Alumnus John Huston on Historic North Pole Trek

Northwestern alumnus John Huston and his expedition partner, Tyler Fish, set out March 2 on their quest to become the first Americans to ski unsupported to the North Pole.

Beginning from Ward Hunt Island, the northernmost point in North America, Huston and Fish, both experienced cold weather adventurers, will travel an estimated nine to 10 hours a day across the Arctic Ocean. They'll be pulling 270-pound sleds in limited sunlight while enduring temperatures that could dip as much as 50 degrees below zero.

Their supplies include two satellite phones -- to send text messages, short e-mails and small photos -- and food for 55 days. Huston and Fish will eat more than 7,000 calories a day, mainly in nuts, bacon, butter and pemmican (a mix of dried meat, fat, fruit, vegetable and spices). Huston also packed a single malt scotch as a treat.

The trek will end in late April. To follow the progress of Huston and Fish and learn more about the Victorinox North Pole 09 Expedition, visit www.forwardexpeditions.com.

To read more about John Huston, see Northwestern magazine's video interview and read his personal essay in "Climate Change from a Polar Explorer's Perspective."

Also, see the magazine's profile on Huston in "Cold Fires Up Arctic Adventurer."