PORTLAND, Oregon - On 16 March 2004 explorer Cameron McPherson Smith (37) completed the first ever solo winter crossing, from West to East, of Iceland's Vatnajokull ice cap. This was Smith's fourth attempt since 2000. Smith travelled on ski, pulling a 'sled-hut' filled with supplies and in which he camped. "The sled-hut is like a fiberglass tent: it's a mobile storm shelter, and I'm glad I had it." Smith experienced winds up to 30 meters/second (78 miles per hour), and storm conditions throughout the 140km (86-mile) trek. "The distance was modest, but it still took 29 days. Except for 11 days, I was pinned down by storms, and even when I travelled, I was forcing a march through storm conditions."

Smith is the only person to have attempted the voyage. His first three attempts, from 2000 to 2002, were defeated by hurricane-force winds, miles of open crevasses and high snowfall.

'The wind blew me down a valley, the crevasses nearly swallowed me whole and the snow buried me alive,' Smith says, 'but I have learned how to survive on that ice cap.' Smith is currently writing a book about his four-year obsession with the ice cap, and planning several forthcoming expeditions. 'I can't survive without a few expedition plans in the works,' he explained.

Smith, an archaeologist, is a lecturer at Portland State University and Linfield College. He is a Life Fellow of London's prestigious Royal Geographical Society, a Fellow of the Explorers Club and for 20 years has made expeditions to Africa, South America, Alaska, Canada and Iceland. His expedition (soloice.com) was sponsored by the Earth and Space Foundation and outdoor gear manufacturers Patagonia and Outdoor Research, among others.

Contact for text, interviews and/or images (video and still photography): Cameron Smith or Chuck Sullivan at: team@soloice.com
503-224-9522