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Northanger's Crew
Keri has been sailing since 1986 when on her first voyage she sailed aboard a vessel leaving Christchurch, New Zealand for Antarctica. After surviving a capsize south of Cape Horn, she continued her travels aboard various sailing ships, gaining valuble experience. Keri teamed up with her husband and co-captain, Greg Landreth, in 1990 and together they purchased Northanger with the intent of returning to the Antarctic Peninsula were they had first met. After two successful sailing and climbing expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula and a wintering in Canadian Arctic, Keri has had at least 40,000 nautical miles of ocean pass under her. Born in 1964 in Ontario, the province furthest away from the ocean in Canada, her true passion is not just sailing but exploring the wild regions of the globe that Northanger allows her to access. She is an avid backcountry telemarker and dabbles in rock climbing (though admittedly she grunts her way up climbs, loves it). During the past eleven years, Keri has been photographically documenting her life aboard Northanger and the places she has been. She has amassed thousands of images, many of which have been published in various sailing and climbing magazines.
Greg has also been sailing since 1986 when he joined Rick Thomas, who was then the owner and captain of Northanger, for a climbing expedition to Antarctica. Greg rejoined Rick in England in 1988 and sailed as crew during a two-season transit of the Northwest Passage. Arriving in Victoria, BC in 1989, Keri and Greg were married and together, purchased Northanger. During Northanger's 1986 expedition to Antarctica, the summit of Mount Foster on Smith Island was reconnoitred but not attempted. This summit became the goal and the driving force during the years Keri and Greg were purchasing Northanger. In Greg's life before Northanger (B.N.) he was a passionate mountaineer and climber. Learning his skills in the New Zealand Alps, his climbing quests took him to Australia, Peru, to the big walls of the Yosemite and the ice-covered mountains of Antarctica. This year, Greg is juggling his responsibilities with the boat and is preparing himself for the Greenland big wall climb. Greg's photographs have also been published in various magazines and together with Keri, he is working on cataloguing their years of high latitude expeditioning.
Jia, from Whistler B.C., is an accomplished climber with years of experience and has a remarkable list of first ascents (and ski descents) around the globe. He brings aboard his skills in big wall climbing and has been pronounced one of our sharp end men for our attempt at an ascent on the unnamed wall in Greenland. Jia is a returnee aboard Northanger. He and Rich Prohaska sailed with us to the Antarctic Peninsula in 1997. The disreputable Drake Passage was their first sailing experience, which they survived and arriving in the Peninsula undaunted, were able to accomplish some first ascents in the area. Having survived years of mountaineering, ice climbing, heli skiing, first ski descents and Whistler nightlife, Jia confessed to us over the phone "I am terrified of the North Atlantic crossing". We've assured him that the crossing to Greenland is like a pond in comparison to Southern Ocean. He doesn't believe us. Jia is an avid photographer and has had his photos published in various magazines and catalogues.
Charlie is probably best known for his first ascents in Yosemite in the seventies. Charlie will be sailing aboard for the first time though it will not be his first time aboard Northanger. He was a regular visitor aboard during our time at the dock in Puerto Williams, Chile, where Charlie bases his sailing boat, Gondwana, during the austral summer months. In the years since he has been away from the big- wall climbing scene, he has been active as a self styled geologist and glaciologist, exploring the wilds of the Chilean channels aboard his vessel. Charlie is bringing aboard his skills as a climber and a sailor as well as his encyclopedic knowledge of glaciers, geology and myriad subjects. Charlie is our most experienced crew member, age? … to be discussed.
Angela is a thirty-year old MD who specializes in family practice and maternity care. Her love of travelling has taken her to India and Africa where she volunteered as a doctor. She is originally from Vancouver, BC but has been living in Newfoundland and Labrador for the past four years where she completed her medical training in Goosebay and Davis Inlet. Her interests include photography, music, sea kayaking, cross-country skiing, hiking and fitness. A passion for the outdoors and new adventures has brought her aboard Northanger, having always dreamt of sailing and this will be her first sailing voyage! Her personal quote, words to live by: "Whatever you can do, or think you can do, Begin it. For boldness has magic and power and beauty in it." Goethe
Chris has chosen Whistler as his home for the past 8 years. Originally attracted there by the beauty and diversity of the Coast Range. It is this stimulating environment, which has fuelled his passion for ski touring, climbing, and the great outdoors. Chris is into all forms of climbing "I like the type of climbing that takes me places." While in Chamonix this spring, where he skied the infamous Couturier Coulior, he received a call from Jia who asked him what he thought of coming aboard "Northanger" to Greenland in search of unclimbed big walls? "There was little to think about, for sure I had to go!" This trip will be full of new experiences for Chris. He brings with him his enthusiasm for adventure. "With a positive attitude anything is possible. The more I learn, the more I know there is to learn. Who knows where the crux of this adventure will be you just have to be ready!" |
Keri Pashuk - co-captain
Greg Landreth - co-captain
Jia Condon - crew/climber
Charlie Porter- crew/climber
Angela Rivers - crew
Chris "Beeker" Romeski - crew/climber
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