After weeks at sea, Dario Schwörer and his family were grateful to have landed in Unalaska again. “We were so happy when we saw the Aleutians coming out of the fog,” he said. Dario sails with his wife, Sabine, their five children, ranging in age from 11 years to seven months, and two volunteers.
Since their last visit to Unalaska in 2013, the Swiss family has been to both the coldest and highest point on the continent, on Mount Denali, and the lowest and warmest point, in Death Valley. They travel using only renewable transportation and human muscle – sailing, bicycling, and hiking.
The family sails under the banner of the Top to Top Global Climate Expedition, spreading the message of climate awareness and activism.
They travel the world, giving presentations to schools everywhere from Malaysia to Patagonia. And everywhere they visit, they engage in a project for the planet, whether cleaning up plastic on beaches, planting trees, or even tracking whales. Dario says projects like these are especially important for young children, because “they feel nature, they’re in touch with nature, and then nature becomes a value.”
Dario is a professional mountain guide who began his journey with his wife, climbing the highest peaks in Switzerland. He was inspired to embark on the global expedition after he says he "saw [his] office melting away." 16 years, five children, and more than 100 countries later, the family is still sailing, spreading the word about protecting and respecting our planet.
“Nature is always stronger then we are, so when you [need] to survive in an expedition like this, you have to respect nature,” he said.
Dario and his family are now headed through the Northwest Passage and then south towards Antarctica, with the aim of sailing a “figure 8” around North and South America. And after that, there’s no end in sight. Dario hopes the mission continues with a new generation, long after he’s stopped sailing. Every year, he says, “we become…more optimistic about the future of this planet because we are exploring…there are so many people nowadays that do really great stuff. They help others, they help the environment.”