An Expedition of Optimism, Humility and Responsible Action.
Celebrating our 125th anniversary, Victorinox Swiss Army is proud to sponsor the North Pole '09 expedition, sharing John Houston and Tyler Fish's mission to increase global warming awareness through education and community interaction. During their 475 mile journey through the frozen Arctic, John and Tyler will push the limits of their Victorinox Swiss Army gear – relying on its performance to support their survival.
2009 will be a landmark year, as John and Tyler set out to become the first Americans to ski unsupported to the North Pole. Their approach to this expedition is refreshing and commendable– bridging education and climate change awareness while inspiring others with their optimism and humility.
In addition to their record setting goals, John and Tyler hope to raise $100k for Caring Bridge, a non-profit organization that offers free personalized websites that support and connect loved ones during critical illness, treatment and recovery.
The North Pole ‘09 expedition is a testament to overcoming challenge on personal and global levels. Victorinox Swiss Army is honored to sponsor this worthy endeavor.
Expedition Team
John Huston - Chicago, Illinois
A graduate of Northwestern University in 1999 with degrees in anthropology, history, and geography John is a lifelong educator with a passion for challenge. John is inspired by the lesser-known success stories of polar exploration history and the optimistic potentials inherent in all people. His experiences as a wilderness and polar expeditioner, experiential educator, writer, cross-county ski racer and fledgling historian, have shaped his optimistic and adventurous nature.
John's expedition experiences include a 55 day, 720 mile ski to the South Pole as a guide for Northwinds Adventures, a 1400 mile ski and dogsled expedition to the Greenland Ice Cap, and four months in Baffin Island as expedition manager for the Global Warming 101 Expedition.
Tyler Fish - Ely, Minnesota
Tyler is an elite cross country ski racer and wilderness travel expert. After graduating from Bates College in 1996, Tyler dedicated his life to experiential education, family relationship counseling and the pursuit of challenge.
As the director of the Outward Bound Intercept program in Ely Minnesota, Tyler trains and supervises staff for month-long outdoor experiences with at-risk teens. He balances his technical wilderness abilities with his strong leadership and facilitation to motivate and inspire others to discover their own passions and unique abilities.
Tyler is inspired by the possibilities presented in pushing perceived limits. According to Tyler, there has never been a day too cold to strap on some sort of ski.
