FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD: NEW ICELANDIC DOCUMENTARY FILM REVEALS UNTOLD STORY OF HILLARY-ARMSTRONG NORTH POLE EXPEDITION
With the families of Sir Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong, an Icelandic film crew from the Exploration Museum in Húsavík revisits a little known 1985 expedition to the North Pole, revealing never-before-seen footage and a remarkable chapter in exploration history. This interview opportunity offers access to the sons of these famous explorers as they head to the pole. Peter Hillary and Mark Armstrong will be on Le Commandant Charcot, a cutting-edge icebreaker making its way through the sea ice at approximately 88 degrees north, as of writing.
40 years ago, a remarkable expedition quietly made its way to the top of the world. In 1985, an extraordinary team compiled by professional expedition leader Mike Dunn, including Sir Edmund Hillary, Neil Armstrong, Steve Fossett, Patrick Morrow, and a group of everyday explorers, embarked on a journey to the North Pole. The mission was kept deliberately out of the public eye, at Armstrong’s own request, and the story remained untold. Now a feature documentary is in the making by the Exploration Museum in Iceland.
This summer, the families of Hillary and Armstrong return to the Arctic alongside members of the original team, retracing their steps aboard Ponant Explorations pioneering hybrid electric expedition ship Le Commandant Charcot. This Polar Class 2 vessel enables access to one of the most inhospitable places on earth, while also providing a platform for cutting edge climate and oceanographic research. With the recovery of long-lost footage and the blessing of both families, a new documentary will finally share the story of one of the great hidden chapters in modern exploration.
Quotes from the expedition team:
Peter Hillary, son of Sir Edmund Hillary:
“Sir Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong are two of the pivotal explorers of the twentieth century. They were the first to climb Mt Everest, the world’s highest mountain, and the first to land on the moon. These extraordinary achievements redefined who we were as humanity in that we collectively realised we could do more than we ever dreamed.”
“To share with the greats of exploration an adventure to the North Pole was an extraordinary opportunity. And now to visit the North Pole in 2025 seeing the changing pack ice from the bow of an icebreaker, is different to our experience flying by ski plane 40 years ago”
Mark Armstrong, son of Neil Armstrong:
“Le Commandant Charcot is constantly collecting environmental data, from sea ice thickness to ocean chemistry, and feeding it to global research networks. The ship’s onboard labs are always active, and that gives me hope.”
“I’ve been impressed by the ship’s capabilities, especially its robust science program. On our voyage, researchers from CNRS, a French scientific institute, are measuring everything from salinity and water temperature to the presence of nanoplastics in polar seawater. They’ve explained that nanoplastics are now widespread, even here, at the top of the world.”
“This expedition ship is technologically impressive. Using satellite imagery and radar, the bridge team navigates through natural ice corridors, called leads, to chart the most efficient and careful route, minimizing disruption along the way.”
Mike Dunn, original expedition leader:
“The 1985 expedition was unique, two explorers the world will never see again, incredible individuals who joined the journey with a shared enthusiasm and helped form a team that thrived on challenge and adversity.
“In order to understand the future of the North Pole, we need to go back and understand the history. With the North Pole changing rapidly it’s so important that we learn from the past and respond!”
Captain Ettiene Garcia:
“As a company with exploration in our DNA, PONANT EXPLORATIONS is proud to support this extraordinary journey retracing the footsteps of two legendary explorers, Sir Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong, by welcoming their sons, Peter Hillary (joined by his son, Alexander), Mark Armstrong, and original expedition leader Mike Dunn.”
“Le Commandant Charcot is the only cruise vessel in the world with the icebreaking capabilities and polar-class engineering required to reach the Geographic North Pole with both safety and environmental responsibility. This ship was built for exactly this kind of mission, pushing the boundaries of exploration while enabling scientific and historical discovery.”
Directed by Icelandic filmmakers Orly Orlyson and Rafnar Orri, the film weaves together original 1985 material, personal accounts, and new footage from the 2025 return journey to bring the expedition to life for the first time.
For media inquiries, interview requests, or access to archival material, please contact:
Orly Orlyson, producer of the documentary
Alexander Hillary
Download image (Image Credit: Peter Hillary/The Exploration Museum)
