Youngest to the pole project - rijo42

To all our coffee fans around the planet.?

rijo42 is en route to the southernmost point on earth!

By the time it hits your cup, our coffee has already had an exciting journey – from Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua, India and more. Now, though, it’s embarking on its most exciting – and dangerous – journey to date. We’re delighted to announce that we’re part of the Youngest to the Pole project with explorer Jacob Myers, known as Val.?

At the age of just 25, Val is already a veteran explorer, mountaineer and guide from the Appalachian mountains in the US. Despite his age, his CV is extremely impressive and includes walking the?800-mile Arizona Trail through the desert from Mexico to Utah (2021), twice finishing the Crazy Mountain 100, one of the hardest hundred-milers in the US (2022 and 2023) and a 20-day solo expedition on the Hardanger Plateau in Finse, Norway in March 2023.?

What is the Real Spirit that drives you?

This list of achievements is all the more remarkable as Val had to overcome a series of personal challenges to reach his present position. “During my last year in college in 2018 I was homeless and finished the semester living out of the campus parking garage.? While a difficult and jarring situation, I found the struggle forced me to act as a better, more self-reliant version of myself.? Taking on challenge in outdoor spaces forces me to become kinder and more resilient and remains a central theme in my life.”

This month, Val starts his attempt to be the youngest person ever to ski solo and unsupported across Antarctica to the Geographic South Pole. The record was previously held by Frenchman Matthieu Tordeur who was 27 at the time of this attempt. Val will still be a month short of his 26th?birthday on his return.

The journey has been three years in the planning. The route will be long and arduous, and despite careful training Val is fully aware of the danger he’s facing. His route includes a 700-mile ski in temperatures of -40C, with blizzards and storms the norm. As well as the physical deprivations he’ll face mental challenges such as intense isolation and loss of motivation.

He’ll be dragging all the survival equipment he needs for the 45-day challenge on a pull, a small, low sled. As well as clothing, camping and rations, his gear includes rijo42 coffee and hot chocolate.

We applaud Val’s drive and commitment, and we’re delighted that he’s carrying the Real Spirit of Coffee with him to the ends of the earth to support our project Love Our Planet.

rijo42

For more info click below:

Valhalla Hikes