In February 2006 Thomas Muhler (43) is making the impossible possible: At up to -50°C  the extreme athlete, who lives in Moscow, is going tol travel from the Canadian Whitehorse 1,000 miles (about 1.600km) with his mountainbike to the polar sea!

The 43 years old Thomas Muhler is not an unknown person in the extreme-sport scene: For several decades the industrialist from Frankfurt/Main/Germany who builds Multiplex-cinemas in Moscow undertakes bicycle expeditions all over the globe. In 2005 he successfully mastered, as the first European, the 300 miles of the Yukon Arctic Ultra, the hardest and coldest ultra-marathon (Canada) ever.

Now, Muhler is putting to the test his ice cold nervs beyond the arctic circle. In February 2006, he wants to cover the distance of 1,200km from Whitehorse (Yukon Territories/Canada) to Tuktoyaktuk (Northwest Territories/Canada) which lies only 2,000km away from the magnetic north pole on his Rohloff equipped mountain bike. Whitehorse is the destination of the world-famous dog-sledding race "Yukon Quest" that starts in Fairbanks/Alaska 1,000 miles northwards.

Tuktoyaktuk,being the utmost northern village of Canada, lies  on the shore of the Beaufort Arctic Sea, 200km above the arctic circle and only 2,000km  south of the magnetic north pole. Here it is always cold - especially in wintertime: At temperatures beyond minus 50 degrees the own breath freezes in the air. That's how you imagine ahostile environment.

During his expedition Thomas Muhler is accompanied by two all-wheel driven SUVs with a six-man crew: a locale guide, a mechanic, a physician, a physiotherapist, a TV-team and a fotographer. This crew will solve logistic problems and is also going to take care for Muhler's sfety. Only if the local circumstances permit it, overnight stays in firmed housings (hotel, lodge) will be possible. The rest of the nichts, hte tram will have to spend in tents. If the temperatures extremely fall (below -40°C), the motors of both vehicles will have to run all night long, otherwise the car batteries will discharge themselves and the oil will freeze stringily. Then a continuation of the journey will be impossible - a deadly peril emerges! At fixed houses the vehicles are going to be directly connected with the power supply system via cable.

The first 100 miles to the Braeburn Lodge Muhler - who begins his record ride simultantiously - will make together with the participants of the "Yukon Arctic Ultra". But where most of the others are going to celebrate their finish Muhler's challenge is only starting:  At the  Braeburn Lodge he will leave the trail and is going to cycle 115 km along the Klondike Highway to the well-known boom town Dawson City. There, Muhler is going to turn off onto the 745km long Dempster Highway to cross the Arctic Circle. Once arrived at Inuvik the ice-period for Muhler begins: Over the meters thick frozen surface of the Mackkenzie- Delta he is going to cover the last 194km on the "Ice Road", which is only drivable in wintertime. Here only the trucks drive, which provide the approx. 1,000 citizens of Tuktoyaktuk and the arctic exploratory stations with vital things or transport oil.

Ice cold nervs are similarly demanded in the snow flurry on the arctic route like endurance and ambition, paired with an iron will. At temperatures of down to minus 50°C every uncovered part of the body is immediately punished with frostbites in the icy wind. Therefore, Muhler is forced to cover the last stage's distance of 194km ice track nonstop for his own safety.

Source: Kappes Adventure Press, Munich, Germany