INTRODUCTION

Adventure
Starting July 1st 2004

Related Links:

|Read| • May 24th Official Press Release
|Read| • News: BBC News
|Read| • News: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
|Read| • Article: Outside Away
|Read| • Article: Greatest Explorers of our Generation

KNOWING THE EXPLORER

When Canadian Spotlight's Founder Stephen, first met Lorne, David Hempleman-Adams co-pilot, he was handed some light reading. The book was called "Toughing it Out" a story about David Hempleman-Adams youth, climb on Everest and several polar expeditions. This helped him to get a better appreciation as to who exactly David was and what he was all about. Determination, perseverance, father, husband and British humorist (for the most part). David wove a story about conquering the inner beast and as the title reads, "Toughing it out" in the extreme regions of this planet. It was such an engaging read that in between flights and every night after crewing for the RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Atlantic Canada 2003 tour, chapter after chapter would slip through Stephen's hungery fingers.

It takes more than a UNIQUE person to do what David does. It's not like you can wake up one morning and say, hey, I'm going to walk to the North Pole and off you go. Nore do they just say on a whim, "ya know, this weekend I think we'll go climb everest". No, there is preparation, timing, excessive costs and a lot of will power. The same can be said for flying a single engine Cessna from Cape Columbia to Cape Horne.

The CHALLENGE

British Explorer David Hempleman-Adams and Canadian Pilot Lorne White will fly from the most Northernmost part of Canada, Cape Columbia to the most Southernmost point of South America, Cape Horn, in a Cessna 182. Attempting to set 3 World aviation records en route with a production company, Canadian Spotlight productions filming and documenting the whole experience using specialized cameras mounted both inside and outside of the plane.

::|more|:: ::.about the documentary .::

SUCCESS RATING

Very high, circa 95%. This figure has been verified by leading meteorologists and is supported by the experience of the team involved in the Cape to Cape. The high chances of success do not however detract from the challenges of the flight itself, involving long hours, clearances, and extreme weather changes along the flight route.

Email David

David Hempleman-Adams

David's interest in expeditions began with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, from which he received a Gold medal.

During the 1970s David became an accomplished mountaineer, having climbed the highest peaks on each the seven continents: Everest (Nepal), Mt Vinson (Antarctica), Aconcagua (Argentina), Carstenz Pyramid (Indonesia), Elbrus (Russia) Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Mt McKinley (USA).

In 1984 he was the first person to successfully complete a solo expedition to the Magnetic North Pole without the support of dogs, snow mobiles or air supplies.

On January 5, 1996, he became the first Briton to walk solo and unsupported to the South Pole. A month later he sailed to the South Magnetic Pole, becoming the first person to achieve both South Poles in the same year. On May 15, 1996, he led a team of novices, to ski to the Magnetic North Pole and became the only person ever to reach both North and South Magnetic Poles in one year.

In March 1998 David set off on a 600 mile journey which would place him in the record books as one of the most successful all-round adventurers the world has ever seen. Facing wind-chill as low as minus ninety centigrade, he hauled his sledge to the North Pole across the constantly shifting ice of the frozen Arctic Ocean. His success ended a fifteen year odyssey and placed him in the record books as the first person to complete the Explorers' Grand Slam, a challenge which has seen him conquer the North and South Magnetic Poles, become the first Briton to walk solo and unsupported to the South Pole; and walk solo to the North Geographic Pole and scale the highest mountain in each of the seven continents, including Everest.

In 1998 David Hempleman-Adams turned his interest to ballooning. In December of that year, David flew across the Andes in a hot air balloon equipped with only an open wicker basket.

In 2000, David became the first pilot in history to fly a balloon to the North Pole. During this flight he set a number of ballooning records, including the distance record for the Arctic, first balloonist to fly solo to the North Pole and first balloonist to fly solo across the Arctic Ocean.

Having achieved records in climbing, polar exploration, and ballooning, David is now shifting his attention to fixed wing flying.



Lorne White

Email Lorne

After completing a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in International Business, and having worked in the House of Commons in Canada, Lorne turned his attention to travel and teaching abroad. Having taught in Japan and traveled extensively throughout South East Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Lorne is now focused on aviation as a pilot and as an instructor.

As a flight instructor in Florida, Lorne completed flights across the USA, Canada, the Bahamas and Mexico. During this time Lorne earned his Commercial and Airline Transport Licenses (multi IR), and a Gold Seal for his record as a flight instructor. Lorne now has 2000 hours of fixed wing experience and looks forwards to future flying adventures - and is looking forward to hearing from the viewers / readers.