The ‘Save The Poles’ Expedition

In 2009, renowned Arctic Explorer Eric Larsen will begin an unprecedented journey to the top, bottom and roof of the world. During a continuous 365-day period, Larsen will mount major unsupported expeditions to the North and South Poles and an expedition to the summit of Mt. Everest. This feat has never been completed in one year. To date, only 15 people (no Americans) in history have been to all three ‘poles’. The expedition’s objectives are:

• Complete the first-ever expedition to Mt. Everest, the North Pole and South Pole in a continuous 365-day period
• Promote clean energy solutions, advocate strategies for reducing carbon emissions post Kyoto 2012 and collect relevant scientific data
• Produce a documentary film, book and educational CD-ROM that focuses on global warming, teamwork and the spirit of adventure
• Develop a post expedition multi-media lecture series

Mount Everest and the North and South Poles represent the harshest and most extreme environments on the planet. Yet as inhospitable as these places are to humans, they are also the areas most affected by people. By summer 2040, the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free. Recently, the 1,250 square mile Larsen B Ice Shelf collapsed off of Antarctica and disintegrated into the Southern Ocean. Snow and ice once stretched to Edmund Hillary’s Everest base camp but now ends five miles above.

While we are seeing the most dramatic changes in the Polar and higher altitude regions, Global Warming is an issue that affects us all.

Save the Poles and you will save the world.

The polar regions of the world are home to an amazing variety of life. Seemingly desolate and vacant, these areas support vital ecosystems and are integral to regulating and maintaining world climate. The polar ice caps reflect heat energy back into space. As more ice melts, less energy is reflected creating a positive feedback loop, and melting more ice. The North and South Poles play an in important role in cooling water in the global ocean conveyor belt. Home to the polar bear and penguin, these far away places are the front lines of Global Warming. The Himalayan glaciers on the Tibetan plateau are also endangered. They contain 100 times as much ice and more than half of the drinking water for 40% of the world’s population. The ‘Save the Poles’ expedition will journey to these last frozen places in attempt to tell their amazing story.