By Mallory Ayres

Photo: Summit of Mt. Everest

Eric Larsen, the famous polar explorer, has said, "I'm not the strongest, I'm definitely not the fastest and for sure I was never the smartest. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin completely average in every way." But we disagree, not a bone in Larsen's body is average. In a video of one of his expeditions he comes into view, eyelashes heavily crusted with ice, after battling temperatures 30 degrees below zero, howling winds, and thin ice threatening to crack at any minute. He's clearly exhausted, and he admits that it has been a tough couple weeks, but yet he still pushes on.

This determination has helped him dedicate the last 15 years of his life to exploring some of the most inhospitable places on earth. In fact, he just recently completed a feat that few can even imagine possible. He reached the South Pole, the North Pole and climbed Mount Everest all within 365 days. He named it The Save the Poles Expedition, and the goal of his hard work was to raise awareness for our delicate polar regions threatened by global warming. We were able to chat with Larsen and he gave us some insight into overcoming exhaustion and fear, the warmest gear out there, and his relationship with the bitter cold.

The natural world is an amazing thing. It gives us life, keeps us fed and inspires us. But at times it can also be very harsh and can even kill us. We asked Larsen about his relationship with nature in the most extreme and intimidating environments in the world, and why he is so dedicated to preserving it.

Q: Some people think nature is kind and benevolent and others think it's violent and harsh. Based on your experience in extreme environments, what do you think?

A: Nature doesn't care about us. It just is. That said, there is nothing about the poles or Everest that is designed to accommodate people. Everything about these places is designed to keep humans out. Intense cold, no real resources for survival (besides what you bring there), little oxygen on Everest. There is a long list of reasons why no people have permanently inhabited these places. Of course, when you understand these things and realize that you are not overcoming the elements, you are simply traveling with them, your relationship with nature changes - you are part of it. You understand it. Not only can you survive, but you can thrive.

Q: What is it about extreme climates that inspires you and keeps drawing you back?

A: These are incredible pristine landscapes that are changing dramatically. My goal is to give these places a voice and help tell their story in unique and engaging ways. On a personal level, I also really like the physical and mental challenges of expedition travel.

Q: Why is conservation so important to you, especially in the polar regions?

A: To me, conservation simply makes sense. Much like on an expedition, our planet has a finite amount of resources. We need to be careful about which resources we use and in what quantities. It is very clear to me that the quality of our lives is directly connected to the air we breathe and the water we drink. I have seen evidence of climate change first hand - thin ice in the Arctic, melting glaciers in the Himalayas, unusual weather patterns in Antarctica. The earth's poles are vital in helping to regulate global climate; therefore, it is vital to protect them.

Q: What is it about the polar landscape that you find so beautiful?

A: Everything! These places are so vast and remote. So inhospitable. So delicate. It is an incredible feeling to look out at a nearly unending stretch of snow and ice and know you are the only person within hundreds, even thousands of miles.

Photo: Nearing the top of the Khumbu Icefall on the way to Camp 1, Mt. Everest

Trekking through harsh and sometimes unexpected weather, plunging temperatures, and dangerous shifting ice can take a lot out of you. We asked Larsen about his secrets to staying strong mentally and emotionally during his treks.

Q: What mental tricks do you have to overcome exhaustion?

A: I have a hard time differentiating the mental aspect from the physical. To me, the two are very interconnected. Therefore, I work very hard to make sure that physically I am prepared for an expedition, and hopefully, this will in turn prepare me for the mental aspects. I've also realized that there are few personal obstacles that I ‘overcome.' Instead, I try to understand what the problem is and hopefully avoid it or just try to find coping mechanisms. In my mind, planning and preparation are key as is training and physical conditioning. Nutrition and eating also play an important role in sustaining an effort on any given day as well as throughout the entire expedition. Ultimately, I try to never put myself in situations where I am completely spent.

Q: In what ways do you prepare yourself for your expeditions?

A: I always joke that the best way to train for a polar expedition is to sit in a bath tub full of ice and stare at a white sheet of paper for 12 hours a day. I tend to focus on the physical aspects of training because, as I mentioned previously, the mental components of being successful are directly related to being physically fit. I spend a big part of each day training - biking, running, hiking with a loaded pack, pulling tires (to mimic a sled) in the off-season. I focus on basic strength and endurance. I also spend a lot of my time working on gear, our diet, logistics, etc. If I have all the details dialed, I feel a lot more confident and focused on the actual journey.

Q: Have you ever had a time when you thought you might die? How did you save yourself and overcome the fear?

A: My primary goal on an expedition is always to be safe. So, I try not to put myself in situations where my safety will be compromised. That said, there are hundreds of times when you are doing increasingly risky things. On the Arctic Ocean, for example, we do a lot of improvising to cross open sections of water and unstable ice. So far I've been lucky. In terms of overcoming fear, you just try not to think about the consequences too much. Confidence in your abilities and a comprehensive knowledge of the environment helps a lot as well.

