From: reed@cs.washington.edu (Renee Reed)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry,rec.climbing
Subject: Real Climbers are over 80 :)
Date: 29 Sep 92 19:26:50 GMT
Article-I.D.: beaver.1992Sep29.192650.11708
Organization: Computer Science & Engineering, U. of Washington, Seattle



This forwarded from someone in our office who follows the
Iditarod each year.. 
	-renee
----------

The following is the information from Antarctic Expedition, Inc.,
regarding the new adventure of  Norman Vaughn, 88-year old Alaskan
dog musher and explorer who plans to climb Mt. Vaughan (named after
Norm) in the Antarctic . He's a guy I've mentioned at times because he
at 80+ has driven his dog team in the 1,049 mile Iditarod (and bills
himself as the 'oldest and slowest').

If you know teachers, you might want to pass along the info to the
schools.

And if you want a *fascinating* account of Vaughan's expedition with 
Byrd to the Antarctic in 1928, read his "With Byrd at the Bottom of 
the World". It's an absolutely incredible story.

THE MISSION

Norman D. Vaughan was a member of Admiral Richard E. Byrd's first
Antarctic Expedition in 1928 as a dog driver.  Admiral Byrd's historic
flight over the South Pole marked the end of an era when dogs were the
sole means of polar transportation.  Norman Vaughan has longed to
return with a dog team and climb the 10,302' Mount Vaughan named in
honor of his contributions to the 1928 Byrd Expedition.  Mount Vaughan
is 450 miles inland on the Ross Ice Shelf in the Queen Maud Mountains,
85 degrees 55 minutes S, 155 degrees 50 minutes W.

The mission is twofold: Through the inspiration of an octogenarian
climbing "his" mountain at the age of 88, it is a message to all ages
to pursue dreams and lofty goals.  It is a message that no challenge
is too great.  The seemingly impossible is always possible.  Be bold.
Take the first step.  And "live younger longer".

The second mission is educational: The protection of the Antarctic is
pivotal to the global environment, the health of the planet, and the
survival of the human species.  Students-citizens of the future are
the key to its preservation.

Vaughan's inspiring adventure to return once again to drive dogs in
the Antarctic will mark the end of an era of using dogs in the area,
and will focus attention on the new Antarctic Treaty, maintaining the
scientific cooperation of nations for another 50 years.  The last
sledge journey will be a symbolic gesture to close an important era of
history.  It was dogs that opened up the Antarctic to exploration and
scientific study, and now the removal of dogs highlights the new Flora
and Fauna Annex to protect the fragile environment of the Artarctic by
removing all non indigenous species.

Through the media and a telecommunications network to students
worldwide, this dynamic, "live" event will link the expedition
directly to millions of children, their teachers, and environmental
experts worldwide to study together the polar regions and their
environmental implications.

Antarctica has been the continent that belonged to no one, to no
nation, the large and largely ignored land at the bottom of the globe.
Suddenly that is changing.  The "ozone" and the prospect of mineral
development have made it into the environmental news.  The Antarctic
waters contain the world's richest and least tainted fisheries; the
mineral-rich land mass is the world's largest desert but ironically
contains over 80% of the world's fresh water locked in ice as much as
two miles thick.  Layered in this ice is the history of the earth's
atmosphere and climate over the last 10,000 years and the story of
man's expanding impact on the planet.

Antarctica is also the land of towering peaks, raging wind, wild ocean
birds and sea creatures...the last true wild place.  This is the
Antarctica of the Mount Vaughan Antarctic Expedition.

____  I would like more information about the educational program.

____  I would like to be an individual contributor and am enclosing
      _____for Mount Vaughan Artarctic Expediction, Inc., a nonprofit
      educational organization.

____  I would like to be a corporate sponsor.  Please send more info.

ORDERS:

t-shirts: Long sleeve ($18) L, XL, XXL
          Short sleeve ($13) L, XL, XXL
Sweatshirt: ($23) L, XL, XXL
    (Indicate size and number of shirts)

Mount Vaughan Antarctic Expedition poster($25)

Name: 
Address:
Phone:      

Mail to: Mount Vaughan Antarctic Expedition
         P.O. Box 770395
         Eagle River, AK 99507