Mike Horn
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| Mike Horn | |
| Born | July 16, 1966 Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa |
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| Spouse | Cathy Horn |
| Website http://www.mikehorn.com/ |
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Mike Horn (born 16 July 1966) is a South African explorer. After studying Human Movement Science at the University of Stellenbosch, he left South Africa in 1990 to travel to Europe, where he started work as a ski instructor, river and canyoning guide.
In 1991, he left for a paragliding and rafting expedition in the Peruvian Andes. On his return he was asked to become a member of the "Sector No Limits" sports team, and shortly afterwards descended the Mont Blanc Glacier on a body board, ending at the French Riviera.
In 1995, Mike Horn opened the "No Limits" Outdoor Activity Sports Centre in Switzerland. It was during this time that he broke the world record for the highest descent of a waterfall with a hydrospeed, on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica. (22m)
In 1997, Mike Horn launched his first big expedition: the 6 month solo traverse of the South American continent. He left on foot from the Pacific Ocean and climbed to the source of the Amazon River high in the Peruvian Andes. From here he descended the 7,000 km of the Amazon River on a hydrospeed, until he reached the Atlantic Ocean.
Since then, he has become fascinated by yet another sport: sailing. With his teacher - Laurent Bourgnon - they won the Multicocques Grand Prix, after which he was asked to join the crew on Mari Cha III, a 45m monohull, as wincher, a position requiring great physical strength. Much to their delight they beat the transatlantic world record by 2 days and 14 hours.
In 1999, Mike Horn launched another big adventure: the circumnavigation of the world along the equator. He baptized the expedition "Latitude Zero", traveling alone around the world in the 17 months from June 1999 to October 2000, and without any form of motorized transport. Starting in Gabon on the West Coast of Africa he traversed the Atlantic Ocean in a small trimaran of 8 meters. On his arrival in South America, he left his boat in the care of his logistics team, and continued on foot and pirogue through the Amazon jungle, only to find his trimaran awaiting him once again on the West Coast. After three months on the Pacific Ocean he arrived at the Indonesian Island, from where he crossed the Indian Ocean. Africa, the last continent, he crossed on foot, mountain bike and pirogue.
Mike Horn is the first man ever to achieve such a feat, and after this he became internationally renowned, receiving many awards and prizes, namely the Laureus Award for "Best Alternative Sportsman of the Year", "Adventurer of the Year" for Out There magazine, and the "Toison d'Or" for the film festival in Dijon.
The next expedition was in 2002, when Mike Horn attempted a solo and unassisted crossing of the North Pole. However, this trip was aborted 45 days later because of bad frostbite to his fingers.
One month after having the tips of his fingers amputated, he set off again, and this time on his biggest adventure: the circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle, solo and without the aid of any motorized transport or dogs. This expedition was called "Arktos" and took him 2 years and 3 months to complete, once again setting another record by being the first ever person to complete, non-stop, the 20,000 km route around the Arctic Circle, enduring two harsh Arctic winters with temperatures reaching as low as -60°C.
With still a strong desire to reach the North Pole itself, Mike - along with Norwegian explorer Borge Ousland - decided to reach the North Pole on foot. On the 23rd of March 2006, after 60 days and 5 hours of walking, Mike Horn and Borge finally accomplished what they set out to achieve. They are the first people ever to walk to the North Pole in the sunless Arctic winter, walking 10-12 hours a day pulling their sledges laden with 160kg of equipment in the extreme Arctic temperatures and in 24 hours of complete darkness for the majority of the expedition.
In 2007, Mike Horn travelled to the Karakoram range with Jean Troillet, Olivier Roduit and Fred Roux, in an attempt to climb four 8000m peaks without the use of additional oxygen (Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II, Broad Peak and K2). K2 was eventually left out of the itinerary, leaving Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II and Broad Peak as the climbing goals. The expedition succeeded in summiting Gasherbrum I (July 30) and Gasherbrum II (August 11). Their attempt at Broad Peak was aborted due to poor weather conditions.[1]
Mike Horn was elected a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy in January 2007 in recognition of his ground-breaking achievements which reflect great triumph of the human spirit against daunting odds.
Mike Horn has now returned to Switzerland and is with his wife, Cathy and two daughters, Annika and Jessica (14 and 12 years old).
He has written four books about his expeditions, each of which has reached the best seller list in France. These books are currently available in several different languages world-wide. Films of his exploits have also been made and have won many prizes throughout Europe.
Mike Horn is a motivational conference speaker and gives both public and private appearances, traveling constantly throughout Europe and overseas.
