The Crew


THE MANAGEMENT

David Hempleman-Adams

THE DIRVER

Daavid Hempleman-Adams is one of the greatest British explorers alive. In over forty years of expeditions, he has left an indelible mark through his example and unwavering dedication. He was the first to climb the Seven Summits and tread on all four Magnetic and Geographical Poles. He has broken forty-seven World Air Sports Federation hot air balloon records, and was the first to captain a sailboat – the Northabout – through the Northeast and Northwest Passages in a legendary 120-day journey.

ADVENTURE100%

EXPERIENCE90%

EXPEDITIONS90%

Miguel Gutierrez Garitano

DIRECTOR

Miguel Gutiérrez Garitano is a historian, writer and explorer. For the last fifteen years he has been part of and led many expeditions to tropical and dessert areas while carrying out journalistic work in remote areas and conflict zones. His travels have resulted in books – five so far -, and dozens of articles and contributions to radio, press and television. He has been awarded the Premio de Literatura de Viajes Camino del Cid – Europe’s most prestigious travel literature award – in 2011, and a Mikel Essery award in 2012, among others. In 2015 and 2016 he led the Mars Gaming expeditions in Peru, in which the several Incan ruins, like those of a sanctuary in a, like those of Vilcabamba mountain, were discovered.

ADVENTURE100%

EXPERIENCE75%

EXPEDITIONS60%

Laura Hernandez Perez

DIRECTOR

Laura Hernández Perez is the co-owner of Biomag S.L., a hardware company, as well as president of the Asociación Expedición Solidaria de Viajeros para el Desarrollo. Committed to solidarity and cultural projects, she organizes and sponsors documentaries and expeditions like the 2015 Mars Gaming Expedition. As the driving force of initiatives she has often traveled to Third World countries.

AVENTURE90%

EXPERIENCE40%

EXPEDITIONS40%



THE SAILORS

Mike Stewart

THE CAPTIAN

Mike Stewart is a retired officer of the British Army Special Forces. He has navigated over 35.000 miles as a professional captain in sailboats between one and 110 tons. He is a seasoned survival expert and has been in charge of high-risk expeditions in hostile environments owing to his 23 years of experience as a soldier in three Commonwealth armies. Stewart will be captain of the Northabout in this journey.

AVENTURE100%

EXPERIENCE85%

EXPEDITIONS60%

Nikolai Litau

THE ARCTIC ADVISER

Nikolai Litau has sailed all the oceans for 30 years, in which he has navigated to the Arctic ten times and circumnavigated Antarctica. He has been awarded the Royal Cruising Club Medal for Seamanship, the Cruising Club of America’s Blue Water Medal, and the Russian Medal for Courage. He is a member of the Russian Geographic Society. Litau will be second in command.

AVENTURE100%

EXPERIENCE90%

EXPEDITIONS70%

Aitor Basarrate Etxebarria

NAVIGATING EXPERT

Aitor Basarrate Etxebarria, is a yacht captain with many hours of sailing experience, diving instructor and apnea fishing, aquatic lifeguards, regular mountain and ultrafondo mountain races, experienced mountaineer and licensed chef; As well as expert in handling GPS navigation devices.

AVENTURE100%

EXPERIENCE70%

EXPEDITIONS60%



THE EXPERTS

María Valencia Basaldua

DOCTOR

Travaler, explorer and expedition doctor, María Valencia Basaldua has recently been protrayed in Conde Nast Traveler magazine as one of the best known Spanish travelers. A General Practice Doctor specialized in Tropical Medicine she has worked in India, Philippines, Benin and Brazil. She then worked for a year with Médecins du Monde in Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami in Aceh and the 2006 earthquake in Jogjakarta. Beginning in 2008 she travelled around the world for four years. She has pursued studies in Mountain and Expedition Medicine, and has guided tourists through Third World countries. She was the doctor of the Mars Gaming Expedition to Peru.

AVENTURE100%

EXPERIENCE60%

EXPEDITIONS60%

Manuel Mallo López

ARTIC EXPERT

Manuel Mallo López, aeronautical engineer. Born in Madrid (Spain) and currently living in Kufstein (Austria).
Polar Expeditions: Last Degree to the North Pole (Barneo Base – 90ºN), 600km journey on skis though the Inlansdis (Kangerlussuaq – Isartoq), West to East crossing of the Vatnajökull glacier in Iceland, 100km on skis through the Inslansdis south of Greenland, Kap Taney to Siorapaluk expedition (North Greenland) on skis, Siorapaluk a Qaanaaq journey by dog sled, dog sled expedition from Karasjok to Klubbukt/Brennsvik (Norweigan Lapland), West – East crossing of Spitsbergen from Logyearbyen, oversea travel from Oulu to Kemi (Baltic Sea).

AVENTURE100%

EXPERIENCE70%

EXPEDITIONS70%


THE PRODUCTION TEAM

Rafael Gutierrez Garitano

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Rafael Gutiérrez Garitano is a photojournalist, explorer and war correspondent currently working for El Correo journal. A passionate traveler and renowned photographer, his work has been featured in press and media, as well in book covers. He has earned recognition through photo contests, being awarded the Camino de Hierro and the Spanish National Award in the Sony World Photography Awards, one of the most prestigious and participative competitions worldwide. He co-directed the Mars Gaming expeditions to Peru which resulted in the discovery of an Inca sanctuary in Vilcabamba.

AVENTURE100%

EXPERIENCE60%

EXPEDITIONS60%

Javier Zardoya

PROFESSIONAL CAMERA

Javier Zardoya. (Zaragoza, Spain, 1977). He is a journalist, geographer and explorer. For more than a decade he has worked in different Spanish and American media. He has also participated in important climbs in the mountain ranges of the Alps, Andes, Atlas or Pyrenees as well as in the last expeditions in the high Peruvian jungle next to the American explorer Greg Deyermenjian in search of the legend of the Paititi. Degree in Physical Geography by the University of Zaragoza and in Journalism by the University of the Basque Country. He studied screenwriting at Los Angeles City College where he also worked as a photographer and TV camera.

AVENTURE100%

EXPERIENCE60%

EXPEDITIONS60%

“Polar exploration is at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time which has been devised.”
– APSLEY CHERRY-GARRARD