Explorer's Grand Slam Explained

The Explorer's Grand Slam is an adventurer goal to reach the North Pole and South Pole, as well as climb the Seven Summits (Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson, and Puncak Jaya or Kosciuszko).

History

The original concept involved the polar trips starting from accepted coastal points, involving long sledging journeys. Over time the significantly shorter, easier, and less serious "Last Degree" polar trips – from 89 degrees to the pole (at 90 degrees) – have been claimed as the Explorer's Grand Slam (Last Degree). Currently, the climbing community and other leading organizations including the American Alpine Club, The Explorers Club, climbing companies such as International Mountain Guides, and the popular press all define the Explorer's Grand Slam as having accomplished the Seven Summits plus (at a minimum – the last degree of) the North and South Poles. There is some consensus that a True Explorer's Grand Slam means one will also have summitted all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres (26,247 ft) (14 + 7 + 2). Likewise, there is some consensus that a True Adventurer's Grand Slam is achieved by also visiting the magnetic north and south poles.[1] As of 2022, all terminology and guidelines regarding polar data records are being conducted under the Polar Expeditions Classification Scheme (PECS).[2]

In 1998, David Hempleman-Adams became the first person to complete an Explorer's Grand Slam.[3] [4]

In April 2005, Park Young-seok became the first person to complete a True Explorer's Grand Slam.[5]

In 2011, former Wales rugby union international Richard Parks became the first person ever to complete the (Last Degree) Grand Slam within a single calendar year, doing so within seven months.[6]

On April 16, 2013, Vanessa O'Brien became the first woman to complete the (Last Degree) Grand Slam under a single calendar year, doing so in eleven months.[7] [8]

On April 22, 2013, Cheryl Bart became the first Australian woman and the 31st person worldwide to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam.[9] [10]

In 2014, Jing Wang became the fastest woman to complete the (Last Degree) Grand Slam in 142 days.[11]

In 2014, Ryan Waters became the first American to complete the True Adventurer's Grand Slam by skiing full-length, unsupported and unassisted North and South Pole expeditions and climbing the seven summits.

On April 21, 2015, Tashi Malik and Nungshi Malik became world's first twins and siblings as well as the first South Asians to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam (Last Degree).

On May 27, 2016, Colin O'Brady became the fastest person to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam (Last Degree), doing so in 139 days. He is the current world speed record holder for completing the Explorer's Grand Slam (Last Degree).[12] [13] [14] [15]

On April 12, 2017, Marin Minamiya became the youngest person to complete the Explorer's Grand Slam (Last Degree) at 20 years old.

People who completed the quest

Full Grand Slam (both poles from an outer coastline/shore)

In chronological order:

  1. David Hempleman-Adams
  2. Erling Kagge
  3. Fyodor Konyukhov
  4. Heo Young-ho
  5. Park Young-seok (first person to complete a True Explorers Grand Slam)
  6. Bernard Voyer[16]
  7. Cecilie Skog
  8. Maxime Chaya
  9. Ryan Waters[17]
  10. Stuart Smith
  11. Johan Ernst Nilson[18]
  12. [19]

Grand Slam (one pole from an inner coastline/shore and one pole from an outer coastline/shore or last degree)

In chronological order:

  1. Haraldur Ólafsson (SP non-Coastal)
  2. Khoo Swee Chiow (SP non-Coastal)[20]
  3. Alison Levine (NP non-Coastal)[21]
  4. Mostafa Salameh (NP non-Coastal)[22]
  5. Newall Hunter (NP non-Coastal)[23]
  6. Zhang Liang (SP non-Coastal)[24] [25]
  7. Grazyna Machnik (NP non-Coastal)[26]
  8. Jaco Ottink (NP non-Coastal)[27] [28]
  9. Jérôme Brisebourg (NP non-Coastal)[29] [30]
  10. Mark Shuttleworth (NP non-Coastal)[31]

Last Degree Grand Slam (both poles from 89 degrees)

In chronological order:

  1. Sean Disney[32]
  2. Vaughan de la Harpe
  3. Sibusiso Vilane
  4. Arthur Marsden
  5. Andrew Van Der Velde
  6. Vernon Tejas
  7. Will Cross
  8. Lei Wang
  9. Neil Laughton[33]
  10. Jo Gambi
  11. Rob Gambi
  12. Randall Peeters
  13. Wang Yongfeng
  14. Ci Luo
  15. Liu Jian
  16. Wang Shi
  17. Zhong Jianmin
  18. Jin Feibao[34]
  19. Wang Qiuyang
  20. Suzanne K Nance[35]
  21. Richard Parks
  22. Andrea Cardona
  23. John Dahlem
  24. Matthew Holt
  25. Arnold Witzig
  26. Len Stanmore[36]
  27. Cheryl Bart
  28. Vanessa O'Brien
  29. Sebastian Merriman[37]
  30. Jing Wang
  31. Tashi Malik[38] [39]
  32. Nungshi Malik
  33. Omar Samra[40]
  34. Maria (Masha) Gordon
  35. Colin O'Brady
  36. John Moorhouse
  37. Victor Vescovo[41]
  38. Sean Swarner[42]
  39. Marin Minamiya[43]
  40. Michael W. Grigsby[44] [45]
  41. Julia Elinor Schultz[46]
  42. Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin[47]
  43. Mike Gibbons[48] [49]
  44. Nikolaos Mangitsis[50] [51]
  45. Josu Feijoo[52] [53]
  46. James Holliday[54]
  47. Joel Schauer[55]
  48. Alexander Pancoe[56]
  49. Leifur Svavarsson[57]
  50. Khai Nguyen[58] [59] [60]
  51. Taylor Sweitzer
  52. Antony Costa

