MEET THE VIKINGS
Bjørn Heyerdahl
Founder
Active explorer, Global Citizen, Father, Explorers Club member (2002), Earth Charter Affiliate www.earthcharter.org Integral thinker, Biospheric Designer, Global Public Speaker and Philosopher.
Founder of Midgard and Integral Climate Change Solutions integralclimatechangesolutions.com and the Midgard Expedition www.midgardexpedition.com formally launched at the explorers club 2003.
Recipient of the Lowell Thomas Award from the Explores Club in New York 2003, for his contribution to the future for scientific exploration. Awarded the Silver Medal by Micheal Gorbachev at the tenth anniversary of the Green Cross International in Geneva 2003 for his contribution to global ecological awareness, scientific research, functional model building in sustainability, promoting the Earth Charter and furthering the principles inherent in the GCI.
Bjørn has sailed, walked, rowed, paddled, swam and climbed all biomes of our planet, oceans, rivers, mountains, deserts, wetlands, jungles and African bushvelt, over the last 30 + years, in the search for adventure and models of intelligent life (life lived in an ecologically, economically and socially sound way), lived consciously, and sustainably.
This learning has been shared in a global dialogue through papers, academia, scientific institutions, organs of the United Nations, The Green Cross International, The Earth Charter International, schools, public presentations, environmental immersive, experiential education programmes and most importantly in building living models of sustainable human habitation and Climate Parks, around the globe, from Mozambique to Italy, from South Africa to the UAE, from the Philippines to Costa Rica, home of the Earth Charter International and UPEACE.
Bjørn has a strong Viking identity and linage, dating back to 812 AD and is Grandson of Thor Heyerdahl of the Kon-Tiki Expedition.
Bjørn’s Intention is to grow global ecological and ethical awareness on what can be done now in response to the collapse of life support systems; and to elevate adults and youth to strong, ethical leaders through adventure, documentary, education, inspiration and setting an example to follow.
The Vikings are coming…
Alison Heyerdahl
Crew Physiotherapist
The Midgard Expedition welcomes Alison Heyerdahl as Crew Member, Rower, Expedition Physiotherapist, Developmental Psychology Researcher
Alison is an over achiever on every front.
Holds a Medical degree in physiotherapy and is currently completing a degree in Psychology.
She is a runner, rower and completes 3 Viking qualification WOD’s per week.
I met Alison after my foot would no longer function on a walking expedition in the Cradle of Humankind in 2010 and I had to find a Physiotherapist.
She fixed my foot and soon after had joined me on her first expedition in the Magaliesburg mountain range South Africa, the oldest mountain range on earth. This was an experimental expedition in self sufficiency in living close to the land out in the wild for 4 months.
Alison has been an integral part of the Midgard Expedition, Integral Climate Change Solutions and my life since then. She is a meticulous researcher, always top of her class in any academic or sporting endeavour.
Alison has had two natural water births for two healthy Viking babies. She consciously nurtures their development and connection with the biosphere with daily immersions in the wild.
Her commitment and research on early childhood development for her own children has led to the formalisation of this with an academic degree in psychology.
This expedition is not just about male rowers and sailors crossing oceans. It is a balance between the male and female contribution to global citizenship and ecological consciousness. This balance will be reflected in the crew selection of strong, contributing women.
In Viking times the whole family often undertook epic expeditions to explore distant lands to sustain themselves. Viking woman were formidable members of Norse society fully engaged in economic life, exploration, warfare, hunting and farming. This modern day Viking expedition sails in the same spirit with the same kind of women.
A true Viking spirit in feminine form.
Nick James Heygate
Adventurer, Yachtmaster, Navigator
Adventurer, Yachtmaster, Navigator, Endurance Athlete, Digital Transformationist, Cognitive Dissident, Philosopher, Existentialist, Former Flying Deckchair Pilot, Mountain Biker, Body Surfer, Sustainable Lifestyle Farmer and Father of two fledgeling adventurers.
Nick is an avid adventurer with an eternal passion for going beyond whether it be on sea or land. He considers himself part pirate with a flair for cognitive dissidence and digital transformation. Nick has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and English with Honours in Contemporary Culture and Media Studies. He is a RYA Yachtmaster with many years of hard-earned sea miles in the tempestuous Southern Ocean.
He’s also an extreme endurance athlete and a Miles for Smiles ambassador. In his early days his thirst for wild adventures steered him headlong into numerous exotic destinations in and around Africa. Overtime his adventures became more cause-based and he took upon global challenges that had credible outcomes. He has undertaken significant fund raising projects around extreme physical challenges.
