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The special reason this Newcastle biker has taken on Earth's frozen frontiers
Дата публикации: 25-07-2026 12:13:25
Gordon Stuart, also known as The Arctic Rider, has ridden across one of Earth’s last frontiers this month
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Gordon Stuart, also known as The Arctic Rider, has ridden across one of Earth’s last frontiers this month
Newcastle biker Gordon Stuart, also known as The Arctic Rider, will ride across one of Earth’s last frontiers this month, in the latest leg of his epic challenge of raising money for North East Autism Society.(Image: Gordon Stuart)
Newcastle biker Gordon Stuart, also known as The Arctic Rider, has ridden across one of Earth’s last frontiers this month, in the latest leg of his epic challenge to raise money for a charity close to his heart. The 37 year old dad of two, has spent part of his summer traversing mountains, fording streams swollen by the melting snow and dodging polar bears as he crossed Greenland to raise funds for the North East Autism Society.
This will be Gordon’s seventh time taking on the inhospitable climates and rugged terrain of the far north as he attempts to cross the Arctic circle from every possible country. Gordon started the challenge in 2011 to raise funds for a brain injury charity that had supported his brother.
He set out with the goal of riding through the Arctic Circle in Norway, but a motorcycle accident in Sweden cut the journey short. He said: “In 2014 I tried again and managed this time to make it the way to Nordkapp, which is the most northerly point in Europe. I’d been planning this trip for five years and when you’ve been building something up to something for so long and you actually complete it, I felt really empty. I knew I wanted to do something different.”
It was the premature birth of his daughter weeks later, and the support the family received from another charity that inspired Gordon to keep the challenge going and fundraise for more good causes. The Chronicle reported on his challenge to ride the length of the UK in less than 24 hours back in 2016.
Since then Gordon has reached the Arctic in Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Alaska and Canada where he took on the notorious Dalton Highway. Now the last two places remaining are Russia and Greenland, each presenting their own unique challenges.
He said: “I probably never thought in 2014 that 12 years later I’d be on the cusp of my seventh arctic ride. Obviously Russia is out of the foreseeable future, and then when I was planning this trip, I found out that motorcycles have actually been banned in Greenland since 1970.” Instead, Gordon took on Greenland’s wilderness on four wheels, using a 500cc ATV to cross the harsh landscape between the coastal city of Sisimiut and the edge of the Greenland ice sheet, the second largest body of ice in the world.
Newcastle biker Gordon Stuart, also known as The Arctic Rider, will ride across one of Earth’s last frontiers this month, in the latest leg of his epic challenge of raising money for North East Autism Society.(Image: Gordon Stuart)
Gordon said: “It’s just exposed, bare landscape. One of the last frontiers on earth. It hasn’t been massively traversed, so there’s going to be plenty of challenging terrain to get over.” The ATV means a rougher ride over bumpy ground, so he invested in an air bag vest for the ride. But despite having plenty of off-road biking experience through Iceland, Canada and Alaska, he would still prefer his trusty bike.
He said: “I definitely would feel more comfortable on the motorbike, but this is my only option so I'm going to have to give it a go.” With no GPS signal and minimal markers along his route, meant Gordon had to rely on previous experience and knowledge he has gained from the last six challenges as well as the skills from his previous career as a navigator in the Royal Navy Reserves.
He said: “I have to rely on myself and my instincts.” The weather was another problem that he would have faced as the quick change in weather patterns is even worse than here in the North East.
Gordon said: “It’s a fascinating place but very barren. And it’s amazing how quickly the weather changes. One minute it’s sunny, the next you are in the middle of a blizzard.” But Gordon didn't just have to look out for the weather but the local wildlife too.
Gordon needed to store food securely, and use hikers' shelters to stay safe overnight as he crossed the wilderness. He said: “There’s a genuine challenge with polar bears because ethos is their season to hunt and get themselves padded up for next winter and they’re one of two animals in the world that actively hunts humans. That’s one of the things where I’m quite concerned, I’m going to have to be on my toes around that.”
As a busy dad and in a fast paced job as a full time IT professional at the software company Sage, he balances his adventures with his family life, completing his planned route in just a week. He said: “A contact I’ve got out there thinks the ride’s going to take about five days. But we’ve got a couple of contingency days just in case the weather turns, or in case there’s any delays with the flights because it’s so far north, the weather can change on a sixpence even in the summer.”
Newcastle biker Gordon Stuart, also known as The Arctic Rider, will ride across one of Earth’s last frontiers this month, in the latest leg of his epic challenge of raising money for North East Autism Society.(Image: Gordon Stuart)
All his rides are completed solo, isolation is the biggest challenge Gordon faced, so he drew strength for his reason for braving the wilderness - his family and the causes he supports through his rides. The North East Autism Society is particularly close to his heart.
He said: “This time with the North East Autism Society, both my children are autistic and it’s honestly like Popeye with spinach. I just have to keep going. When you’ve got autistic people in your life and you see the challenges they go through everyday, it’s no joke.
"It’s genuinely really important to me to be able to support something on a local level, knowing it’s going to help autistic people like my children. There couldn’t be a better charity to support in my opinion." As much as they have inspired his efforts for the challenge, Gordon hopes these challenges inspire his children too one day.
He said: “With the way autism can be particularly challenging with the way the world’s set up, I want to show them that even when things are hard, you can still go and achieve your dreams and ambitions.” Despite the risks and challenges he faces, Gordon was keen to set out for Greenland and complete what may be his last location in the Arctic Challenges for a while.
Gordon said: “There’s so few people in the world who have ever actually been to Greenland. I’m looking forward to the scenery, I’m looking forward to the people, I’m looking forward to seeing what the culture’s like over there and I’m looking forward to making it to that ice cap and getting it done.” Gordon has a Just Giving target of £1500 for the charity and so far has raised £1115.
Gordon set out on this last adventure on Thursday July 16th to Greenland before starting his challenge on the 17th and completed the journey Thursday 24th July and now makes the last leg of the journey back home this weekend. For readers who would like to donate they can on Gordon’s Just Giving page.
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