Richard Weber (explorer)
Canadian cross-country skier
Biography
Lists
Also Viewed
The basics
Quick Facts
The details
Biography
Richard Weber, CM (born June 9, 1959, in Edmonton, Alberta) is a Canadian Arctic and polar adventurer. From 1978 to 2006, he organized and lead more than 45 Arctic expeditions. Richard is the only person to have completed six full North Pole expeditions. He has therefore trekked to the North Pole more than anyone in history.
Biography
Richard comes from a family of dedicated cross country skiers. He started skiing at the age of two and competing at six. He became a member of Canada's National Cross-Country Ski Team in 1977 and represented Canada in World Championships in 1977, 1979, 1982 and 1985. He retired from cross-country skiing in 1985 (with twenty national titles) and has since been dedicated to Polar and Arctic expeditions. Through the years, Richard has collected several firsts:
- In 1987, along with teammate Brent Boddy, became the first Canadian to reach the North Pole on foot.
- In 1988, became the first person to reach the North Pole from both sides of the Arctic Ocean.
- In 1989, became the first person to accurately stand at the Geographic North Pole (first GPS to register "90" north).
- In 1992, with companion Dr. Mikhail (Misha) Malakhov, became the first attempt to reach the North Pole with no outside help.
- In 1995, Richard and Misha's expedition became the first unsupported expedition to reach the North Pole and return to land. The achievement has not yet been repeated.
- In 2006, with Conrad Dickinson, became the first to trek to the North Pole using snowshoes exclusively.
- In 2009, he completed an on-foot trek from Hercules Inlet on the Ronne Ice Shelf to the South Pole in a record time of 33 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes. He was accompanied by fellow Canadians Ray Zahab and Kevin Vallely.
- In 2010, he organized and completed an on-foot trek from northern Canada to the North Pole with his son Tessum Weber, and two fellow adventurers, setting the fastest time to the North Pole (42 days, 18 hours 52 minutes for the 900 km trek).
Together with his wife, Josée Auclair, and their two sons, Tessum and Nansen, Richard operates Arctic Watch, Canada’s most northerly lodge located in Cunningham Inlet on Somerset Island in Nunavut. Through their company, Canadian Arctic Holidays, they also outfit, organize, and lead Arctic expeditions and adventure trips, some of them to the Poles.
Degrees
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Vermont
Major North Pole expeditions
| Year | Expedition Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Will Steger International Polar Expedition | The first confirmed expedition to reach the North Pole without resupply. Team members who reached the Pole were: Will Steger, Paul Schurke, Brent Boddy, Geoff Carroll, Ann Bancroft and a team of 21 dogs. During this expedition, Richard, along with teammate Brent Boddy, became the first Canadians to reach the North Pole on foot while Ann Bancroft became the first woman to trek to the Pole. |
| 1988 | Soviet-Canadian Polar Bridge Expedition | The first surface crossing of the Arctic Ocean on skis. This 91-day expedition crossed 1800 kilometres of Arctic Ocean from Cap Arkticheskiy in Northern Siberia to Cape Columbia on Ellesmere Island (Canada), via the North Pole. The 13 members (nine Soviets and four Canadians) departed on March 3, reached the Pole on Day 54 (April 25) and arrived in Canada on June 1. Richard became the first person to reach the Pole from both sides of the Arctic Ocean: Canada and Russia. |
| 1992 | Weber Malakhov Expedition | Richard, with companion Misha Malakhov became the first to attempt to journey to the North Pole and return using only human resources. They departed from Ward Hunt on March 13. Eighty-five days later, on June 14, they reached 89 degrees 39. With only 39 kilometers short of the Pole, they had to make the decision to turn back if they wanted to have any hope of returning to Ward Hunt. On June 21, due to the lack of ice, they were picked up by an airplane and brought back to safety. |
| 1995 | Weber Malakhov Expedition | Richard and Misha's second attempt to journey from Ward Hunt (Canada) to the North Pole and return using only human resources was a success. Their expedition became the first (and is still the only) unsupported expedition to reach the North Pole and return to land. They departed Ward Hunt on February 14 and reached the Pole eighty one days later, on May 12. On June 15, they were back at Ward Hunt establishing a record of 108 days for the longest unsupported polar journey. |
| 2006 | North Pole Classic | Richard guided Conrad Dickinson to the North Pole with no re-supplies. This was the first expedition to reach the North Pole using snowshoes exclusively. |
| 2007 | North Pole Expedition 2007 | Richard guided Adrian Hayes (from Dubai) and Iain Morpeth (from the United Kingdom) to the North Pole. They left Ward Hunt on March 7 and reached the Pole on April 25, on Day 50 of the expedition. |
"Last Degree" North Pole expeditions
In April 1993, Richard and Dr. Mikhail (Misha) Malakhov pioneered the first commercial North Pole expedition allowing people to ski the final 100 kilometres (i.e. from the 89th parallel) to the North Pole. From Longyearbyen (in the Svalbard archipelago), the clients are flown to Borneo, the Russian drifting station, the starting point of the expedition.
