Conquering the Impossible

the long version

In August 2002, Mike Horn set out on a mission that bordered on the impossible: to travel 12,000 miles around the globe at the Arctic Circle--alone, against prevailing winds and currents, and without motorized transportation. This is the account of Horn's grueling 27-month expedition by foot, ski, mountain bike, kayak, catamaran, and monohull sailboat through conditions that nearly cost him his life. Enduring temperatures colder than 75 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, Horn battled hazards including unstable ice that plunged him into frigid waters, encounters with polar bears, severe frostbite, and a fire that destroyed all of his equipment and nearly burned him alive. From the dangers that Horn faced alone in the vast tundra to his amusing and inspiring encounters with the hardy inhabitants of the remotest corners of the earth, this adrenaline-filled tale chronicles one man's unrelenting desire to push the limits of what is humanly possible.--From publisher description.