Eric Larsen begins his quest later this week to begin his Save the Poles Expedition. This will be a first-ever journey to the North Pole, South Pole and summit of Mt. Everest in a continuous 365-day period. We caught up with Eric as he prepares to depart for Chile later this week in route to a 52-day ski expedition to the geographic South Pole. Here is what he told us:

What is your favorite expedition to date?

Eric: I like each journey for a different reason. My 2006 summer expedition to the North Pole was unique and ground breaking with a succinct environmental message. But the trip was so hard, it was anything but fun. I led a 41-day expedition to the South Pole last year and as a group we worked really well together as a team. While I haven’t traveled with dogs in a few years I have many fond memories of those trips. Completing the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon in 2004 was up there as well – 400 miles in three and a half days.

What sparked your passion for ‘adventure’?

I like being outside. I feel a strong connection to wilderness and living in close contact with nature. I also consider myself a naturally curious person and enjoy ‘discovering’ a place for the first time.

What has been your greatest challenge to date?

Trying to maintain a stable relationship:) as well as a sense of community and place while traveling so much.

What adventurer do you most admire?

Will Steger is definitely a hero of mine. Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen are also impressive in their planning, preparation and execution in a time where very little was know about the polar regions.

What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment as an adventurer?

Successfully beginning the Save the Poles expedition. (However there is still a big gap between now and potential success – I am still fundraising and looking for sponsorships.) This trip has been the culmination of almost three years of hard work, training and planning. One unique aspect of Save the Poles is that we will be using a lot of custom gear. Sierra Designs I have specially created Anoraks, bibs, down jackets and even a polar tent that I’ve named the Big Kev in honor of one of my old high school friends who joined me on my early adventures.

Tell us a little about what you will be hauling (gear, etc…) to the South Pole? How do you train for that?

Basically, we’ll be hauling everything that we need to live and survive with us in a small sled that we will be pulling behind while skiing. That means food, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothes, etc… Surprisingly, traveling on an expedition makes you realize how little you actually need. Training is critical. Mostly I am trying to build my strength endurance. Hiking with a weighted back back for a couple of hours or wearing my harness and pulling old truck tires (to mimic the weight of my sled). I also do a lot of biking and running.

What is a ‘day in the life of Eric’ like while you are training?

Most of my day is spent at the computer or on the phone trying to fundraise and find other sponsors. I also spend a lot of time researching equipment and modifiying it. Modern day expeditions are more about story telling than anything else so I also work hard to arrange the appropriate technology. That said, I usually try to train 2-4 hours per day. Pulling tires, hiking with a weighted back pack, running or biking. I’ve been doing a lot more running lately as I’ve been traveling a lot.

For a 52-day expedition, how will your down time be spent after a long day of trekking? Will you have access to a laptop, internet, a book to read?

We will most likely travel every day. We will take a half of a rest day every week and maybe take a full rest day after a month. Depends on how we feel. I will be be brining a Trimble Nomad (c) unit provided by TapLogic in Murray, KY. The Nomad is a ruggedized handheld computer that is tough and spec’d to extreme standards for vibration, drop and low temperatures. I will be able to connect the unit to an Iridium Satellite phone and send daily blog postings and images back to my web site www.savethepoles.com. I’ll bring a book as well. Last year it was Ulysses by James Joyce. This year maybe something a bit lighter.

If we went through your gear for the expedition…what would we be surprised to find?

Only two pairs of underwear.

What are your top 5 gear items that are imperative for you on every adventure?

ACR Microfix PLB (personal locator beacon)
Terramar’s TX2 base layer (best long underwear ever)
Suunto ‘world balanced’ Compass and Garmin GPS
Canon G10 camera (I love to take pictures)
Sierra Designs Parka

What will be the greatest threat that you will face during your trek to the South Pole?

I consider the South Pole the safest of the three legs of the Save the Poles expedition. With enough planning and preparation, we shouldn’t face any real ‘grave’ danger. However, with windchills dipping daily down to –40 a good situation can regress to dangerous in a matter of minutes. We will have some potential danger crevasses near our starting point of Hercules Inlet.

Related posts:

1. Interview With Polar Explorer and Adventurer Alex Hibbert
2. Eric Larsen Reaches the South Pole, Finishes First Leg of the First-ever Expedition of Reaching “Three” Poles in 365 Days
3. Polar Explorer: Ben Saunders
4. Polar Explorer Alex Hibbert’s Book: ‘The Long Haul’ Is Out
5. Explorer Starts With The South Pole In Effort To Reach “Three” Poles in 365 Days