On March 7, 1986, the Steger International Polar Expedition, made  up of seven men and one woman, set out by dogsled to reach the North Pole. In a deliberate throwback to the early explorers, the sought to complete the journey without resupply. They would be entirely reliant on the three tons of supplies they brought with them; there would be no airlifts with rested dogs, new equipment, or extra food and fuel. In part they chose this approach to shed light on the historically intriguing and heavily debated question of whether Robert Peary reached the Pole in a similar manner in 1909.

Fifty-five days and a thousand zig-zag miles later, after enduring -70°F temperatures and crossing the Arctic Ocean as it began to break apart with the coming of spring, six team members completed the journey. It was a spectacular feat of unsurpassed daring, courage and commitment.