A Harrogate adventurer has etched his name into the history books after becoming the first person ever to reach seven of the planet’s most remote and challenging locations. Chris Brown, 63, a tech entrepreneur from North Yorkshire, achieved the milestone on 18 September when he arrived at the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility, approximately 400 miles from the geographic North Pole. The father of two now has just one more destination remaining in his extraordinary quest to visit all eight Poles of Inaccessibility on Earth.
A Pole of Inaccessibility is defined as the exact location of the furthest point from the sea or coast in any direction on a continental landmass or ocean. These extreme geographical points represent some of the hardest places to reach on the planet, with many having defeated countless explorers throughout history due to their remoteness, harsh conditions and logistical challenges.
Brown’s remarkable achievement follows years of meticulous planning and determination. He has already successfully reached poles in North America, South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica and Point Nemo in the Pacific Ocean. His seventh conquest, the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility in the Arctic, proved particularly elusive.
“This one feels like it has been a long time coming,” Brown said after reaching the Arctic location. “When I set myself the target of visiting all the poles of inaccessibility, I thought maybe three or four would be achievable. But here we are!”
The Yorkshireman’s journey to the Northern Pole was fraught with setbacks. He had previously attempted to reach it in 2019 but was forced to abandon the mission due to political restrictions and poor weather conditions. Swedish adventurer Frederik Paulsen beat him to becoming the first person to reach the Northern Pole in 2020.
This September, Brown boarded the French icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot on 5 September and persuaded the captain to divert course to bring him within a kilometre of the pole’s coordinates. On 12 September 2024, Le Commandant Charcot became the first ship ever to reach the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility. From there, Brown trekked across the ice with two companions to reach the exact spot on 18 September.
The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility lies at coordinates 85°48′N, 176°09′E, located 1,008 kilometres from the three closest landmasses. Countless explorers have tried and failed to reach it because of its remoteness, moving ice and extreme cold.
Brown expressed his gratitude to those who made the expedition possible. “I’d like to thank Captain Patrick Marchesseau for his support in reaching this Arctic Pole of Inaccessibility and his skill in navigating Arctic waters,” he said. “I’d also like to thank Sigurdur Sveinsson and Simika Best for bringing this vessel’s capabilities to my attention and support in my adventures.”
The Arctic expedition was far from a simple journey. On the voyage, the ship also visited the geographic North Pole, where Brown went hiking on the ice, cross-ice skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking and even completed an Arctic plunge, diving into water at minus 2C. During the journey, he spotted Arctic foxes, several large walrus colonies, humpback whales and three polar bears, including a lone female and another female with a grown cub.
Brown reflected on the unique challenges posed by the Arctic location. “The Arctic may be warmer than the Antarctic, but the shifting ice flows and currents make this PIA almost as difficult to achieve,” he explained. At the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility, there is only 30 minutes of sunlight every day.
The explorer, who sold his marketing business to fund his travels, offered inspiring words for aspiring adventurers. “Never give up. Just never give up,” he said. “No matter how hard your dreams may seem, keep working and see what happens.”
Brown reached Point Nemo in April 2024, where he was attacked by an albatross during the expedition. Each pole has presented its own distinct perils, from extreme weather to dangerous wildlife and geopolitical sensitivities.
Brown’s final destination in his quest remains the Eurasian Pole of Inaccessibility. Located in the Gurbantunggut desert in northwest China, close to the border with Kazakhstan, the Eurasian pole lies approximately 1,600 miles from the nearest coastline. British explorers Nicholas Crane and Richard Crane first reached the precise geographical point on 27 June 1986.
The region where the Eurasian pole is located is home to Uyghur Muslims and is considered particularly sensitive by Chinese authorities. Brown acknowledged the diplomatic challenges ahead. “It’s difficult enough to get permissions to go off the beaten track anywhere, but this is a particularly sensitive area,” he said. “I’m tall, red hair, I’m not going to fit in as a local, so I can’t just wing it and ask for forgiveness.”
Brown said he would fly to the eighth pole tomorrow if permissions were granted, demonstrating his eagerness to complete the historic achievement. “If somebody turned around and said, ‘Look, we’ve got a permit, but it only lasts a week’, I’d be on the next plane,” he added.
Brown’s son, Axel Brown, is an Olympic bobsleigh athlete, and the explorer himself holds a Guinness World Record for the most race dives into a swimming pool in one hour. He has been elected as a Lifelong Honorary Fellow of the Scientific Exploration Society.
Upon returning home on Monday, Brown said the first thing he did was order a curry. He reflected on the jarring transition from the remote Arctic to everyday life. “Going across the top of the world, really, you’re away from people, noises, lights, everything,” he said. “So when you come back into civilisation, it’s a bit overwhelming. There’s stuff going on everywhere. It takes a few days to acclimatise back into what we call regular life.”
Brown’s journey stands as testament to human determination and the enduring spirit of exploration. Should he successfully reach the Eurasian pole, he will become the first person in history to visit all eight Poles of Inaccessibility, a feat that seemed impossible when he began his quest just five years ago.
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