| South Pole for Kids Team Raises
$540,000
for Canadian Children’s Charities
This December, Doug Stoup led a team
of four Canadian adventurers on a 60 mile trek to the
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Inspired by their highly
successful North Pole excursion in 2006, where they raised
half a million dollars for children’s charities,
Stoup and Canadians Fred Losani, Mark McLennan, Peter
Turkstra and Steve Stipsits set to test their limits in
the South. Battling relentless winds, extreme cold and
demanding physical requirements, they overcame the challenges
and achieved one of their greatest personal successes
to date: reaching the pole while raising $540,000 for
sustainable nutrition programs and access to the arts
for youth in the Ontario region. Despite the harsh temperatures
and wind conditions, Fred Losani had this to say about
his experience, “There were times when I felt a
rare peace that I have found at the ends of this world
and that I will chase until the end of my days.”
For Stoup, it was the second time in
2008 that he reached the bottom of the world. On Jan.
18, he made polar history by completing a 48-day expedition
from the Weddell Sea to the South Pole, a distance of
673 miles. The team of 2 set out and successfully completed
Ernest Shackleton’s failed 1915 Imperial Trans-Antarctic
crossing.
“Two Feet on the Table”
North Pole Expedition
to Raise Funds for AquaLung Trust
Doug will lead a team of 8 adventurers
from the UK on an expedition to reach the Geographic North
Pole by foot this April to raise funds for the Acqualung
Trust. Expedition ‘TWO FEET ON THE TABLE’
will set out from Ice Station Barneo on April 11th 2009
to face average temperatures of -30 to -40 degrees, broken
ice pressure ridges, often many meters high, while pulling
all their supplies by sled.
The Aqualung Trust was founded by Nick
Baker, a personal friend of the expedition members. Nick
lost his battle to cancer on May 17, 2008, but many continue
to raise funds for his trust in his memory. Its achievements
have been numerous and diverse, from supplying two 4X4
ambulances in Liberia to hosting a ‘journey of understanding’
for 12 Palestinian and 12 Israeli teenagers to come together
at an outward bound week in Wales, work made particularly
poignant by the current Gaza crisis.
2009 Antarctic Peninsula Expedition
Join Ice Axe Expeditions in November
2009 for an adventure driven expedition to the Antarctic
Peninsula. Ski, trek or actively explore our Southernmost
continent with an international cast of professional and
extreme athletes in addition to expert Antarctic historians
and scientists. Daily shore landings, lectures and zodiac
excursions will cover the history, biology, geology and
politics of our Southernmost continent.
Doug Points North
Doug will join Ice Axe alumni Kevin and
Jessica Quinn March 14-21 at
their heli-ski operation in Cordova, Alaska.
http://www.alaskaheliski.com
Doug to Speak at Millenium
Music Conference in Harrisburg, PA.
Tahoe Adventure Slideshows
Join your fellow adventurers and the Ice Axe family every
Wednesday night at Bar One, Squaw Valley for the free
Adventure Slideshows.
January 28 - Andy Selters
- Tall Mountains, A Karakoram Summer
February 4 - Kip Garre
and Ingrid Backstrom - Skiing in Pakistan
February 11 - Alex Alexiades
- Climbing in Bolivia
February 18 - Ryan Salm
- Indi(a)gestion, Wanderings through Tribal India
February 25 - Sam Skrocke
- Cycling across the Western Hemisphere
March 4 - Andrew Pinkham
- Wilderness Canoeing in Canada's Northwest Territories
and Nunavut
March 11- Dave Nettle -
Climbing in Yosemite Valley
www.backcountry.net
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