The Impossible First

by Colin O'Brady

  I want to extend a huge thanks to the entire Simon & Schuster and Scribner team. Jon Karp, you were the first person to believe in this book, reaching out to Jenna before I’d even left the ice. Rick Horgan, my editor, thank you for your editorial help and for walking me through the publishing process as a first-time author. Nan Graham, thank you for championing this work and pushing me to make it even better.

  To my mom, Eileen Brady: your unconditional support and love have made all the difference. The words you whispered to me as a baby and thousands of times throughout my life, “Colin, you can do anything you set your mind to,” spurred me to take action to realize my wildest dreams.

  To my dad, Tim O’Connor: thank you for opening my eyes to the great outdoors and for always reminding me to remember the most important thing.

  To my stepparents, Brian Rohter and Catherine Downey: many in blended families try their best to simply tolerate each other. You’ve both done so much more. Thank you for loving me and accepting me as if I were your own child. You both have had a profoundly positive impact on my life.

  To my sister, Caitlin: before we had this big Ohana blended family it was just me and you. You’ve loved me on my best and worst days. While I was in Antarctica you were one of the true rocks on the home front, diving deep with the maps, tracking the race progress, and providing crucial emotional support. Thank you for always being there for me through all of the phases of life. I’m proud to be your little brother. I don’t tell you this often enough: I love you.

  To my four stepsisters, Sadie, Casey, Eva, and Lili: I hate even using the word “step” to describe our relationship. You’re my sisters, my family, my blood. I can’t imagine my life without any of you.

  To Richard, my one and only brother: although we grew up with different moms and on different sides of the world, you’ve always been an important person in my life. Thanks for teaching me all of the things only a big brother can.

  To G-Sue, my grandma: I wish you were still with us so that I could share this book with you. You’ve been one of my biggest advocates and role models. Our beloved extended family is strong as ever today because of your legacy as the matriarch.

  To Mike McCastle: just calling you my strength coach would be minimizing your role in the success of The Impossible First. Yes, you came up with some of the most unique and innovative ways to test my body and mind ahead of my expedition—and your own four world records are astonishing—but more than anything I’ve found in you a kindred spirit and brother. Thank you for always believing in me. I look forward to many more years of supporting each other’s dreams.

  I’ve had many coaches throughout my athletic career. I want to give a special mention to Beth Winkowski, who coached me in swimming from a young age and somehow managed to channel my energy in a positive direction. You were the first person who showed me what it meant to set audacious goals and put in the work to achieve them. Other impactful coaches I’d be remiss in not mentioning are Mike Taylor, Phil Claude, Frank Keefe, Ben Gathercole, Siri Lindley, and Greg Mueller. I’ve learned many important lessons about life and sport from you all.

  Cheryl GreatHouse, master bodyworker, with all of my training over the years you’ve always been there to help keep me healthy and moving forward. More important, I feel deep gratitude for the wisdom you’ve bestowed and the compassion you’ve shown me over the past decade as I’ve shared my dreams with you through all of the ups and downs.

  There are several communities, teams, and groups of friends who have had an outsized positive impact on my life. I want to give a special shout-out to: REALITY, Burning Man, BZ, Yale Swimming, BREAKOUT, Space Odyssey, The Fellas, 29029, and the Boundless 8.

  To the staff at Antarctica Logistics and Expeditions (A.L.E.): your expertise and skills played a huge role in the safety and success of both my Antarctica crossing and the Antarctica portion of my Explorers Grand Slam world record. A special thanks to Steve Jones, Devon McDiarmid, Simon Abrahams, Dr. Martin Rhodes, Tim Hewette, Julia Doyle, Carolyn Bailey, Marc De Keyser, Roxanna Serrano, Tim McDowell, and Fred Alldredge.

