On this Episode of Unbound Conversations
As a polar explorer, Eric perceives life's challenges much like the inevitable obstacles on an expedition — it’s all part of the journey. While training can help eliminate some uncertainties in expeditions, nothing could fully prepare him for the roller coaster of battling and recovering from cancer.
Getting over the treatments and surgeries required resilience and focus to regain his strength. Today he continues to lead polar expeditions and teaches others to travel comfortably, safely, and efficiently in cold and snow.
As Eric says, it’s cool to be cold!
Listen to the Episode
About the Guest
Polar adventurer, expedition guide, dog musher and educator, Eric Larsen has spent the past 15 years of his life traveling in some of the most remote and wild places left on earth. In 2006, Eric and Lonnie Dupre completed the first ever summer expedition to the North Pole. During this journey, the duo pulled and paddled specially modified canoes across 550 miles of shifting sea ice and open ocean. Eric successfully led his first expedition to the South Pole in 2008, covering nearly 600 miles in 41 days. Eric is now one of only a few Americans in to have skied to both the North and South Poles.
In November 2009, Eric returned to Antarctica for the first leg of his world record Save the Poles expedition. This time he completed a 750-mile ski traverse to the geographic South arriving on January 2, 2010. Two short months later he was dropped off at northern Ellesmere Island for a winter-style North Pole Journey. The international team reached the North Pole 51 days later on Earth Day - April 22, 2010. He completed the Save the Poles expedition by reaching the summit of Mt. Everest on October 15th, 2010 becoming the first person in history to reach the world's three 'poles' within a 365-day period.
Eric's other expeditions include dog sledding in the Canadian Arctic, training trips to Hudson Bay and countless dog sled races (including the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon). He has summited Mt. McKinley, ridden his bike across the United States, been a backcountry ranger in Alaska and a white water canoe guide in Colorado. Eric has dedicated his adult life to sharing his love for the outdoor world with others. As an educator, Eric strives to connect people to places and issues. In recognition of those efforts, Eric was elected as one of Outside Magazine's Eco All Stars in 2008.
Eric travels extensively giving motivational and educational lectures to schools, universities, non profit organizations and corporate groups. He is also finishing the documentary COLDER about the Save the Poles expedition.
Eric lives Boulder, Colorado with his partner Maria Hennessey and their one month old baby boy, Merritt.
Think Snow!
Show Notes
- The skills required to effectively lead expeditions
- The most important qualities in teammates
- Dealing with failure
- Challenging yourself in extreme conditions
- One of Eric’s biggest takeaways from his cancer diagnosis
- Balancing fatherhood with expeditions
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