Mike Horn is a legendary explorer, considered by many to be a living legend of adventure. It's not hard to understand why, after sailing around the world following the equator line, trekking and swimming the Amazon, facing the North Pole in the dead of winter, or climbing K2 without supplemental oxygen; call him what you want, we know he will continue to live for adventure.
Born to university professors, Mike was born in Johannesburg on July 16, 1966. During his childhood, he enjoyed outdoor climbing, long bike rides, and fishing with his family. Mike was a rebellious young man, but it was during his military service where he learned to survive. At 18, he was in Angola: "I discovered that one will do anything to stay alive."
He attended Stellenbosch University in Western Cape, South Africa, where he studied Human Movement Sciences. He worked in sports science until he was 24, when he resigned and moved to Switzerland.
From that moment on, Mike embarked on a myriad of expeditions around the world. He married Cathy Horn and has two daughters, Annika and Jessica. Currently, Horn sails the oceans as the captain of the expedition vessel "Pangea."
Expeditions:
Amazon
Mike's first major expedition was in April 1997: It was a 6-month solo journey through South America. He started on foot from the Pacific Ocean until reaching the source of the Amazon River in the Peruvian Andes. Once there, he descended the 7,000 km of the Amazon River on a Hydrospeed, all the way to the Atlantic.
Latitud Zero
His next journey was in 1999, this time Mike embarked on an 18-month trip, circumnavigating the world along the equator line. His journey was on foot and by sail. He started from Gabon and crossed the Atlantic to Brazil by sail. Then he crossed Brazil and Ecuador by canoe, bicycle, and on foot. After crossing the Pacific, he reached Indonesia through the Galapagos Islands. He then crossed Borneo and Sumatra on foot before crossing the Indian Ocean. Finally, he crossed Africa on foot through the Congo and Gabon, where he completed the first solo circumnavigation of the world along the Equator line.
Arktos
This was an expedition in 2004 in which Mike circumnavigated the world in the Arctic Circle. It was a two-year and three-month journey that he did alone. He couldn't use any motorized transportation along the impossible 20,000 km route. Mike's route was as follows: He started from Norway at Cape North and continued through Greenland, Alaska, Canada, the Bering Strait, and Russian Siberia before reaching Cape North.
North Pole
For this adventure, Mike was accompanied by Norwegian explorer Borge Ousland. Together, they embarked on a 60-day ski journey without dogs or motorized transportation through the Arctic night. For two months, the pair walked in total darkness, often on thin ice.
Himalayas
In 2007, Horn and three other professional climbers reached the summit of Gasherbrum 1 (8,035m) and Gasherbrum 2 (8,068m) without the need for supplemental oxygen. Initially, they were planning to climb four Himalayan mountains, but the bad weather prevented them. Mike used his inner voice to reach the summits.
Pangea
Recently, Mike became the captain of the expedition vessel "Pangea" and invited Young Explorers aged 15 to 20 from all over the world to travel across oceans and continents. Horn and his expedition carry out ecological and social projects under the motto "Explore, Learn, and Act."
Just like Mike, discover your next adventure destination and share your experience with us.
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DeAventura Team
