Expedition Archive | North Pole, 2008

In 2008, Baffin President Paul Hubner returned to the Arctic – this time not only as an explorer, but as a father. Joined by his sons Mark and Brent (just 17 at the time), and guided by renowned polar adventurer Doug Stoup, the team set out to complete the final degree to the Geographic North Pole. 

What unfolded was a defining moment for the Hubner family and for Baffin as a brand. The journey tested their limits –physically, mentally, and emotionally – as they hauled sleds over jagged ice rubble, crossed shifting ice fields, and faced gale-force winds and -35°C temperatures. 

It also proved to be a critical expedition for product development. Early versions of what would become the Baffin Apparel System were put through some of the most extreme real-world conditions possible. And from that, innovation was born. 

The now-iconic FOG-OFF FACE MASK was inspired during this trip, with Paul sharing: 

“Cold, blowing icy winds meant we had to keep our goggles on and faces fully covered. Ice would build up inside and out, making it incredibly uncomfortable. Taking a break meant dragging a frozen mask down across your neck just to sip from a thermos – then reshaping it to your face before moving again. Part of me needed the rest; the other part dreaded the bone-rattling Arctic chill that came with stopping. But even with that, this trek has been everything I hoped for and more.” 

The expedition also had a broader mission: raising awareness of the impact of climate change on northern wildlife and Arctic communities and supporting related charitable causes – a tradition that continues to this day. 

In every way, the 2008 North Pole trek was a milestone. It blended family, adventure, innovation and purpose –capturing the very essence of what Baffin stands for.