'It is an amazing life that we lead and there's never a boring moment'
The trip was just one of the Horns' several record-breaking adventures, which have earned them a reputation as the world's most adventurous family.
"It is normal for the children that we go on a 500km hike," said Mike Horn.
Speaking from Kuala Lumpur, where he is preparing to sail to India, Mike said: "We have to sleep in one tent together for two months - that makes a family bond together."
When the family tried to get permits to ski across Greenland, they were told the children were too young - just 10 and 12 at the time. Luckily dad had an alternative holiday plan: "I found an island north of Canada about 900km away from the North Pole. It was difficult. We had to ski across a lot of crevasses then get to the top of a glacier and ski down."
The Johannesburg-born adventurer, who shot to fame several years ago after a series of death-defying solo expeditions, has now turned his obsession into a family affair, involving Cathy and daughters Annika, now 16, and Jessica, 15.
His latest expedition, a four-year "self-propelled" circumnavigation of the world in a yacht he designed and built himself, is being co-ordinated by Cathy from their home in Switzerland.
As soon as the school term ends, the family jets off to join Mike at his latest location.
Said Cathy: "It's a big team and we do it all together. There are moments when it might be a little bit difficult and he is in a dangerous zone, but when he is over the danger zone you kind of rejoice together.
"There are highs and lows but the highs always seem to overcome the lows. It is an amazing life that we lead and there's never a boring moment."
The couple met while backpacking in Switzerland - and never left.
"He is South African and I am a New Zealander. We were the only ones who could speak English." Now settled in the small mountain village of Château-d'Oex, they return regularly to visit their South African family.
The girls are keen ambassadors of Mike's new Young Adventurers programme - which involves youngsters joining him on a leg of whatever trip he is on.
Mike credits the adventurous nature of South Africans with inspiring his many voyages - which included swimming down the Amazon on a glorified boogie board; a two-month trek to the North Pole, in the dark; and a solo circumnavigation of the Earth at the equator .
Mike's worst moment was facing a firing squad somewhere in central Africa, on suspicion of being a spy. He was granted a reprieve at the last minute.
The family North Pole expedition two years ago - the youngest unassisted expedition to the pole - was relatively relaxing, despite the family being stranded in a snow storm for four days. "When we made it to the pole we pitched the tent and made ourselves comfortable," said Cathy.
"We fell asleep. When we woke up in the morning we discovered the wind overnight had been so strong it had pushed the ice we were camping on 26km away from the pole."
The family camped on their iceberg for four days.
"We stayed there for four days playing games and telling jokes and stories. It was incredible."
Said Annika: "An overwhelming sense of security follows me wherever I go accompanied by my father.
"After this experience I felt capable of doing much more. All you need is to set a goal and to be with the people you love to be successful."
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