Annals of Adventure–Visiting Santa: This month, American Wave Vidmar (cool name, dude) will attempt to become the first American to trek solo and unsupported to the North Pole. He will leave from Russia’s Artichevsky peninsula, and getting to the top of the world will require him to walk, ski and swim more than 600 miles, pulling a 350 pound sledge. If the 39-year old Wave makes it–he’s aiming for 45-60 days–he will be only the third person to get to the geographical pole solo and unsupported. You can follow his polar bid here. Mountain Zone checked in with Wave before he left his hometown of San Francisco. Here are some excerpts:

MZ: You will face a variety of dangers – cold, bears, swimming arctic waters, weather – to say the least. What do you think is your greatest danger or risk?

Vidmar: The greatest danger is likely falling into the ocean and freezing/drowning to death. My greatest fear is swimming in the inky black water, with unknown killer whales (Orcas) and great white sharks. The most probable danger is frostbite and frostnip.

MZ: How safe are you sleeping at night in your tent?

Vidmar: That’s a relative question. More accurate to ask what dangers will I face while sleeping. Attacks from polar bears are still likely, though I’ll have a perimeter wire attached to trip flares to alert me to their presence (and hopefully scare them away). Also, the ice could crack beneath my tent and the ocean could swallow me whole. Or the ice could be rammed under or over another piece of ice.

MZ: How did you train for this trip?

Vidmar: I’ve been preparing for nearly a year now. Physically I have been swimming underwater, doing weights and Nautilus, bicycling, hiking, and dragging a semi-truck tire around to simulate pulling heavy sledges. Also, gaining weight has been an important part of my training. I had less than 4% body fat when I decided to go to the pole, so far I’ve gained over 50 lbs and another 12+% of body fat (this aspect has been the hardest for me, to gain weight).



“Welcome to my world, Wave. Oh. And thanks in advance for fattening yourself up…….”

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