The Horizontal Everest: Extreme Journeys on Ellesmere Island

by Jerry Kobalenko

For more than a decade, author-photographer Jerry Kobalenko has traced the roots of explorers, Inuits, and famous Mounties, and broken many new trails across the amazing frozen terrain of the Arctic’s Ellesmere Island. He recounts the rivalries, the challenges, and the disasters that befell his predecessors in the 1800s, from starvation to ration thefts, executions to cannibalism.

Genres: Travel, Nature, Nonfiction, Canada, Adventure, Memoir

352 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

Reviews

[Benjamin Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing from Jerry. A seasoned adventurer and if you’ve done any form of hard travel or aspire to do hard travel, you can tell he has it in his soul and spirit. I have never been intrigued with the arctic but found this book in a free shop on Vancouver Island and was curious. Absolutely engaging- up there with the writings of other polar explorers and I hope to make my way to Ellesmere one day. His storytelling is engaging and humorous and he does an excellent job bringing history to life both through events and anecdotes. Seems like hardened soul.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really interesting book which painted a graphic picture of live in this area. However, it was rather spoilt by the authors habit of biggin himself up and putting others down. He may well not be like this in person,. but the tone of the book at times was very condescending.

[Ryan Murdock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read. Best accompanied by a very large map of the High Arctic islands spread out on a table.

[Joseph Dangerfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional tales of the writer's (and others) treks through the arctic.

[Steve Rippington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced and well written. I probably enjoyed it more because I'm going to Ellesmere Island. Worth a read though!

[Rex Passion]

The size of the UK, Ellesmere Island is very big, very far away, very cold, and very attractive to explorer Jerry Kobalenko. After reading Horizontal Everest: Journeys on Ellesmere Island, I saw that particular part of the world which makes him the happiest as if sitting on his shoulder. Jerry thrives on the austere simplicity of Arctic travel while at the same time struggling with things we take for granted: how to physically eat enough (7000 calories per day) to stay alive and to do his daily toilette at fifty below.
Horizontal Everest will take to places you would never go with someone who would rather be nowhere else.