  There are many people who have taught me how to be a better outdoorsman, mountaineer, and polar explorer. A special thanks to Glynn and Sue Thomas and Steven Stark for taking me on some of my first “bigger” climbs when I was a teenager. Thank you, also, to National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). My semester in Patagonia in 2004 had a huge impact on my life and instilled confidence in me to explore wild places. Thank you to Guy Cotter for introducing me to eight-thousand-meter peak climbing and your help with my Everest logistics in 2016. Russell Brice, you are a legend; your expertise and friendship in 2015–16 played a huge role in my success with the Explorers Grand Slam. Masha Gordon, the day we climbed together on Manaslu in 2015 still stands as one of my all-time favorite days in the mountains. It’s a great reminder that sometimes just being up high, and not making the summit, can be deeply joyful and fulfilling. Vern Tejas, the biggest Seven Summits badass of them all and my March 16 birthday twin, you opened my eyes to Antarctica for the first time. You’ve literally been there in some of the biggest moments of my life, at Union Glacier after I crossed Antarctica and on Denali at the end of the Explorers Grand Slam. Seeing you that day when I was descending from Denali was surreal. The kindness in your eyes as you hugged and congratulated me that day, even though I’d just broken your record, taught me one of my life’s most important lessons about humility and grace. Dixie Dansercoer, your mentorship from the beginning to the end of my solo crossing was remarkable. You’re one of the most accomplished, yet humble polar explorers ever. You and Julie have laid an incredible blueprint for how to operate as a husband-and-wife team in this world. Pasang Bhote, I’m not sure I know anyone stronger than you are in the mountains. Your calm in the midst of chaos on Everest, and your perseverance to help me get to the summit, taught me about the power of the human spirit. Tucker Cunningham, we formed our bond long ago swimming endless laps in a pool together. Who knew you’d be the one standing beside me on the summit of Denali in a crazy storm as I finished that project? Both you and Drew Pogge played such a huge role in making that Everest-Denali back-to-back possible. Dr. Jon Kedrowski, there is so much I can say about my favorite climbing partner, but I’ll just leave it at this… Suuuummiiiittt!

  There is a long list of polar explorers whose courage and desire to push the envelope one step further over the generations have inspired me along my journey. They’re too numerous to name, but a special hat tip goes to: Ernest Shackleton, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Roald Amundsen, Reinhold Messner, Børge Ousland, Mike Horn, Ryan Waters, Cecilie Skog, Felicity Aston, Ben Saunders, and Henry Worsley. I can’t wait to see what the next generation of polar explorers dreams up to push even “farther south.”

  Thank you to the Explorers Club for granting me flag 109 to carry on my journey. It was a great honor to add a small piece of exploration history to the storied life of that flag and the club.

  Lucas Clarke, when I met you in first grade, I knew we’d be friends forever. So much of who I am today stems from our lifelong bond. I love you.

  David Boyer, you saved my life that day in Thailand. No words can fully express my gratitude for what you endured to support me. I know you were just as scared as I was, but your courage and unconditional love gave me strength to keep fighting. Although the burn was a significant moment in both of our lives, it by no means sums up our friendship, which has included everything from playing soccer, to building our first business together painting houses as teenagers, to endless laughs over Ping-Pong and pool. I’m so glad you married my sister Lili, because now I can officially call you my brother.

  I’m beyond grateful for the many other friends that have made me the person I am today. There are too many to name. You know who you are, and I’m incredibly fortunate to have you in my life.

  In 2015, when Jenna and I were trying to get our first project off the ground, there were many doubters. However, there was a small number of people who be
lieved in us and took action to ensure our success. Deep gratitude to Mark and Kathy Parker, Tim Boyle, Angelo Turner, and Bill Silva for taking a chance on us.

  Brian Gelber, you and your family’s support all these years means more to me than you’ll ever know. None of this story gets written without your taking the biggest chance on me in 2009. Moreover, as you well know, there were many low moments during my athletic career when others would have backed away, but you stuck with me through it all. You’ve been my steadiest mentor and supporter, and are now a cherished and lifelong friend.

  Charlie DuBois, Dr. John Troup, and the entire Standard Process team, thank you for your unwavering support of my goals with both Fifty High Points and The Impossible First. Optimizing the food and nutrition was the key innovation to making this “impossible” crossing a reality. The Colin Bars were pure magic. Your incredible team at the Nutrition Innovation Center is largely responsible for the success of this project, and I take great pride in knowing that we solved my nutritional needs in the healthiest way possible through organic, plant-based, whole-food solutions.

  Thank you to Sleep Number and Grand Rounds for your sponsorship support to help me prepare for and execute on this dream.

  I’d like to thank the many members of the press and media. I wanted to give a special thanks to Rich Roll for casting an initial spotlight on my work in 2015 when you granted me one of my first long-form interviews. Adam Skolnick, thank you for your superb coverage in the New York Times of the Antarctica journey. It was an honor to have you so intimately involved. Tamara Merino, thank you for your exceptional photography for the New York Times and the many images from Antarctica that were selected for use in this book. Almost all of the images from the actual journey I had to take myself since I was making the trek alone, but you captured some exceptionally poignant moments of Caption Rudd and me before and after, as well as Jenna’s and my prep pre-expedition and our reunion in Chile. Sandy Friedman, your storied legacy in PR is unmatched. Thank you for pouring your heart and soul into supporting and collaborating with Jenna on the media front all these years.

