An amazing tale of real adventure and genuine exploration in the modern era - unexplored regions, fearless animals, no support crew, disaster, excitement - the lot!' Dick Smith.
In 2005, Australians Chris Bray (then 21 years old) and Clark Carter (20) dreamed of embarking on an adventure — one that would be completely different to any polar, mountaineering or river expedition ever before attempted. With virtually no prior experience they turned their attention to one of the largest islands in the world - Victoria Island in the Canadian Arctic - and vowed to cross it on foot. It was to be a world-first, traversing 1000 kilometres of perhaps the most extreme and diverse landscape on the planet - everything from snow and ice to mud, shattered rock, rivers and fields of boulders. Travelling without any support across previously unexplored territory, Chris and Clark hauled everything they needed behind them in homemade wheeled kayaks, each weighing a quarter of a tonne. Hiding from polar bears, being chased by wolves and discovering ancient Inuit relics along the way, the pair faced obstacles that ensured their journey was as much a mental battle as it was physical.
After 58 gruelling days, their first attempt failed. Undeterred, the duo spent the next three years learning new skills, redesigning their equipment and raising money, and in 2008 they went back for another 75 days to finish what they stared.
With humour and honesty, Chris Bray tells their thrilling story - the drama, the dangers and the sheer exhilaration of exploring a terrain filled with magic and wonder.
ANZEC Member - Chris Bray
Chris grew up sailing around the world then leading world-first cart-hauling expeditions across the arctic before becoming an award-winning Australian Geographic photographer, Lowepro ambassador and Canon’s Australian ambassador for five years.Chris’s work has appeared in National Geographic and Discovery Channel along with Australian Geographic, TIME Magazine etc. He’s also an accomplished writer, with feature articles published around the world and even a successful book 'The 1000 Hour Day' (now an award-winning documentary 'The Crossing'), sits on the advisory committee for The Australian Geographic Society and is founder and CEO of Conservation United, crowd-funding the world’s critical conservation projects. Chris is also an International Fellow of 'The Explorers Club' and has been chairman of their Australia and New Zealand chapter.Chris and his wife Jess are also keen high-latitude sailors, recently becoming the first people to sail a junk-rig boat through the Northwest Passage over the arctic, on their little 29-foot wooden sailboat 'Teleport'.Their successful photography tour company 'Chris Bray Photography' now has staff around Australia leading small groups to the world's most extraordinary wildlife, landscape and cultural experiences.Australian Geographic Society's 'Young Adventurer of the Year' in 2004 for a Tasmanian wilderness hike, Chris has also been awarded their 'Spirit of Adventure' medal in 2009.
