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Thrukon is a 2500 mile sub-arctic glacial survey on two motorcycles through sections of British Columbia, Yukon Territory and Alaska. The survey team hopes to observe and document important glaciers along the route north, while attempting to capture the spirit of exploration. The general approach for the trip will be part travel documentary and part research survey, which will involve riding motorcycles equipped with the necessary gear for field research, camping and video/photo documentation; as well as limited spares for any unforeseen events. This blog is the repository for all of the information gathered in preparation for and during the journey.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Announcement of the 2015 Thrukon Team

Introducing the core members of this exciting project, Nathan, Errin and Jeffry...


Nathan Napolitano
Scientist, Rookie Explorer, Photographer
Riding a 2013 BMW F800GS 

Nathan is rookie explorer and savvy field researcher who advocates for direct observation and action. Never one to remain in a comfort zone, Nathan prefers to be in the thick of things and welcomes challenging situations. He believes that spending time outdoors searching for new subjects and having transformative experiences is exactly how life should be lived. Not as a tourist, but as an active participant who is constantly learning. 

Nathan has spent years documenting a range of subjects and subcultures from underground music scenes and urban cycling; to international travel, natural disaster recovery, and more recently, environmental concerns. Trained as an epidemiologist in the realm of the public health, Nathan has seen time and time again that our health as a population is dependent upon our relationship with our surroundings. 

Whether he is surveying the aftermath and recovery of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Sri Lanka, or capturing the fragile relationship between humans and the planet, whatever the project… Nathan can be found somewhere outside.
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Errin Vasquez
Television Editor, Dual-sport Enthusiast, Long Distance Cyclist. 
Riding a 2014 BMW F800GSAdv 

Errin Vasquez was born and raised in Los Angeles. He currently works in the television industry where he is paid to sit in a basement and watch TV all day. When not working he spends as much time as he can outdoors and is often found cycling, hiking, motorcycling, camping or just making coffee outside. 

As a cyclist, Errin participates in various fundraisers to raise awareness for his wife who suffers from a form of Liver Disease (PSC) as well as for his mom and friend who live with Multiple Sclerosis. These fundraisers including riding a portion of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route self-supported and riding a multiple fatbike centuries (100 miles in a day) in both California and Utah. He is also an active randonneur, a form of long distance cycling. 

Errin's love of adventure has taken him all across his home state of California as well as parts of Baja, Mexico on his dual-sport motorcycle over the years. Death Valley is a favorite motorcycling destination of his for both its scenery and remote dirt roads.


Read more about Errin's travels here: Frontage Roads
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Jeffry Hesse
Former Senior Product Manager at National Geographic, Photographer, Alaska Team Guide.
Shooting film with a Mamiya 645, Canon Elan IIe, Olympus Stylus DLX, video with Canon t3i 

Born the Grandson of a Fishing and Hunting Guide from Alaska brings with it some interesting baggage. Jeffry's family has been in Alaska since the early 1960's. Jeffry's Grandfather died in 2003, and when he did he came to know his Grandmother and Step Grandfather much more so. Taking cues from his Grandparents, Jeffry was taught to appreciate the land around him rather than to exploit it. Deviating from his Grandfather's mission that involved hunting, the only machinery Jeffry shoots nature with is a camera. 

Spending most of his life working in Technology, Jeffry feels compelled to make a difference in the world aside from his professional life. When not doing his day job as an Agile Coach/Product Manager, he finds solace in nature and gets to it any which way he can. Like Nathan, he abhors the comfort zone and appreciates getting "out there". He has ridden from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, DC twice self-supported on his bike, once by doing the whole ride without a cell phone. Jeffry is at home in the wild and his absolute loves are the glaciers of the world, and the mountains they belong to. His travels have taken him from Alaska to Patagonia, and many places in between.  

Jeffry's main passion with Photography was inspired by his time at The National Geographic Society. He is an avid photographer and mainly shoots 135 and 120 film. Film teaches a patience akin to that of watching a glacier calve, the perfect moment comes and it is not to be wasted. His main goal in the involvement of Thrukon is to add to the growing realization of how we as humans are altering the planet. His inspirations in photography work are James Balog and Aaron Huey, and a list of many others. 


Read more about Jeffry's travels here: Jeffry Hesse
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1 comment:

  1. That actually sounds like quite a bit of fun to do a 2500 mile Sub-Arctic glacial survey. Plus, they get to do it on motorcycles to make it that much more fun. There is a lot that they are going to be able to see and are going to learn about the areas and the environment as well.
    http://www.sub-arctic.ca/whatWeDo.htm

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