He was an instrumental component in the Cipla Miles for Smiles Madagascar Challenge; which was a world first challenge to paddle 550 km across the Mozambique Channel and then traverse the length of Madagascar on foot in under 70 days. Following the success of this came another grand endurance challenge. The Cipla Miles for Smiles India Challenge, which was a world first attempt to traverse India from the Shankaracharya Temple in Kashmir to the Arulmigu Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanniyakumari on foot. A total of 4008 km and was achieved in 93 days.
Both challenges were in aid of raising funds for Operation Smile. His role was multifaceted in both and comprised being logistics manager, navigator, support athlete, cameraman and DV producer. Nick has always had his foot firmly in the door of technology and is currently the business development manager for a Tech 4.0 IoT Company based in Durban South Africa.
Nicks extensive knowledge of Southern Africas coastline, currents, seasonal sailing conditions are going to be a critical part of the initial planning and success of our maiden voyage - welcome aboard!
The Vikings are coming!
Susanne Williams
a character with an open heart, humility and integrity
The Midgard Expedition Welcomes Susanne Williams as Crew Member.
Susanne is such a welcome addition to the expedition crew with an amazing integrated approach to life and skills in all the areas we need.
Susanne’s bio is so comprehensive I thought I’d put it in list form.
Sailing:
Started windsurfing age 12.
Dinghy sailing up to Bft 6 since age 14.
Co-skipper on yachts in Mediterranean.
Waters skills in general:
Competitive swimmer age 6-16.
Freediving, technical diving GUE
SUP, canyoning , whitewater and sailing sports of all sorts. Common 8-12 hour days paddling SUP
Expeditioning:
Hardangervidda crossing on skis with Mike Parsons: https://youtu.be/HHxqymECGrU
7 day solo Alpine UL running tour bivouacs - https://youtu.be/vQ7k7IKl52s
Solo 6 week Hardangervidda on skis – not on Youtube but available. Was during Beast of the East Storm of 2018. 4 days in the storm around -30C and 80kph wind, coldest down to -47c
Poland SUP river tour Ultra-light: https://youtu.be/suu20YPECmE
Rockclimbing – Mountaineering
Over 300 graded rock climbs up to French grade 6b
12 - 4000m Alpine Mountaineering, many 3000+
Winter snow & ice in Scotland to grade 3
Endurance Sports:
(Ultra-) Marathon distance mountain running:
Karrirmor International Mountain Ultra Marathon – 2 days self sufficiency -1999- 2000- 2001- 2002 – 2003 http://www.theomm.com/
Lowe Alpine Mountain Ultra Marathon – 2 days self sufficiency – 2000 http://www.lamm.co.uk/
Jungfrau International Mountain Marathon (1800m) : 2005 – 2006 http://www.jungfrau-marathon.ch/
Swiss Alpine Marathon (1900m) : 2006 http://www.alpine-davos.ch/cms/events.phtml
Various 50km+ and marathon+ distance runs in Scotland, the Alps - all seasons. Regularly 1999-current.
Solo 7 day alpine running tour: https://youtu.be/vQ7k7IKl52s
Navigation:
KIMM – Karrimor International Mountain Marathon
Orienteering – full season competitively
Hardangervidda and plenty of other wilderness trips
Sailing in Med. I have learned and forgotten how to navigate with sextant but would be willing to relearn.
Survival/Rescue:
Many land survival tours in all terrains and seasons. See my Youtube channel.
Rescue: Systematic SAR methodology, involved in various mountain and lake/river rescues.
Probability analytics approach for Searching. Successful remains recovery of lost hiker Jeff Freiheit. https://youtu.be/SGNI--40gSc
Rigging
Climbing, canyoning and event rigging including Wings of Desire for Havve Fjell.Handcrafts:
All things with rope
Basic smithing
Basic carpentry
Basic sewing including leather & sailmaking
Handtools: Axe, chisel, knives, awl, plane, hammer, etc
Powertools: Chainsaw, drills, grinders, log splitters, industrial press, springhammer, hydraulic hammer etc.
Leadership
25 years in business
Guiding / coaching in wilderness about the same
Field medicine
Equivalent training but no current certification (see references): Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Tech, Rescue Swimmer Certified:Rescue Diver
Multi-media documentary work:
See my youtube channel.
Spirit
Formal apprenticeship of 5 years to Norwegian noide followed by lifelong learning Northern Tradition, nature-based direct spirituality including various pilgrimages and contribution to various books on the matter.
Martial arts training with bujinkan, hoshinroshi ryu, International Institute of Medical Qigong
Music:
Drums and flutes
Susanne is a character with an open heart, humility and integrity and brings a special warm, human, emotional contribution to every one of our strategy sessions.
A warm welcome aboard Bushcraft Girl!
