Modern-day explorer, Eric Larsen’s life epitomizes adventure.  A polar explorer, dog musher, adventure racer and educator, he has spent the past 12 years of his life adventuring in some of the most remote and wild places left on earth. Totaled, Eric has traveled enough wilderness miles to circle the globe over two times.

On January 3rd 2009, Eric successfully led an international team to the South Pole - 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 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 over 600 miles of shifting sea ice and open ocean. Eric's other expeditions include a 700-mile dog sled journey through northern Ontario, a six week dog sled journey in the barren lands of the Canadian Arctic, several training trips to Hudson Bay and countless dog sled races. He has also summited Mt. McKinley, ridden his bike across the United States, been a back country ranger in Alaska, a white water canoe guide in Colorado and wilderness trip leader in Hawaii.

In 2008, Eric was elected as one of Outside Magazine's Eco All Stars. He was also inducted as a member of the prestigious Explorer's Club based in New York City. A gifted communicator, Eric travels extensively giving motivational and educational lectures to schools, universities, non profit organizations and corporate groups.  

Currently, Eric is planning and preparing for the Save the Poles expedition. Slated to begin in November 2009, Eric and his team members will travel to the North Pole, South Pole and the summit of Everest all in one year. The 'Save the Poles' expedition will journey to these last frozen places in attempt to tell their amazing story while promoting clean energy solutions to the problem of Climate Change.

Eric lives in Grand Marais, Minnesota where he is busy training and planning.

Expedition List

Mt. McKinley

In June 2009, Eric and a small team climbed the tallest peak in North America. The team, including American Ryan Waters and Australian Mark Sheen summited in an unusually fast six days. While conditions were fairly severe during the hike up the Kahiltna Glacier, the team took advantage of ideal conditions and attained the summit after leaving from 14,000' camp earlier in the morning.

South Pole

In 2008, Eric successfully led a 41-day expedition to the Geographic South Pole. Traveling from the edge of the Ronne Ice Shelf along the 'Messner Route'. Eric and the team skied nearly 700 miles to reach the Pole.

North Pole

On May 10, 2005 polar explorers Lonnie Dupre and Eric Larsen embarked on a history-making expedition to become the first ever to cross the Arctic Ocean in summer. Their nearly four-month journey ended abruptly when unusual ice conditions and backwards drift forced an early evacuation. The team is currently planning a 2006 attempt for more information, please visit www.projectthinice.org.

Pimagihowin

While Education Director at NOMADS, (Polar Husky program) Eric was a team member for the Pimagihowin 2002 Expedition. Eric and NOMADS co-founder, Paul Pregont traveled nearly 700 miles across northern Ontario by dog team. The expedition emphasized the culture and land of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory, the traditional home of the Northern Ojibway and Cree. To read trail reports from this expedition, please visit the Polar Husky Online Classroom.

Great Slave Lake

After a successful season guiding dog sled trips during the winter of '94/'95, Eric headed to the Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. There he guided a month of expeditions into the barrenlands of the Canadian Arctic. With summer approaching, Eric and a team of three others raced the break up of Great Slave Lake, covering 200 plus miles in four days. The group mushed four teams of Huskies onto the shores of Fort Resoultion on May 3rd.

Dog Sled Racing

While technically not expeditions, Eric has trained and raced sled dogs for many years. Traveling throughout the Midwest and West, Eric has consistently proven himself an adept dog musher completing some of the toughest races in the region. A  definite highlight of his career is the 12 th place finish in the John Beargrease Sled dog Marathon, the longest conitinuous race in the lower 48.

Seeney Iditarod Qualifier - 12 dog - 200 miles
Empire Sled Dog Race - 8 dog - 60 miles
John Beargrease Half Marathon - 8 dog - 150 miles
John Beargrease Marathon - - 12 dog - 390 miles
Tequamenon - 6 dog Pro - 42 Miles

Hudson Bay

Eric and Lonnie traveled to Hudson Bay on two separate occassions. In May 2004, the team traveled to Coral Harbor on South Hampton Island to train and film in Arctic-like conditions. In March 2005, the team completed a final seven-day shakedown trip on the Hudson Bay sea ice just outside of Churchill, Manitoba. Temperatures there hovered around minus 20 F. Eric and Lonnie were able to effectively test their modified canoes for the first time in an around the pressured sea ice.