Just back after a pretty tough couple of days. We managed to summit Rainier via the Emmons Glacier but just barely.

My friend Paul Nanawa and I hiked in through White River on Thursday morning. We had a fairly casual walk up through an incredible stand of firs and pine eventually making our way onto the inter glacier. As a precaution, we roped up and continued to ascend. We had gotten a slightly later start than we had hoped and the snow in the late afternoon sun became soft. Post holing our way up the incline, we struggled under our loads finally making it to Camp Sherman at 10,000 feet in the early evening.

We quickly made camp made dinner and went to sleep - but only for a few hours. By 1:30 am we were up, cooking breakfast and prepping gear for our summit bid. Emmons Glacier is by no means the hardest route up Rainier none the less, it has its own unique set of challenges. Weather, crevasses and over 4,000 feet of climbing pose formidable obstacles.

By three, we were out of the tent and roping up. Neither Paul or I had been up before so our only information on the route was from books and questions to some of the other groups who had made attempts the day before (they had turned back at 12,000' feet due to white out conditions). We were hoping to follow someone else's tracks. But by quarter after three none of the other groups seemed motivated so we started up.

After a few hours of steady climbing, the wind picked up and sky became over cast. Clawing our way up and over one crevasse, we were surprised and how quickly visibility dropped. We continued on, placing wands every so often to help direct us on the way back down.

The summit, much like getting to the poles, was anticlimax. It was cold, windy and because of the wind and blowing snow - a complete whiteout - so much for a magnificent view. Still, we felt good for making it but didn't linger as it was very cold and we still had to climb over 4,000 feet down.

Our descent was anything but relaxing. Now a total whiteout, we inched our our way down straining to find one wand after another. They seemed to be spaced just far enough for us to think we had veered off route.

Finally, after nine hours we arrived safely back at Camp Sherman and collapsed, exhausted, in our tent.

Picture: Paul at Sunrise on the Emmons about an hour before the weather just turned plain nasty.

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by Bing with major support from Terramar, Goal0, Atlas and Sierra Designs.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com. For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com. For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net

Just a quick update to fill you in. I'm in Seattle now. Scrambling to get a few last minute things done. Had a great week with meetings at Bing, MSR, Atlas Snowshoe and Madshus as well as a presentation at REI corporate. Lots of fun.

Packing up way to much gear into my small rental car and driving to Rainier with Scarpa's Paul Nanawa. Next stop, White River ranger station. Then camp Sherman. Then the summit. Should be fun!

Picture: Mt. Rainier.

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by Bing with major support from the University of Plymouth, Terramar, Goal0, Atlas and Sierra Designs.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com. For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com. For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net

It's been another busy weekend at Save the Poles expedition headquarters, now based in Maria's basement in Boulder, Colorado. Luckily, the expedition team (me) managed to sneak out the the Teva Mountain Games in Vail for some fun, sun and renewable energy.

In Teva's geartown, I met up with the Goal0 crew and got a chance to see some of their new products and visit with the entire team. While at dinner with Robert, Joe, Chris, Norm, Maria and the Sender Film guys, we talked about the our need to use Renewable energy right now. We were also regaled with Chris Meek's late night encounter with a mountain lion. But that's a story for another time.

While I always miss the lakes and cool of northern Minnesota, Boulder's proximity to mountains, mountain culture and great training opportunities are hard to beat. Last week, I got an email from a product manager at Sierra Designs, 'Do you want to go up to St. Mary's Glacier and test gear?' Uh... YES! Mountain biking, road biking, trail running, hiking and the occasional 14er are all beneficial in training for Everest right now. Trying to snap a couple of tele turns on mushy dirty snow in June, well, let's just say it's good that no pictures were published.

The dust here in STP's own gear 'town' is finally settling. I still need to whip out the Seventh Generation detergent and wash bivy bags from the North Pole (I know gross, right). New gear seems to still be trickling in as well. I'm exited to be testing Goal0's Sherpa 50 and Elite solar panel. I've also got a few items coming in from Sierra Designs.

As always, there are million details to attend to. Fundraising is still a major issue (and stress) and I'm sending out sponsorship proposals with feverish intensity. Old Spice, it turns out, is not interested in sponsoring polar or mountaineering adventures. Oh well.

