The Northwest Passage was founded by lifelong adventurer Rick Sweitzer to guide trips across Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, Asia, the Pacific, and the Arctic and Antarctic through their Polar Explorers program. Their experienced guides prioritize safety and community while ensuring once-in-a-lifetime experiences. In addition to worldwide expeditions, Northwest Passage offers outdoor leadership training and polar trips through Polar Explorers to the North and South Poles and Greenland with an impeccable safety record.

1. Media Kit
2012

2. A Company Born From Adventure
Founded by lifelong adventurer Rick Sweitzer, The Northwest Passage was founded to help
people experience the world by meeting it on its own terms. The company guides trips on land
and sea across Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, Asia and the Pacific, and leads
Arctic and Antarctic expeditions through Polar Explorers.
Trips with The Northwest Passage are inspired by the experiences its company’s owners and
guides have had in the world’s wild places. Travelers who choose the company should be
prepared for everything, and can expect to return ready for anything.

3. A Wealth of Experience
The senior guides at The Northwest Passage have been working in the adventure travel industry
since before anyone even uttered the phrase “adventure travel.” They have led clients to
destinations on every part of the globe from the North Pole to the South, by foot, kayak, or ski.
Owner Rick Sweitzer was an organizer and guide of the very first amateur dogsled expedition to
the North Pole, and has passed that spirit of exploration to each member of his company’s staff.
Guides are trained to make safety an absolute top priority, and have maintained an impeccable
safety record. They also build a sense of community into the groups they guide, and help ensure
every adventure is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

4. Teaching Future Outdoor Leaders
The Northwest Passage doesn’t just provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences for world travelers.
At the company’s base in Chicago, clients pursue professional training opportunities for the
outdoor industry. The Northwest Passage offers training for Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness
First Responder certifications, which are required for most outdoor professions. The company
also offers BCU and ACA Kayak training, and a Leave No Trace instructor certification for those
who want to learn proper wilderness travel ethics.

5. Polar Explorers
Few places ignite the imagination of aspiring explorer quite like the polar regions. Since they
were first reached just a century ago, the North and South Poles have been a boon for
adventure seekers of all stripes.
Since 1993, Northwest Passage has provided trips to the literal ends of the Earth through Polar
Explorers. Guides with Polar Explorers lead teams each year to the North and South poles by ski,
plane, or dogsled, and lead guided trips across the ice cap of Greenland.
In nearly 20 years of operation, Polar Explorers has maintained an impeccable safety record.
Even faced with the challenges of the world’s most extreme environments, the company has
never had a death or serious injury occur on one of its trips.

6. Expeditions From Polar Explorers
Through myriad trips, Polar Explorers offers adventurers of all levels an opportunity to
experience the world’s most remote places from themselves. The company guides to both poles,
and across the Arctic ice of Greenland.
Those hoping to simply check polar visits of their bucket lists can take direct flights to either,
while those who want to really cut their teeth on the ice can embark on full-length 60-day
expeditions from the coasts. On these longer expeditions, guides regularly update trip blogs, so
friends and family can follow travelers’ progress online. The company also offers shorter ski and
sled trips to the poles, which last anywhere from two days to a little more than a week.
For travelers who would rather stay off skis or sleds altogether, Polar Explorers organizes Arctic
and Antarctic cruises. These boat tours allow clients to experience the wild polar regions while
spending the nights in a comfortable heated cabin.

7. An Environmental Commitment
As a company, The Northwest Passage seeks to provide clients with experiences in the natural
world. That means not just providing high-quality expeditions for travelers, but doing so in a way
that minimizes the effect of travel on the environment.
Each trip from The Northwest Passage is designed and organized by the company’s own staff.
Along with maximizing the experience for clients, guides work to travel with a minimum impact.
Because of the nature of adventure travel, this is less difficult than it would be with a traditional
tour operator. Much of the travel by The Northwest Passage is human-powered, which
generates very little impact on the environment.

8. A Company for Extraordinary People
Clients with The Northwest Passage form a bond with their guides and fellow travelers that is
unique in the travel industry. People who were strangers before a Northwest Passage or Polar
Explorers trip often develop strong friendships, and travel groups are known to keep in touch
years after their trip is over.
The staff at The Northwest Passage encourage any potential clients to research their trips before
buying. The company has maintained a sterling reputation with clients and staff alike, and
consistently receives rave reviews.

9. Media Contact
Matt Minich
Adventure Media
O: 970.568.7423 F: 970.568.9125
Matt@adventuremedianews.com