EXPEDITION NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
April 1999 - Volume Six, Number Four
EXPEDITION NEWS is a monthly review of significant expeditions, research projects and newsworthy adventures. It is distributed online and by mail to media representatives, corporate sponsors, educators, research librarians, explorers, environmentalists, and outdoor enthusiasts. This forum on exploration covers projects that stimulate, motivate and educate.
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BANCROFT AND ARNESEN PLAN FIRST ALL-WOMEN CROSSING OF ANTARCTICA
A legal, marketing and technology team of six full-time employees, a public relations agency and venture capitalists are hard at work supporting the plans of two experienced polar explorers planning the first all-women crossing of Antarctica. From November 2000 through February 2001, Norwegian Liv Arnesen of Oslo, and Ann Bancroft of Minneapolis, will ski 2,400 mi. (3,850 km) - pulling and sailing 250 lbs. supply sleds - from Queen Maud Land to the Ross Ice Shelf in the Ross Sea.
GET READY FOR EVEREST AWARENESS MONTH
To the more cynical members of the climbing community, May has come to be known as "Everest Awareness Month." Each May, when the weather "window" is most ideal, teams flock to the Goddess Mother of Earth to stake their claim using whatever "hook" they feel will fascinate the public, attract sponsors, and grab media attention. And for their part, the media (EN included) looks back at that fateful month in 1996 and marvels that despite, or perhaps because of its notoriety, the popularity of Everest seems to grow each year.
This month, EN tracks a number of the more noteworthy and unusual projects. Here are two:
* Everest Extreme Expedition - A 15-member health-science team ranging in ages from 23 to the mid-70's will depart on a six-week Everest expedition this month to push the limits of equipment and technology that will accompany astronauts to the International Space Station, and explore approaches to healthcare delivery on Earth.
* Everest Millennium Expedition - A team lead by Pete Athans will ascend the South Col Route in an attempt to measure the true height of Mount Everest. Athans will join climbers Bill Crouse and Charles Corfield to attain the best data ever from the actual summit.
KILIMANJARO ONE STEP AT A TIME
Disabled climber Tom Whittaker plans an ascent of Africa's Mt. Kilimanjaro in September 1999 with eight disabled climbers from the U.S., Britain, Japan, Canada and Nepal. All will trek to the 19,340-ft. summit via the Great Western Breach, a steep mountain route. Upon descending, Whittaker will traverse into the base of the Heim Glacier, and then climb this steep technical route to the summit alpine style with one other able-bodied companion.
EXPEDITION NOTES
Space Exploration Humor - It's April and time for some good 'ol space exploration humor. T-shirt seen at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida: "Get With The Program." One says "I Need My Space," and yet another reads: "Let's Do Launch." Then there's the recent Washington Post contest, in which readers were asked to tell Gen-Xers how much harder they had it in the old days: Says Russell Beland of Springfield, Va., "Back in the 1970's we didn't have the space shuttle to get all excited about. We had to settle for men walking on the crummy moon."
EXPEDITION MARKETING
Global Balloon Sponsors Expect Sales to Take Off
Now that Dr. Bertrand Piccard of Switzerland and his British co-pilot, Brian Jones, have achieved the last great first in aviation - nonstop around-the- world balloon flight - their many sponsors hope sales will similarly balloon.
Piccard, 41, and Jones, 51, are heroes throughout Europe, especially in Switzerland where they launched from the Swiss Alps on Mar. 1, ending their 29,056-mi. flight 19 days, 21 hours and 55 minutes later on Mar. 21 in southeast Egypt.
But the real winners of this unprecedented journey may very well be their sponsors, starting with Breitling SA, the Swiss luxury watchmaker and title sponsor, expecting a surge in name-brand recognition, if not sales, from its sponsorship. If there was a marketing race for credit and on-air signage, Breitling, which has supported Piccard for five years, was the clear winner. Most media reviewed by EN referred to the balloon as Breitling Orbiter 3, and the company's logo was prevalent on the balloon, on uniforms and caps, and particularly during press conferences when a so-called repeat banner (a backdrop with multiple logos) was used to great effect, appearing in an AP photo carried in the Mar. 21 New York Times, as well as dozens of other newspapers.
EXPEDITION CLASSIFIEDS
Mongolia and Peru - Archeological expeditions as offered by no other provider. Hands on adventure and experiences led by the most noted experts. Search/locate/evacuate primary and just discovered ancient sites. Make history while you explore the past. For information for 1999 expeditions contact Global Research &Discovery Network, 24 Orchard St., Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07660; 201 871 9208; e-mail: globres@aol.com; or visit our Web site at www.globaldiscovery.com
Before You Step Out on the Wild Side - Let the world's leading supplier of outdoor, adventure and travel medical gear set you up for a safe and healthy expedition. First aid kits, high altitude gear, insect repellents, water purification systems and much more. Chinook Medical Gear, Inc., www.chinookmed.com. Or call for our free catalog. Tollfree: 800 766 1365; International: 970 926 9277; fax: 970 926 9660; e-mail: chinook@vail.net.
Zegrahm Expeditions - They are remote and exotic, spectacular and visually compelling. The world's untamed lands are the focus of our 1999 expeditions, starting with the SEYCHELLES & MADAGASCAR in March, the tropical islands of MICRONESIA in April and May. Venture to the land of fire and ice - the KURIL ISLANDS, KAMCHATKA & ALEUTIANS - during May and June. And finally, ANTARCTICA for the Millennium - the Peninsula, South Georgia, Falklands, even a "first light" voyage from New Zealand. Small groups, expert leaders, intriguing destinations. For reservations and more information: Zegrahm Expeditions, 1414 Dexter Avenue N. #327, Seattle, WA 98109 U.S.A. Phone: 800-628-8747, 206-285-4000; Fax: 206-285-5037; Web site: www.zeco.com; E-mail: zoe@zeco.com. Ask about bold new adventures offered by Zegrahm DeepSea Voyages and Space Voyages.
EXPEDITION NEWS. is published by Blumenfeld and Associates, Inc., 28 Center Street, Darien, CT 06820 USA. USA. Tel. 203 855 9400, fax 203 855 9433, editor@ExpeditionNews.com. Editor/publisher: Jeff Blumenfeld. Copyright © 1999 Blumenfeld and Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. Subscriptions: US$36 /yr.; international postal rate US$46/yr. Highlights from Expedition News are also located at www.mountainzone.com/news/expedition/ where you can order a subscription to the full edition with your credit card.