Posted: Aug 30, 2007 11:13 am EDT
(ThePoles.com) Last summer, Eric's and Lonnie's attempt to cross the Arctic Ocean on skis and canoe was aborted half-way. Now, American Eric Larsen prepares for a different quest: In 2009 he wants to try the 'three poles' (NP/SP/Everest) - in just one year!

Shrinking glaciers, thinning ice - the real goal of the upcoming triple, Larsen says, is to raise awareness about Global Warning. Today, he speaks more about that, and also about the tight time line he will face on his 3-pole quest.

Global warming

ExWeb: During and after the 2006 Arctic canoeing expedition, you alerted about global warming. Was it that noticeable?

Eric: "When we started on May 1, 2006, there was 10% more open water than the previous year. On our journey, we noticed that the ice was getting considerably thinner the closer we go to the Pole. Pans were smaller; leads were less defined. The amount of open water, the thinness of the ice the closer we got to the pole were more severe than I could have ever possibly imagined."

"A human-caused warming of the planet due to increased burning of fossil fuels is a scientific fact. There is no debate as to the causes. The only argument that might be made exists within the complex physics deep inside the computer programs that model the world’s climate. In fact, a researcher recently found that actual melting in the Arctic was occurring faster than what computer models predicted. I think skeptics have latched on to this variation in warming to try to debunk the facts."

"It is hard to dispute the facts: The 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1995. The record low September minimum for sea ice, set in 2005, is 2.15 million square miles. For 2007, the most likely minimum extent predicted is 1.96 million square miles."

"Average Arctic temperature increased at almost twice the global average rate in the past 100 years. Polar great Richard Weber recently made some interesting observations on the state of Arctic as well and some of the changes that he noticed throughout his career."

(Ed note: While promoting earth care is a good thing, it has to be noted that there is yet no conclusive proof on the exact causes to the warming situation and polar explorers - like scientists - are not united on the issue. NASA recently had to retract their US statistics: Toronto-based Steve McIntyre, who runs the blog climateaudit.org, found that the hottest year on record in US is 1934, not 1998 as NASA previously claimed. After correcting NASA’s data, McIntyre found that four of the top-ten hottest years in US are from the 1930s, and only 3 are from the last 10 years. Several recent years (2000, and 2002-2004) in fact fell well down the leaderboard, behind even 1900.)

No time to hang out when going camping on the ice

ExWeb: What do you miss most when you’re out on the ice? And what do you miss most from the polar regions when you’re back in Minnesota?

Eric: "I think the things I miss most are friends, family and the day-to-day events of a normal life."

"I love camping and sleeping in tents but one of the things that’s hard about Arctic travel is you don’t get to spend much time ‘hanging out’ like what I would be able to do if I was out hiking, biking or canoeing with friends. You know: Watching the sunset, sitting by a campfire, etc."

"Then, there are many things that I miss about the Arctic: Wide open spaces, a place where there are few other people, the routine of daily travel, dealing with intense physical and mental challenges, living and traveling in close concert with the environment, snow, ice, being in a tent for weeks straight, just to name a few."

ExWeb: What's your timeline strategy for the upcoming three-poles-in-one-year challenge?

Eric: "It’s going to be a tight squeeze. Everest in May, South Pole November to January and North Pole as early as possible – so leaving first week in March – hopefully to the NP by the middle of April. There is also the possibility to try Everest in the fall of 2010, should I fail in 09."

ExWeb: What kind of support do you plan to have on the polar trips?

Eric: "The plan for both poles is to go unsupported. For the North Pole, I am thinking of a four person team leaving from northern Ellesmere/Ward Hunt. The South expedition will consists of a two-person team leaving from Hercules Inlet also unsupported."

"I will have a resupply available if progress is too slow for the North Pole; however the goal is to go unsupported."

ExWeb: And Everest?

Eric: "Remember, my goal is to try to accomplish all three ‘poles’ in one year. Therefore, I have to try to minimize the variables of each ‘leg’."

"Also, mountaineering is the area where I have the least experience. Much of my training over the next two years is centered around that aspect. There is no way that I can get to the top of Everest without going with someone who has been up there previously. Also, I will use oxygen (again minimizing the variables)."

"I would like to have a small 4-6 person team that I help organize. I would prefer to not participate in a bigger ‘guided’ group (however, a lot depends on fundraising efforts). I would like to work with the group and establish camps ourselves working without Sherpas. Although I do think it is foolish not to have some ‘local talent’ on the team, but I see us all working together. As for the route, it will be most likely the South Col’s."

Next: "Arctic explorers are becoming an endangered species."

Last year Minnesota residents Lonnie Dupre and Eric Larsen attempted to cross the Arctic Ocean via the North Pole for the second time. They started on May 2, 2006 from Ward Hunt Island (Canada), and reached the NP on July 1. During the trip, the skiers arranged a resupply, which was airdropped at 87 degrees north. Originally they planned to continue from the Pole until they reached Greenland - but called off the attempt two days after reaching the Pole.

Being a "summer" trip, the team carried their loads on canoe-sleds, which they used to paddle across frequent open water leads.

On a previous attempt in 2005, the expedition was called off after 3 weeks due to bad conditions, including deep snow and a steady southerly ice drift.

Now, Eric Larsen plans to ski to both Poles and to climb Everest within one year - the triple-header taking place in 2009. Eric is still looking for a fourth member to join the NP trip, as well as mates for Everest.

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