, Amundsens, and Messners of the previous century, extreme explorations and ascents were more than a personal pursuit. It was a historical claim to glory.
These adventurists, men tough as nails and larger than life, became the heroic archetypes of the twentieth century as they showed the world new heights and undiscovered territory. Nobody had set foot on the South Pole. Everest was untamed. Science had no idea as to what was out there, or if it was even humanly possible to survive in such inhospitable environments. But that was a different era.
We’ve now mapped most of the face of our planet. Climbing a mountain or reaching a pole doesn’t bring the same national prestige. But that doesn’t mean there’s no glory in extreme adventuring anymore. It just means you have to be creative in pushing the boundaries of exploration and adapt the explorer’s ideals to the 21st century. These 5 crazy explorers prove there are still records to be set.
Gerline Kaltenbrunner, stubborn overcomer of obstacles
This hard-headed woman is one of the most accomplished female mountaineers out there. Ten years ago and at 40 years old, Gerline Kaltenbrunner summited all fourteen of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks without supplementary oxygen. She is the first woman to do so. And while that’s phenomenal in itself, it’s her level of dedication that makes Gerline’s achievement so inspiring.
You might think that Kaltenbrunner was destined to claim that record, having reached her first peak at the young age of 13 and having crossed the 8,000-meter altitude at 23 years old. But Gerline worked as a nurse while dreaming of the Himalayan mountains. She claimed her first five 8,000’ers while working to pay for her expeditions. She only became a professional climber after. Her crowning achievement, the ascent of the K2 would be the final of fourteen. Gerline attempted to summit the K2 seven times in 13 years before finally reaching the top.
Børge Ousland, master of the inner and outer conquest
This modern legend is no stranger to setting records. Born in 1962, Børge Ousland redefined the limits of polar exploration when he made the first unsupported solo crossings of the Antarctic and Arctic. Imagine ploughing through snow and ice for a month, with no one around to help you or talk to. That’s an inner and outer conquest for the history books. And Ousland doesn’t mind teaming up either. At just 28 years old, he and Erlin Kagge became the first to reach the North Pole unsupported. Sixteen years later, Børge returned to the NorthPOle with Mike Horn to become the first to reach the North Pole during the arctic winter––with no sunlight to guide them for months.
Børge has redefined exploration not just by setting records, but by his methods too. While he learned to cope mentally with high-risk situations in the navy, it’s the meticulous preparation he applies that earned him his achievements. Ousland learned how to prepare for unknown events in the early years of deep-sea diving on oil rigs when safety standards were low and fatalities high.
Emma Svensson, the everyday hero
Photographer and part-time vanlifer, 38-year-old Emma Svensson is today’s answer to yesteryear’s hero because she’s like you and me––ordinary. At least, ordinary compared to elite clubs of high-altitude mountaineers. Ordinary because Emma watched the movie Everest and decided she had to start climbing. Half a year later she scaled her first mountain. Next, she planned to summit the highest peak in every European country in 2018. Emma eventually climbed 61 mountains that year. And next year, she’s planning a #82PEAKS project. Now that’s extraordinary.
Such a feat would’ve been much harder to accomplish a century ago, if only for the logistics of it. But that’s the beauty of today’s age––everyone can climb mountains now. The sport and adventuring in general have been made more accessible, with the benefit that you and I can give it a go without the need of grueling preparation. And that’s Emma’s message, that we can all climb mountains. Through her story, Svensson aims to inspire others–-especially young girls.
Sir David Hempleman-Adams, the modern gentleman adventurer
Here’s an adventurer like the heroes of old, decorated with about every British medal and distinction there is to earn. Sir David Hempleman-Adams is an industrialist and explorer who summited his North-America’s highest peak at 24 years old (he’s 65 now), likes hot-air balloons, and has been to the Poles a record 14 times. But while his titles, wealth, and eccentric hobbies make him akin to explorers of the previous century, it’s the records he sets that make him a man of the 21st century.
With all explorations claimed in the 1900s, Hempleman-Adams went about setting new standards for adventurers. By climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents and reaching the magnetic and geographic poles, David became the first person to complete the Explorers Grand Slam. He’s also the first person to fly over the North Pole by air balloon. To add some of sir David’s eccentricity to his claims to fame, he also hosted the world’s highest formal dinner party in his hot-air balloon. So who did he serve a hot three-course meal at 24,262ft? Bear Grylls, of course.
Martin Hewitt, patron explorer of the disabled
Explorers in times past were part of a small, elite circle of (mostly) privileged men. Nowadays, the spectrum of people making a dash for the poles or climbing 8,000’ers is much more inclusive. Few people have worked to that end as Martin Hewitt has. With his Adaptive Grand Slam Foundation, he enables disabled explorers to chase after the illusive Explorers Grand Slam. The inspiring project brings together wounded veterans, disabled people and professional explorers to conquer the poles and Seven Summits.
Martin Hewitt was a military man until, at 27 years old, his right arm was paralyzed while serving in Afghanistan. While that ended his military career, it didn’t end Martin’s taste for peril. Now aged 40, he’s well on his way to completing the Grand Slam––having reached the North Pole and climbed the highest peaks on six out of seven continents. But he isn’t just trying to claim a title. With his achievements, Martin tries to change perceptions of what is possible with a disability. To use Martin’s words, “Through our endeavors, we can demonstrate that one can still achieve great things. If one has support, drive and determination, a debilitating injury should not stop you from reaching your goals.”