Photo: Stepping delicately on a ladder stretch over a large crevasse on the way to Camp 2

We asked Larsen to tell us what daily life is like on an expedition, and as it turns out, it's not glamorous at all. All energy and resources are dedicated to one thing: mere survival.

Q: Can you tell us about what an average day is like on an expedition?

A: Daily life is all about routine. We're dealing with a finite amount of energy and resources. Therefore, the more efficient we are with EVERYTHING we do, the more energy we'll have to be successful. Expedition travel is a lot like chess - you have to make your initial moves very carefully so that you have the strength and awareness to complete the final push.

Wake up is usually at 6am. Then, two hours of melting snow, eating breakfast (oatmeal) and prepping for the day. Then, break camp and head out skiing for roughly 10 hours. Every hour and a half we stop for 5-7 minutes and eat a Clif Bar. Half way through the day we get to eat warm soup from our Stanley Insulated Flasks (hot soup at 30 below is an amazing thing). At the end of the day, we find a comfortable piece of snow, set up camp, melt snow for about 3 hours, eat dinner, update the web site and go to sleep. On polar travels, I try to design my day around getting 8 hours of sleep. In mountaineering, our travel time is dictated by how much climbing we are doing on any given day. Mostly, the days are shorter.

Q: What kind of food do you have to eat to get enough calories to keep you going during an expedition?

A: There isn't a lot of variety on an expedition. Mornings it's oatmeal (with pumpkin seeds, powdered whole milk, dried fruit, beef jerky and butter), during the day it's mostly Clif bars with lunchtime soup, 50 grams each of salami and cheese, and a 100 grams of chocolate. Dinner is usually two 2-person servings of Mountain House Freeze Dried Meals with extra olive oil and freeze dried cheese.

Q: What kinds of thoughts go through your head during the day on your treks?

A: You name it and I think about it. On a good day, thoughts come in and out. On a bad day stress takes over and you worry about making enough miles, dangers up ahead, supplies, gear, how the team is doing, etc. I do spend a lot of time thinking about what I am going to write for a blog each evening which is really enjoyable. I also spend a lot of time looking at the surroundings and being amazed at how incredible it is to be there (when I'm not totally freaked out or scared).

Q: When did you experience the worst conditions you've ever seen?

A: When didn't I? I've been in a lot of bad situations. Starting out in Antarctica was pretty bad, just because it was really cold and I couldn't see very well to navigate. One day on the Arctic Ocean, I remember being so cold, I just couldn't warm up. On Everest, coming down from the summit was CRAZY. It was a total whiteout and we eventually ended up descending the Ice Fall in the dark. There are a lot of ‘worst conditions' on an expedition - the important thing to remember is to be patient. Things will change...at least at some point.

Photo: Trekking through The North Pole

Photo:Base Camp on Mt. Everest

Trekking through the Polar Regions and climbing Mount Everest demands the best, warmest, most high-tech gear out there. Being gear heads, just thinking about it made us salivate. We found Larsen knows a thing or two about staying warm.

Q: What is your most important piece of gear?

A: Hard to say. You take any one piece of gear out of the equation and it is an expedition-ender. That said, carrying an Iridium Satellite phone is paramount for me. I use this to send blog posts, images, podcasts and simply check in. Being able to communicate my message and the stories of these expeditions in real time is the most important part of my mission. My DeLorme PN-60w GPS is also really important for navigating but also providing real time updates. Of course, without my GoalZero solar panels, I wouldn't have any power. After that, a good repair kit is key because after two months at 30 below, nearly everything breaks.

Q: What piece of gear has saved your life?

A: Again, pretty much everything. Without my Optic Nerve goggles, I would get snow blind. Without my Madshus skis, I wouldn't be able to traverse long distances over snow. The list goes on and on... I have these HUGE Rab mittens that I use as an emergency hand warmer which have saved me from frostbite several times. Good gear is critical to success and survival on an expedition.

Q: What is your absolute warmest piece of gear? Why is it so warm?

A: Hard to pick just one. First, would have to be my Terramar baselayer - I use a three layer system: Helix, Thermawool and Geofleece that wicks moisture away from my body and keeps me pretty darn toasty even when it gets to 40 below. My Sierra Designs Fiend down jacket and pants are ridiculously warm, too. I remember huddling below the Hilary Step on Everest and thinking, ‘I've never been so warm.'  Lastly, my MSR XGK stove - the heat generated from this small stove is a lifesaver. I can't even begin to describe the feeling of how amazing that first little bit of warmth is after an intense day on the ice.

Watch Eric Larsen in the official trailer for his documentary - COLDER

For more information about Eric Larsen and his expeditions check out:

www.savethepoles.com

www.facebook.com/EricLarsenExplore

www.Twitter.com/ELexplore