  Aaron Bergman, you were with me during the dreaming and planning phases of Fifty High Points and The Impossible First, and you gave up any hope of rest over the holidays to help Jenna with the barrage of attention after I finished over Christmas. Thank you for your tireless work and belief in me early on.

  Ryan Kao, I knew nothing about photography when I met you, but you pointed me in the direction of my first camera to capture these adventures so I could share them with the world. I’ll never forget bouncing around in the back of an RV with you as you documented my race through fifty states. You are a talented videographer.

  Marianna Brady, my cousin, you elevated the Explorers Grand Slam with your creative talent, pushing me to share my story in ways I hadn’t before. Shunryu Suzuki said, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.” Thank you for diving in with Jenna and me in the beginning even though none of us knew exactly what we were doing.

  Ece Anderson, you made an offhand suggestion in 2011 that I should try a ten-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat. Your suggestion ended up leading to one of the most profoundly significant moments of my life. No words can ever express the gratitude I have for the benefits Vipassana has given me. In wishing to pay this gift forward, I highly recommend Vipassana to anyone looking to find the next level of mental peace and strength. It’s completely free to attend a ten-day retreat and there are centers all around the world. There’s nothing I’ve done that has given me as significant a return on time invested. www.dhamma.org.

  Dr. Joseph Pulito and the staff at the Legacy Oregon Burn Center, thank you for the care you provided me both in person during my recovery in 2008, as well as your counsel while I was still hospitalized in Thailand. Thank you to the many doctors and nurses in Thailand who played a role in my recovery. Thank you to everyone in the medical community who crossed my path during my immediate care and long road to recovery after my burns. You all played a significant role in helping me beat the odds of my initial prognosis.

  To Shannon Pannel, my first-grade teacher and hero: many in your shoes would have found my energy and curiosity at that age to be disruptive and cause for discipline, but you found a way to harness my rambunctiousness toward learning and growth. The foundation of my life was built on the principles you inspired in me. May you rest in peace, but may your spirit live on in educators across the world. In my nonprofit work in schools I’ve come to realize more than ever that the unsung heroes of our world are the teachers. Kristi White and Alice Atha, you were the first two teachers to invite me to speak to your students. I’ve connected with thousands of classrooms since then, but you two stand out as all-stars of the profession. Thank you for all that you continue to do, and for the young lives you’ve positively impacted. Thank you as well to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for broadening my platform to reach students around the country and for your ongoing commitment to instilling health and wellness principles in kids. Dacia Jones, aka Dr. Drizzle, you’ve helped me impact students engaged in STEM education through our virtual field trips and curriculum around the world. I can’t wait to continue our work together inspiring and uplifting the next generation.

  Captain Louis Rudd, my reason for attempting The Impossible First boiled down to a desire to unlock the depths of my potential. Little did I know that having you out there would be the catalyst for tapping into that. Your presence in Antarctica pushed me harder than I ever imagined I could push myself. I have the utmost respect and gratitude for you. I’m so glad that after all of the intensity of the competition, we’ve been able to maintain a bond and friendship. As a symbol of that camaraderie, it was deeply meaningful to share a cup of tea with you in London nine months after we finished and to laugh and reminisce about the adventure of a lifetime.

  I took on this project for anyone who has ever been told their dreams are impossible. I’ve received countless kind messages from people of all ages about the impact that The Impossible First journey had on them. Of those, the ones that have most touched me have been from people reporting the actions they’ve taken in their own lives as a result. Your actions are what inspire me. So thank you, for daring to dream greatly and live boldly in pursuit of your own “Impossible First.”

  #BePossible

  About the Author

  HENRY CROMETT

  COLIN O’BRADY is an explorer and elite endurance athlete who has set multiple world records and is a leading expert on mindset. Among his feats are the world’s first solo, unsupported, and human-powered crossing of Antarctica; speed records for the Explorers Grand Slam and the Seven Summits; and reaching the highest point in all fifty US states in a record-breaking twenty-one days. A Yale graduate, he is a sought-after public speaker whose talks and nonprofit work have inspired millions. Native to the Pacific Northwest, he now lives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as well as Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Jenna Besaw.

  Engage with Colin and his next adventures on social media @colinobrady and find out more at colinobrady.com.

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  First Scribner hardcover edition January 2020

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  Interior design by Kyle Kabel

  Front cover and spine photographs courtesy of the author

  Back cover photograph by Samuel A. Harrison

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.

  ISBN 978-1-9821-3311-5

  ISBN 978-1-9821-3313-9 (ebook)