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: First person to complete the Adventurers Grand Slam . Guinness World Records . 18 September 2018.
  2. Web site: The Language of Polar Adventure . Polar Expeditions Classification Scheme . 16 February 2022.
  3. News: North Pole party for 'Grand Slam' Briton. BBC. 1998-04-30.
  4. Web site: Van Den Broek . Alex . Can the Explorer’s Grand Slam Be Saved? . The Explorers Web . 22 August 2019.
  5. Web site: Mr. Park completes the Grand Slam. EverestNews.com. April 2005.
  6. Web site: Parks completes epic challenge . ESPN Scrum . 2011-07-12 . 2011-07-12.
  7. News: Boston's Vanessa O'Brien Completes 'Explorer's Grand Slam' in Record Time . Boston.com. April 2013.
  8. Web site: Boston's Vanessa O'Brien Becomes First Woman to Climb Seven Summits . Grind TV . May 2013 . 2013-10-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140827080810/http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/excursions/post/woman-does-explorers-grand-slam-in-record-time/ . 2014-08-27 . dead .
  9. Web site: Historic feat for Australian woman conquering Explorer's Grand Slam.
  10. News: Icy grand slam success . The Sydney Morning Herald.
  11. Web site: An Awesome Adventure of Wang Jing. Gantabya Nepal News. 23 June 2016. 16 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190216072750/http://gantabyanepalnews.com/interview/2833. dead.
  12. News: Setting an epic world record. 2017-01-23.
  13. News: Meet the Triathlete Who Broke Two Mountaineering World Records and Snapchatted Everest VICE Sports. VICE Sports. en-US. 2017-01-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202095713/https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/colin-obrady-broke-two-mountaineering-world-records-snapchatted-everest. 2017-02-02. dead.
  14. News: Behind-the-Scenes of Colin O’Brady’s Record-Shattering Expedition. Men's Journal. 2017-01-23.
  15. News: Portland endurance athlete brings home two world records, makes us all look lazy. OregonLive.com. en-US. 2017-01-23.
  16. Web site: Roy-Sole. Monique. Gold Medal 2000 Winner – Bernard Voyer. The Royal Canadian Geographical Society. 18 April 2016. 2 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160402164248/http://www.rcgs.org/awards/gold_medal/winner_gold2000.asp. dead.
  17. Web site: Stonich. Avery. What It Takes to Complete the Adventurers Grand Slam Unsupported. https://web.archive.org/web/20140521050601/http://adventureblog.nationalgeographic.com/2014/05/19/what-it-takes-to-complete-the-adventurers-grand-slam-unsupported/. dead. May 21, 2014. National Geographic. May 19, 2014.
  18. Web site: Stats. Adventure. Three Poles – NP, SP, Everest (excluding motorized). Adventure Stats. Adventure Stats. 15 August 2016. 18 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150218171527/http://www.adventurestats.com/tables/threepoles.shtml. dead.
  19. Web site: Adventure Stats. Adventure Stats. 12 June 2017.
  20. Web site: Khoo Swee Chiow, Adventure Consultant & Motivational Speaker . August 9, 2011 . Everestnews.com.
  21. Associated Press, Climber Conquers Everest and Records Grand Slam https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/sports/15climb.html New York Times. Aug 14, 2000.
  22. Web site: Coetzer. Correne. Interview with Mostafa Salameh: Islam, Palestine, Peace and the South Pole. The Explorers Web. 10 November 2015.
  23. Web site: Hynes . Justin . NEWALL HUNTER: HOW A 53-YEAR-OLD IT ENGINEER JOINED THE EXPLORING ELITE . Nightjar Travel . 1 July 2017.
  24. Web site: Pokhrel . Rajan . Four Chinese climbers complete all 14 peaks above 8,000 m this autumn . The Himalayan Times . 3 October 2018.
  25. Web site: van den Broek . Alex . Can the Explorer’s Grand Slam Be Saved? . Explorers Web . 22 Aug 2018.
  26. Web site: Walsh . Martin . Antarctica 2018–2019: Final Recap . Explorers Web . 18 January 2019.
  27. Web site: Kikstra . Harry . Editor . The 7 Summits . 29 January 2020.
  28. Web site: Ottink . Jaco . Owner & Managing Director . Beyond Summits . 29 January 2020.
  29. Web site: liveXplorer . Expeditions Unlimited . 2 July 2020.
