The Journey That Changed Me: Eric Larsen

The Journey That Changed Me: Eric Larsen

2006 polar adventurer Eric Larsencompleted the first summer expedition to the North Pole. Because the Arctic ice has no land mass beneath it, it is thinnest and most treacherous in summer, making it impassable on foot.

Eric and his colleague Lonnie Dupre pulled and paddled specially modified canoes over 550 miles through changing sea ice and open oceans to successfully complete the mission. Eric is the first person to tweet from theNorth Pole and the top of Mt. Everest. When he's not risking his life in the wildest places in the world, he lives in Coloradohis partner Maria Hennessey and their son Merritt. Here hHe tells Atlas and Boots about the trip that changed him.

My last expedition to the geographic North Pole was by far the most difficult expedition I have ever completed and continues to have a major impact on my life to this day. It was a 53 day expedition with my expedition partner Ryan Waters. For almost two months we experienced some of the most difficult conditions imaginable, and at times our survival was not certain. To overcome the many many obstacles, we had to use many strategies such as teamwork, problem solving, persistence and more.

I'm not that different from before; but I'll never be the same again. This was my third expedition to the Geographic North Pole, but the first time I traveled unsupported - meaning I had to carry all the equipment and supplies for almost two months. I now know where my physical and mental limits lie! I also know exactly the state of the sea ice in the Arctic Ocean.

I firmly believe that this will be the last chance to complete a North Pole expedition before the ice conditions change dramatically. I was surprised to see how much the ice had changed in the last eight years when I was last on the Arctic Ocean. There are no humans living in the Arctic Ocean, but it is one of the areas most affected by humans due to climate change.

Most of the places I visit on expeditions don't have guidebooks. It takes a lot of research and planning to arrange all the logistics, equipment, etc. However, on vacation I usually get a guide to help me with the highlights, but I'm not a big fan of crowds and the flow of sights. I try to find the recommendations off the beaten path.

I often don't have much time to plan vacations. I generally start doing a little research before I go. I try to have a basic itinerary with a few activities, but also like to leave room to take opportunities as they arise.

I judge my quality of life by how many nights I get to spend in a tent each year. So generally it's tent or nothing. However, since I travel alone, I really enjoy staying in hostels because it offers the opportunity to meet new and interesting people.

I am a big fan of traveling because it makes us more aware of the world around us and ultimately creates a sense of “place.” Many of my expeditions span not just a few days or weeks, but weeks and months. Traveling across a place using human power allows time to truly understand the surroundings.

My #1 travel experience was stark and brutal. In 2010, I completed a world record adventure to the South Pole, North Pole and the top of Mt. Everest in 365 days. It was an incredible experience living in a tent in the most extreme environments in the world for almost six months. Strong and brutal, but truly the last great frozen places left on the planet.

Keep up with Eric's explorations at ericlarsenexplore.com

Mission statement: Dreamstime

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