Sebastian Copeland – författare

With his unrivaled photography taken during transcontinental crossings of each polar cap, Sebastian Copeland transports us to the ends of the earth and invites us into his expeditions. With his expedition partner, Copeland spent forty-three days crossing the Greenland ice sheet without outside support. In the process, he set a new world record for the longest distance traveled on kites and skis, covering 370 miles over one twenty-four-hour period. With the same partner, Copeland led the first east-to-west transcontinental crossing of Antarctica by skis and kites via two of its poles, setting three world records over the 2,500-mile, eighty-four-day expedition. These polar regions are also the bellwether of the impacts of climate change, and Copeland s stunning images galvanize our awareness of the threats of global warming and the need for conservation.

Few landscapes convey nature in all of its untamed splendor like the Arctic. Fewer still conjure respect like the seldom traveled and ethereal North Pole. Yet, sadly, this largely pristine and mostly misconceived treasure is now in jeopardy. Sebastian Copeland s noble goal in these pages is to pay homage to this wonderland, and, in turn, bring awareness to its perilous plight. Copeland s multifaceted background not only a polar explorer, award- winning photographer, and established author and journalist but also a dedicated environmental advocate offers us a unique vantage point from which to appreciate this lonely spot. The Arctic is one of two of the last true wildernesses on the planet, and its demise should ring the alarm for lower latitudes. Copeland s authority on the subject is unparalleled. Although the vision presented in these pages may be poetic, the book s aims are pragmatic to seduce and inspire readers to help foster a transformation toward a sustainable future. The book will feature segments of Sebastian s diaries, including entries from his trips crossing the Arctic Sea to reach the North Pole and a record- setting, south-to-north crossing of the Greenland ice mass. The Arctic takes the reader along for the ride it tinkers with the gear, shares the tug of the heavy sled, and teases the spirit as it pulls toward the wide-open space of an otherworldly earth. It is a visually arresting ode to the human pursuit of exploration and an open door to dream.

Antarctica s ice sheet is a powerful entity, alive and dynamic. It is up to three million years old; its mass is constantly and imperceptibly moving, finally calving to the sea. Deep in the heart of the continent is a barren desert of snow, while the coast teems with life: the dominion of whales, birds, penguins, and seals, which had previously evolved outside of human contact. Until recently, scientists thought Antarctica had remained mostly untouched by climate change. But now they have warned that the ice is indeed melting and quickly. My research there gave me a deeper perspective of the subtle variations taking place at the hands of climate change, says Copeland. The images I bring back tell the story of a changing environment that spells the oncoming redrawing of the world s map, and all that it implicates.