My good friend from Scarpa, Paul Nanawa, and I are also gearing up for a Rainier ascent next week. It should be a fun climb although news of an avalanche (leaving one climber still missions and injuring several others) this past weekend sent us both scrambling for snow reports and updated weather conditions. The avalanche is a somber, but important, reminder of the dangers and need for caution while mountaineering.

There are some other fun events on the horizon as well as a trip to Minnesota. I'm excited to get back in the rhythm of regular updates. I'll be in Seattle presenting at Bing, REI and Atlas/Madshus next week. So please stay tuned!

Picture:Goal0's Extreme 30M solar panel soaking up the rays at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado. Very cool.

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by Bing with major support from Terramar, Goal0, Atlas and Sierra Designs.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com. For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com. For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net

Judging by this picture, It's hard to say exactly how I've weathered the past 39 years. Behind the hat, face mask and frost, its still the same old Eric. Considering some of my recent adventures, I am surprised to be here. (Here, as in alive). However, after four successful geographic pole expeditions, I'm a little tougher than I used to be. But I'm a bit more sensitive, too. (Don't tell anyone). There are lines and creases around my eyes and even some gray hair now.

I've lived in more places than I can count, but I'll always be from Wisconsin. Hey what can I say? I love cheese! Still, I consider myself a Minnesotan even though I've been in Boulder, Colorado for over a year now. (Don't worry Maria, that will change). We all look at life through the filter of our experiences. If I close my eyes, I can still see vivid images of biking across the the US, making maple syrup and skiing to the North Pole. I am a jumbled accumulation of people, places and things.

I know a lot more than I used to as well. I have come to believe whole-heartedly in the fundamental principles of science, but sometimes rely on gut instincts and feelings in many decisions I make. Still, I know enough to also know what I don't know.

Of things that I am unsure of, Global Warming is not one of them. Thin ice and open water in the Arctic. The unusual shut down of Katabatic winds in the Antarctic. In most regions, an increasing number of extreme weather events. I have been a first person witness to these events.

After completing two of the three legs of my world record breaking Save the Poles expedition, I am left with one nagging question. Why? Not necessarily the obvious why - as in why go to these remote places spend weeks and months in tent - but the why are we still debating the science behind climate change and why are we not doing more (myself included).

Ultimately the conversation needs to be focused on energy conservation and efficiency as well as implementing wide spread use of renewable energy. I like many other Americans and part of the problem. We need to act now.

In September, I will leave for Nepal and ultimately the summit of Mt. Everest. Over the next weeks and months, I hope to continue to tell my story and the story of these places. My goal, to entertain, educate and inspire.

There is a lot to be amazed about in this world of ours.

I feel like that part of the Indiana Jones movie where the little white line traces Indy's route across the globe. Maria commented that getting back was a long adventure within itself. She's right too. Our white line covers a substantial portion of the northern hemisphere - the geographic North Pole to Borneo Ice Base to Svalbard to Oslo to London (sorry Doug, not to call) to Ottawa to Thunder Bay, Ontario.

In London, we lost AJ. Here is where Darcy and I separate. While we are all excited for home, it is unusually hard to be now sitting alone. For two months, we traveled together through some of the most inhospitable terrain (and water) on the planet. We saw each other's best, and a few times, worst. Tired, happy, sad, noncommital, overwhelmed and every other emmotion was experienced as a team.

From Ottawa Darcy and I drove his truck through the night. We had talked about this mant times on the trail - one person driving, the other lying in the back seat surrounded by chips, pizza, hamburgers aand broasted chickens. Surprisingly, we spent much of our time talking about our journey. We compared and contrasted perspectives on different situations during the trip trying to gleen new bits of understanding, knowledge and lessons learned.

The butterflies in my stomach right now only confirm what I already know. I have never really liked the end of anything - especially expeditions. Neither Darcy and I were eager to part ways.

'Want to get some lunch?' Darcy suggested.

With his family eager waiting for Darcy's return, it was best for him to keep driving. Still, we found ourselves smelling flowers in the Super Stores garden center, admiring the quantity of water melons and oggling weird looking fish in the sea food department.

Of course, this is not the end for any of us.

Image: Darcy and Eric saying goodbye. Why are we smiling?

The Save the Poles expedition is sponsored by Bing with major support froque m the University of Plymouth, Terramar, Seventh Generation, Goal0, Atlas, Sierra Designs and Optic Nerve.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com

For information about guided Antarctic expeditions, please visit http://www.antarctic-logistics.com/

For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com

For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net