The DeLorme Weblog

Innovative Map and GPS Provider Hosting Related Event at Outdoor Retailer Show

SALT LAKE CITY, UT ― DeLorme, the leader in mapping and GPS technology for serious outdoors adventures, today announced it will be one of the sponsors of North Pole ‘09, as American explorers John Huston and Tyler Fish endeavor to ski to the top of the world with no assistance of any kind.

Huston and Fish would be the first Americans to accomplish the feat, which they describe as “an expedition of optimism, humility, and responsible action.”

A History of Supporting Arctic Expeditions

DeLorme was the GPS provider for a pair of recent Baffin Island, Canada expeditions. The rugged, reliable Earthmate® GPS PN-20 was used on Will Steger’s Global Warming 101 trip in 2007, and Ed Viesturs’ 2008 Canadian Arctic Trek for Earth Health. Huston, who was base camp manager for Steger, also relied on a PN-20 during a trip he led to the South Pole.

DeLorme’s North Pole ‘09 sponsorship announcement comes on the first day of the Open Air Demo event, a prelude to the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2008 trade show scheduled for Aug. 8-11 at the Salt Palace. The company will unveil a new GPS, the Earthmate PN-40, at this year’s show.

“We are exceptionally pleased to support the North Pole ‘09 expedition,” said DeLorme vice president Jim Skillings.

“We’ve developed a reputation as a provider of serious products that stand up to even the most demanding customer needs. It absolutely fits our corporate mission to support John and Tyler as they undertake this extraordinary challenge.”

North Pole ‘09 Event at Outdoor Retailer

Huston will be at the DeLorme exhibit (Booth 19010) from 4-6 p.m. MT on Saturday, August 9. His presentation will focus on the North Pole ‘09 expedition, its objectives, his and Tyler Fish’s methods of preparation, and their experiences in previous polar journeys. The presentation will be open to all show attendees.

“It’s a fascinating and inspiring presentation, and we urge people to stop by, meet John, and learn more about North Pole ‘09,”added Skillings.

Ellesmere Island to the North Pole – the Hard Way

In March, Huston and Fish will embark from the northern tip of Ellesmere Island, Canada pulling all of their supplies in sleds while propelling themselves across the polar ice cap on cross-country skis.

The trip is fraught with extreme challenges. It will be entirely over the Arctic Ocean on large sheets of ice, called “pans.” These pans will be, in most cases, anything but smooth, and frequently strewn with ice “rubble and debris” that are a consequence of the severe conditions.

In addition, the polar winds and ocean currents may sometimes push the ice pans backward at a rate faster than Huston’s and Fish’s forward progress. There will be numerous instances when the two will have to don dry suits and swim from pan to pan, with the added challenge of securing their sled and supplies during the water passages.

Other dangers include polar bears, the extreme cold (temperatures may reach -60°F), and the potential for injury in this most unforgiving environment.

Huston and Fish hope to complete the 475-mile trek in 55 days. Along the way, they will chronicle their adventure with daily entries, via satellite phone uploads. To learn more, visit www.northpole09.com.

About North Pole ‘09

North Pole ‘09, an expedition without outside assistance or supply drops, will be an endeavor of absolute optimism and humility, thorough preparation and selfless cooperation. This enormously challenging expedition will endeavor to inspire people to embrace challenge. The live online expedition journal will focus on the mental approach to seemingly insurmountable challenges. “As we, as individuals and as a society, face the daunting challenges of today, we believe we have the responsibility to tell a more uplifting story. We need more simple stories of achievement and passion that inspire positive, forward-thinking action rather than negative stories that lead to increased passivity and feelings of hopelessness.”

Expedition components include a climate change education program and several research projects. For sponsorship information, visit www.northpole09.com.

About John Huston

Huston is a seasoned polar explorer, having most recently led a 720-mile ski expedition to the South Pole for NorthWinds Adventures. That trip spanned 57 days from November 2007 to January 2008.

Prior to that, he was the only American chosen to participate with the Norwegian team in an event that reprised the 1911 competition between Norwegian and British explorers to reach the South Pole. Featured on BBC and the History Channel as the “Race to the Pole,” the expedition was set in Greenland and duplicated the 1911 journey by using 1911-style equipment, clothing, and food.

A former Outward Bound instructor, the Northwestern University alumnus is a cross-country ski racer, writer, and educator.

About Tyler Fish

Tyler Fish has expeditions on Baffin Island, the Canadian Arctic, and Hudson Bay to his credit. He has also led many month-long white water canoe trips on remote Canadian rivers. An elite cross-country ski racer and coach, he is also a speaker, family relationship coach, and wilderness skills expert.

A graduate of Bates College in Maine, he has spent 13 years working for Outward Bound and is currently a youth programs coordinator and supervisor.

About the Earthmate GPS PN Series

DeLorme’s Earthmate GPS PN-20 and PN-40 receivers are designed for serious outdoors adventures. They deliver the unique ability to display proprietary DeLorme topographic maps, as well as USGS 1:24,000 quads, four different types of aerial imagery, and NOAA nautical charts. WAAS-enabled for accuracy to within three meters, the PN series receivers are waterproof with a rock-solid design that has proven its reliability in the most challenging environments on Earth. For more information, go to GetSeriousTool.com.

About DeLorme

Based in Yarmouth, ME, DeLorme offers a unique set of core competencies across the complex areas of map data creation and management, software development, and integration with GPS. The ability to develop all the critical components necessary to compete in the fast-changing navigation world provides a distinct competitive advantage. DeLorme is one of a handful of mapmakers that still own and produce their own content, and its Earthmate GPS, Street Atlas USA®, Topo USA®, and Atlas & Gazetteer™ products have introduced countless first-to-market innovations. For more, visit www.delorme.com.