Between 1993 and 2005, Richard and Misha have conducted eight of these North Pole Dash expeditions.
In 1999, Jack MacKenzie, a North Pole Dash participant originating from Canada, became the oldest person ever to ski to the North Pole at age 77 years, ten months and 13 days.
On April 23, 2003 Jill and Pete Etheridge, and Alison Sheldrick, three of the North Pole Dash participants, became the first persons to reach the North Pole wearing snowshoes.
Other arctic expeditions
| Location | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 1985 | Dog sled and ski expedition - Inuvik to Point Barrow - training expedition for Will Steger International Polar Expedition - 850 km |
| Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut | 1999 | Ski expedition from Expedition Fiord, across the island to mummified forest, and Muller Ice Cap -200 km |
| Arctic Ocean | 2003 | Training Search and Rescue Technicians (SARTechs) on the Arctic Ocean-based out of the Canadian military base in Alert, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut |
| Baffin Island | 1987 | Dog sled and ski expedition from Broughton Island to Clyde River - 400 km |
| 1988 | Pioneered a new route from Okoa Bay to Glacier Lake across the Penny Ice Cap, Auyuittuq National Park - 150 km | |
| 1991 | Ski expedition Igloolik to Clyde River across Fox basin - 650 km | |
| 1997 | First commercial trip from Okoa Bay to Glacier Lake across the Penny Ice Cap, Auyuittuq National Park - 150 km | |
| 1998 | Established a tourist camp in Jackman Sound for hiking, kayaking, wildlife viewing + Kayak expedition around southern tip of Frobisher Bay | |
| 1998 and 1999 | Crossing of Penny Ice Cap, Auyuittuq National Park from Coronation Fiord to Glacier lake - 120 km | |
| 2002 | Ski expedition from Sam Ford Fiord, Clyde River to Pond Inlet - 550 km | |
| 2003 | Ski traverse of Bylot Island, north Baffin Island - 200 km | |
| Ellesmere Island, Nunavut | 1997 | Ski expedition from Lake Hazen to Ward Hunt Island -250 km. Climbed Mount Arrowhead (first summited by Dr. JR Weber in 1956) |
| 1998 | Ski expedition from Ellesmere Island across Kane Basin to Siorapaluk, Greenland - 300 km | |
| 2001 | Ski expedition from Isabella Bay, through Sverdrup Pass to Alexandra Fjord and around Pim Island - 200 km | |
| 2005 | Ski expedition on southern Ellesmere Island – 250 km | |
| Greenland | 2004 | Ski expedition from Rensselaer Bay to Qaanaaq through Etah and across the Greenland Ice Sheet - 230 km |
| Northern Quebec | 1999 | Ski expedition down the Korac River in the Torngat Mountains - 150 km |
| Svalbard, Norway | 2002 | Ski traverse of Spitsbergen Island - 100 km |
Awards
| Year | Award | Presented by |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | International Fairplay Award | UNESCO for participation in the Polar Bridge Expedition |
| 1989 | Order of Friendship of Nations | Government of the Soviet Union |
| 1992 | Confederation Medal | Government of Canada, presented by then Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, the Honourable John Allen Fraser P.C., Q.C. |
| 1993 | Russian Medal for Personal Courage | Government of Russia following a declaration signed by President Boris Yeltsin |
| 1994 | Meritorious Service Medal | Governor General of Canada |
| 1996 | Meritorious Service Medal | Governor General of Canada. Richard is the only person to be twice awarded this medal. |
| 1996 | Order of Friendship of Nations | Government of Russia |
| 2015 | Order of Canada | Government of Canada |
| 2016 | Ondaatje Medal | Royal Canadian Geographical Society |
Honors
| Year | Honour |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Inducted into the Canadian Ski Museum's Hall of Fame |
What has been said about Weber
- "To my mind Richard Weber and Misha Malakhov are the greatest of all Arctic travellers. Their 1995 North Pole return journey was the most difficult polar challenge ever achieved." (Sir Ranulph Fiennes)
- "The Arctic is a very challenging terrain and in order to face it you need to be with the right people. There are no two better people in the world to be with than Mikhail Malakhov and Richard Weber. They are the best." (Robert Swan)
- "When I first heard that Weber and Malakhov were attempting this trip, I said, 'It's possible. They can do it; everyone one can do it.'" (Will Steger)
- "Above all, Richard got us there and was the best leader we could have possibly had - and the most skilled person on the ice in the world." (Adrian Hayes, 2007 North Pole expedition)
Books
| Year | Title | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Polar Bridge, The Soviet Canadian Trans-Arctic Expedition | Key Porter Books |
| 1996 | Polar Attack, From Canada to the North Pole and Back | McCelland and Stewart |