Troy Henkels passion for exploration has taken him to some of the harshest environments on Earth including the South Pole, Mount Everest, the Bering Strait, the Kalahari Desert, the Darien Jungle in Panama, and the mountains and ice caps of Greenland and Iceland. Troy resides in Eagle River, Alaska  and enjoys the vast, unexplored wilderness and easy access to adventure.

Troy has inspired and thrilled audiences with his presentations ranging from exciting overviews of past and present expeditions to what it takes to go from a childhood in rural Iowa to experiencing some of the worlds most extreme environments.  He started out early, adventuring in the backwoods of Northeast Iowa as an Eagle Scout and now finds himself in some of the most remote wildernesses in the world.

As a mountaineer, at home in Alaska, Henkels has been on ten climbing expeditions in the Alaska Range including a successful expedition on North America’s highest peak, Denali 6,193 meters (20,320 ft).  Around the world, he has also been on climbing expeditions to Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America at 6,949 meters (22,800 ft); Hvannadalshnukur, Iceland’s highest peak at 2,119 meters (6,952 ft); Peak 6296 Rongbuk Glacier, Tibet at 6,325 meters (20,750 feet); the North East Ridge of Mount Everest at 8,846 meters (29,021 ft), as well as four ascents of remote peaks in Antarctica.

Henkels enjoys competitive endurance racing and has competed in several unique Alaskan adventure races including: Iditasport - a 100 mile winter endurance race across the interior of Alaska; Mt. Marathon - a mountain race, which ascends and descends 3000 feet in under an hour; Fireweed 400 Road Race – a 200 mile road bicycle race to Valdez, Alaska; and he's completed the Mayor’s Marathon in Anchorage, AK. Troy has also been a team competitor in adventure races in Africa, Costa Rica, and Iceland.

In 2003, Henkels was a finalist on the adventure TV show “Global Extremes” airing on Outdoor Life Network and ABC. "Global Extremes" took Troy and other participants around the world competing in a variety of adventure races culminating in Troy and four other finalists attempting to climb the North East Ridge of Mount Everest.

Henkels recent focus has been exploring polar environments highlighted by a 2005 attempt, with famed Belgian polar explorer Dixie Dansercoer, to cross the Bering Strait, from Alaska to Russia, on foot. In addition he's made a seven-day, 120 km. crossing of Iceland’s Myrdalsjokull Icecap. Troy has spent a total of 17 months in the Antarctic working as a Communications Technician. He played a key role on the Search and Rescue team at the American Base in McMurdo. Two of those months were spent at Amundsen/Scott South Pole Station.   Most recently Troy was cinemetographer on the 'In the Wake of the Belgica' expedition, documenting their historical sailing expedition to Antarctia.  On this expedition Troy made history by becoming the first person to kiteboard in Antarctic waters.

While not on expedition, Henkels lives in Alaska, and works as a Communication Technician. He earned his BA degree in Business Management at the University of Northern Iowa. He has traveled and lived in various places across the U.S. and around the world, including Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, Virgin Islands, Alaska, and Antarctica. He is an avid mountaineer, ice climber, paraglider, mountain biker, kiteboarder, musician, photographer, adventure model, journalist, and cinematographer.