  30. Web site: 2019 Expedition Updates. Who Reached the Pole . Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC . 2 July 2020.
  31. Web site: South Pole Expedition- 2021/22 . The Shutts . 1 February 2022.
  32. News: Seemela . Masego . Father and son take on Mount Kilimanjaro . 1 February 2021 . Fourways Review . 29 August 2016.
  33. News: Laughton. Neil. Neil Laughton: the adventure interview. Telegraph Media Group. London. 2012-12-12.
  34. Web site: Scally . Patrick . YUNNAN'S NATIVE SON, JIN FEIBAO, COMPLETES 100 MARATHONS IN 100 DAYS . Go Kunming . 31 August 2018.
  35. Web site: Trek For Hope (The Himalayan Panoramas) – Sharing by Mr Khoo Swee Chiow . Meetup . 24 November 2016.
  36. Web site: Lovitt. Rob. Adventure traveler Len Stanmore is not your average retiree. Today Travel. 27 November 2012.
  37. Web site: Seb 2 Poles and 7 Summits . Explorer's Grand Slam . 13 July 2021.
  38. Web site: Trivedi. Anupam. Doon twins set to make history, once again. https://web.archive.org/web/20150422112029/http://www.hindustantimes.com/dehradun/doon-twins-set-to-make-history-once-again/article1-1339822.aspx. dead. April 22, 2015. Hindustan Times. 22 April 2015.
  39. Web site: Trivedi. Anupam. Tashi, Nungshi conquer North Pole. 23 April 2015.
  40. Web site: Nourhan. Magdi. Omar Samra becomes 1st Egyptian to reach North Pole. https://web.archive.org/web/20150426065806/http://www.thecairopost.com/news/147527/inside_egypt/omar-samra-becomes-1st-egyptian-to-reach-north-pole. dead. 26 April 2015. The Cairo Post. YOUM7. 24 April 2015.
  41. http://7summits.com/ +SP:Jan 2016/Guide S. Robertson(ALE); NP:Apr 2017/Guide E. Larsen
  42. Web site: WINFIELD. ALETTE. Sean Swarner Becomes First Cancer Survivor To Complete Explorer's Grand Slam. PR Web. 1 May 2017.
  43. Web site: NHK. 最年少２０歳で冒険家グランドスラム達成 南谷さんが会見. NHK News. 19 April 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170419083643/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20170419/k10010953971000.html. 19 April 2017.
  44. Web site: Hendrick. Bill. Cobb man's quest to conquer the Seven Summits. The Marietta Daily Journal (MDJ). 9 July 2016.
  45. News: The thrill-seeker. Davis. Mark. 2017-05-06.
  46. Web site: Julia Schultz Certificate. Explorers Grand Slam. 6 June 2017.
  47. Web site: Family, Country Leader Inspired National Explorer Qobin to Create History. The Malay Mail Online. 7 January 2018.
  48. Web site: 2017 South Pole and Mount Vinson Blogs. Polar Explorers. 1 January 2017. 2 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190202095353/https://www.polarexplorers.com/polarexplorers-media/blog/expedition-updates/itemlist/category/39-2017-south-pole-and-mount-vinson-blogs?start=14. dead.
  49. Web site: 2016 North Pole Last Degree Ski Blog. Polar Explorers. 1 January 2016.
  50. Web site: http://7summits.com/info/7stats/statistics_cp.php?s_fm=0&s_fl=0&s_qfn=&s_qf10_id=Yes&s_qf10_id=Yes&s_sfn[0=0&s_sfn[1]=1 The 7summits statistics: the Carstensz Pyramid list]. The Seven Summits. 10 March 2018.
  51. Web site: Kalfas . Efthimis . Who is Nikos Maggisis, the first Greek to reach the South Pole . LIFOCITY . 23 January 2019.
  52. Web site: ALCUTÉN. JACOBO. Josu Feijoo, el primer astronauta diabético. 20 Minutos. 23 March 2010.
  53. Web site: Josu Feijoo recibe la Insignia Olímpica del Comité Olímpico Español. ABC. Diario ABC. 29 April 2010.
  54. Web site: Facts & figures of all 7summiteers! . The 7 Summits . 31 August 2016.
  55. Web site: Placek . Christopher . How Hawthorn Woods businessman vanquished Mount Everest . Daily Herald Chicago . 29 May 2016.
  56. Web site: CBS 2 News Morning . Northwestern Grad Alex Pancoe Climbs Denali . CBS Chicago . CBS Broadcasting Inc. . 25 June 2019.
  57. Web site: Positions of the Expeditions . Explorer Grand Slam Official Website . 1 February 2020.
  58. http://7summits.com/ +SP:Dec 30 2009/Guide David Hamilton (ALE); NP:Apr 10 2008/Guide Christoph Hobenreich
  59. Web site: Simonson . Eric . IMG Denali Teams 5 and 6 on the way . International Mountain Guide . 12 June 2021.
  60. Web site: Simonson . Eric . Denali Teams 6 and 7 on top . International Mountain Guides . 30 June 2021.

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