Unexplored territory, rugged terrain and polar bears are awaiting climbing expedition team, Hansjörg Auer and Eneko & Iker Pou. The North Face/@Redbull join forces to support our magnificent trio in the attempt to open big wall routes in unexplored Perfection Valley situated on the east coast of Baffin Island, Canada.
“Perfection Valley”, is an unexplored Valley on the east coast of Baffin Island (Canada), only ever visited by wandering polar bears and a handful of scientists.
This beautiful valley has very aesthetic walls, and it’s about 80km s-w of Clyde River, a lateral of the Inugsuin Fiord.
Hansjörg Auer explained how he came up with the expedition: “Last summer, whilst traveling around Baffin I came across a beautiful image on Google Earth showing an amazing wall along with the coordinates – GPS N 69.89417°; W 69.24972° – and decided to set off to find it. The caption read ‘Perfection Valley”. There seems to be some really aesthetic walls in this beautiful valley – which probably did not get its name for nothing.
After two months of preparation, Hansjörg Auer (AUT), architect of the expedition, Eneko and Iker Pou (ESP) with their small team of guides and climbing friend Ben Lepesant (LUX) will explore a totally unknown place, with the purpose of opening one or more big wall routes in a modern style.
Not knowing what they will encounter, the whole expedition will be treated with radio silence until their return in two months time when the ice breaks up in late July. The dangers are a reality with prevailing polar bears; in case of difficulty, the closest rescue helicopter will be more than 600km away, making rescue difficult if not impossible. Temperatures will range from -5°C to +10°C.
The closest rescue helicopter is more than 600 km away, making rescue difficult if not impossible.
The North Face® Athlete Hansjörg Auer
The mountains have always been home to Hansjoerg having been born in, and lived all his life in, Austria. It was natural to him to want to learn to climb those mountains surrounding him, and he first climbed as a young boy at the age of 12. His last incredible achievements in 2011 is the first free ascent of “Hallucinogen Wall” in Black Canyon/Colorado and opened “Bruderliebe” on Marmolada South Face in the Dolomites.
The North Face® Athlete Iker Pou
A natural on rock, Iker hasn’t stopped exploring. His incredible success in the world of climbing has earned him world-wide repute, but as he says, ‘it is essential to never forget about the mountains and the adventures they hold’.
The North Face® Athlete Eneko Pou
Carpe Diem – Eneko lives these words and he never fails to ‘sieze the day’. His childhood love affair with the mountains has led him to impressive litany of free climbs, extreme ski descents and high altitude expeditions. He has gained true respect for his talent and attention to safety.
The Pou brothers’ passion for climbing has led them to incredible achievements worldwide. They are renowned for their talent and their phenomenal projects only strengthen their reputation as daring and innovative free climbers. Their successes continue to push the worldwide standard, and they truly live the philosophy of The North Face to ‘never stop exploring’.
Lead Athelete: Hansjörg Auer.
Expedition Team: Eneko Pou, Iker Pou, Ben Lepesant, Hansjörg Auer
Goal: open big wall routes in a modern style.
Location: Perfection Valley, Baffin Island, Canada.
Coordinates: N 69.89417°; W 6924972°
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Credits:
Photographer: Jason Briner, The North Face®/Damiano Levati, The North Face®/Matteo Vettorel
Athletes: The North Face® Athlete Hansjörg Auer, Eneko Pou, Iker Pou
Location: Perfection Valley, Baffin Island, Canada
