Explorers Grand Slam facts for kids

Sir David Hempleman-Adams standing in Antarctica in 2018. In 1998 he became the first person to complete an Explorers Grand Slam.

Vanessa O'Brien skiing the last degree to the North Pole as part of the Explorers Grand Slam in 2013. She was the first woman to complete the Last Degree in under one year.

The Explorers 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, Vinson, Puncak Jaya, Mount Elbrus).

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 Explorers 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 Explorers 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 Explorers 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 Adventurers Grand Slam is achieved by also visiting the magnetic north and south poles.

In 1998, David Hempleman-Adams became the first person to complete an Explorers Grand Slam.

In April 2005, Park Young Seok became the first person to complete a True Explorers Grand Slam.

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.

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.

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

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

In 2014, Ryan Waters became the first American to complete the True Adventurers 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 Explorers Grand Slam (Last Degree).

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

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

People who completed the quest

Explorers Grand Slam

In chronological order:

Explorers Grand Slam (Last Degree)

In chronological order:

External links

• Origins of the Explorers Grand Slam With Vanessa O'Brien

See also

In Spanish: Explorers Grand Slam para niños