Helen Thayer

Highlights from recent activities and upcoming events... In 2008 Bill and Helen Thayer completed just over 1,000 miles of kayaking remote rivers in the Brazilian Amazon and Pantenal. In this journey of discovery the two-person team photographed numerous animal and bird species, some rare and endangered. In discussions with local residents they soon discovered that global warming is a serious threat to not only indigenous animal species but also to the land itself. In some areas of the Amazon first time flooding has destroyed crops and houses while rising temperatures in the Pantenal threatens to impact cattle ranches and numerous species of animals and birds. Also in 2008, again as a two-person team, they trekked 800 miles in the Canadian Yukon and northern Alaska to observe first hand the effects of global warming on the fragile landscape. Alaska is seriously impacted in many ways. The fragile coastline is eroding, sea ice is thinning, permafrost is melting. Polar bears are endangered as the sea ice thins and disappears. Many Arctic animal species are impacted by climate change and many are threatened with extinction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In April 2008 Helen was guest lecturer for National Geographic in Washington DC and throughout Alaska for the University of Alaska. Helen's third book, Walking the Gobi, was published in September 2007 by Mountaineer Books. In 2001 Helen and her husband Bill walked across the Gobi to become the first man and woman to trek the entire distance of 1,600 miles. This book journals their accomplishment. Helen's first book Polar Dream, now in its second edition, continues to be well recieved. Three Among the Wolves, Helen's second book was published in August 2004 by Sasquatch Books followed by the paperback edition in the fall of 2006. All three book may be ordered directly from the BOOKS page. In addition to writing, Helen continues to present her photographic programs of exploration to students and to adult groups nation wide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Notable news from past years... Continuing her motivational lectures in 2006, Helen presented her "Three Among the Wolves" program for National Geographic to an adult audience of 2,500 at the Benaroya Hall in Seattle followed by a presentation, again for National Geographic, in Chicago. In the summer of 2006 Helen and Bill returned to Mongolia to gather more material about the ancient lifestyle of the Gobi Desert nomads with emphasis placed on the children of the desert for Adventure Classroom. Later Helen traveled to New Zealand where she was invited to present her lectures, "Polar Dream" and "Trekking the Gobi Desert," to four schools and two corporations. On November 18th, 2006, The Explorers Club presented Helen with the prestigious Vancouver Award "presented to explorers who have contributed to the pursuit of knowledge and demonstrated the spirit of exploration." Helen has been a guest at the White House, an honor in recognition of her expeditions and educational projects. She was named by National Geographic and National Public Radio as "One of the Great Explorers of the Twentieth Century." In 2005 she was a member of Washington States "Parade of Star Athletes."