Icebreaker - Pure Merino

I was lucky enough to have dinner last week with the inspiring Robert Swan OBE, the first man in history to walk to both the South and North Poles.  Robert is doing amazing work internationally raising awareness around the issues of environmental responsibility and global warming.  He is heading back to the South Pole in 2012, and will be testing our Icebreaker gear over the next wee while to find the best garments to wear on his journey.

Robert was very inspiring, a real leader who has shown that individuals have the power to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals through perseverance, determination and commitment.  He told us tales from his travels, about his adventures in the North Pole and how it was much more treacherous than the South (as the ice was full of holes and he had to be very wary of the Polar Bears).

We discussed how the effect of the North Pole melting would not raise sea water levels (as it is floating ice and therefore already displaced).  And that the real threat was the South Pole, which could raise levels catastrophically – hence the reason for his 2012 trip.

Over the course of dinner we found out that Robert studied ancient history, so we decided it would only be fair to drink some whilst we were dining.  Our host environmentalist expert and wine buff Rob Morrison, produced a 1947 Chateau Latour, which wine buffs will know was a very good year from one of the leading cellars in Bordeaux.  I’ve never drunk anything older than myself, and it was quite an experience… one which I can’t quite afford to repeat just yet, so it’s back to selling more merino for me.

We’re proud that Robert will be wearing Icebreaker on his expedition back to the South Pole and will keep you all posted on his journey.

Jeremy Moon, CEO & Founder – Icebreaker

On April 25, 2009 our two-man expedition reached its goal of skiing unsupported and unassisted to the North Pole. We are the first Americans to accomplish this feat, which has been called the ‘hardest trek on the planet.’

We knew that our success might just be dependent on our feet. We chose our socks carefully and loved the socks that Icebreaker provided for us! Our feet have never been happier on an expedition.

Together, the skier hyperlight and skier-midweight sock provided a very versatile layering system for our coldest days and our warmest ones. We had beautiful feet even at the very end.

The expedition took three years to plan. Our testing and research paid off. If we were to do the expedition over again we would have brought 97% of the same equipment.

Our 55-day expedition covered over 500 miles, faced -60 degree F temperatures, endless fields of ice rubble, open water and in the end a ceaseless southerly drift. During the exhausting sprint to the pole we slept only 3 of the final 66 hours of the expedition.

Our website www.northpole09.com contains our complete expedition blog and the most up to date news about the expedition project.

 - John Huston and Tyler Fish, Victorinox North Pole 09, the first American expedition to reach the North Pole unassisted and unsupported