An Interview with Eric Larsen
During this winter season, we sat down with Eric Larsen. His extraordinary accomplishments go beyond polar landscapes, encompassing a genuine dedication to environmental activism and resilience while living with colorectal cancer. His story is a testament to the human spirit's triumph, inspiring others to face challenges with unwavering courage and a profound appreciation for life's journey.
Bluebird was fortunate to feature his story in this winter's edition of Bluebird Days Magazine. Read the full article below to learn more.
Eric Larsen: A Living Journey
By Nancy Bush
It’s hard for most of us to imagine the mindset of an extreme athlete and global expeditioner. It’s a mindset that seeks and embraces challenges with seemingly insurmountable odds and difficulties and redefines those uncertainties and adversities as ripe with opportunity for problem solving and growth, for bolstering individual capabilities, and for motivating change. There is an unyielding will, determination, resiliency and discipline. There is also gratitude, respect for nature, and heart. Those qualities describe world renowned adventurer and explorer Eric Larsen, a Crested Butte local, who – among just a few of his accomplishments – holds the world record for skiing to the North Pole and South Pole and climbing Mount Everest in the same year. And, Eric doesn’t just apply those awe-inspiring qualities to his extreme sporting adventures, he applies them in every aspect of his life; qualities clearly embedded in his core that enable him to withstand and conquer the extreme obstacles he faces in his profession, that urge him forward in his relentless dedication to bringing the world’s looming environmental issues to the forefront of our minds, that push him through not only his courageous fight with Colorectal cancer, but his commitment to helping others dealing with the devastating effects of cancer, and that foster him in growing a loving and thriving family that supports and sustains him through it all.
Arctic Expeditioner and Environmentalist
Over the last 25 years, Eric has traveled to the most remote, frozen regions of this earth – documenting how those regions are dramatically changing and working to draw the world’s attention to the effects of global warming. Among his many expeditions, in 2006, Eric was part of the first and only team to successfully reach the North Pole in Summer, and, Eric reached it again in 2010 on his “Save the Poles Expedition” when he set a World Record becoming the first person ever to ski the South Pole and North Pole and summit Mount Everest (often referred to as the 3rd pole) in one year. The “Save the Poles Expedition” was just part of Eric’s continuing work to advocate for the environment and draw attention to the melting ice pack. Eric also led an expedition to the South Pole in 2008, becoming one of few humans to have skied both poles.
As documented in Eric’s captivating book, On Thin Ice, in March 2014, Eric and his friend, experienced mountaineer and climbing guide, Ryan Waters, began a 419 nautical mile (a little over 500 standard miles), unsupported and unassisted trek over the frozen, but rapidly melting, Arctic Ocean ice pack to reach the North Pole. “Unsupported” meaning no outside power, no dogs, no snowmobiles, and no outside food or supply drops allowed. They skied, snowshoed and, at times, swam in the ocean for 53 days – each pulling their own food and supply sleds weighing over 300 pounds each at the start – to make their way from the shores of Ellesmere Island (on the tip of northern Canada) to the geographic North Pole at the 90th parallel. Their trip was considered one of the most difficult and dangerous expeditions on the planet because they faced the harshest conditions on Earth. Many people think of the North Pole as snow covered land, but it is not. There is no land north of the 84th parallel and, thus, their entire journey to the pole is on frozen ice covering the Arctic Ocean. An ice pack that used to be many feet deep creating a large crust over the ocean is now melting at an alarming rate and significantly reducing the ability for anyone to reach the North Pole from land. Melting, thinning ice sheets create increasingly dangerous and continually changing, unstable conditions. Crashing ice sheets create huge pressure ridges that can be over 20 feet high and miles long. Thinning ice sheets also break apart - dangerously exposing the ocean below. The ice sheets also constantly drift with the ocean current below, often taking the expeditioners miles away from their goal while they rest or sleep. Eric’s expedition partner, Ryan Waters, is a very experienced mountaineer, having climbed the highest peaks on all 7 continents and traveling unsupported across Antarctica in 2010 to reach the South Pole. For both of them, however, this was the harshest and most mentally and physically trying expedition of all. In addition to the extreme weather conditions, walls of ice pack, temperatures reaching 60 degrees below zero, whiteouts, and unrelenting storms, there was also the occasional hungry polar bear.
Eric’s book is a riveting read. Eric and Ryan also filmed their journey to the North Pole themselves for Animal Planet in its documentary entitled Melting: Last Race to the Pole. Their story of taking on such insurmountable odds, and of friendship, trust and survival in a place where one small mistake can be deadly is amazing. Through their film, you are able to see one of the most unique and beautiful places on earth. You are also able to witness a rapidly changing and melting environment that may no longer exist in years to come. Since Eric and Ryan’s return from the North Pole, no other expeditioners have been able to successfully reach the North Pole from land.
Since their 2014 expedition, Eric has continued his work to bring immediate and impactful awareness to climate change. While acknowledging the continued high level of harmful emissions and non-renewable resource use, Eric points to some very positive advancements in recent years with new technologies providing more cost-effective and available renewable energy sources, the implementation of new, environmentally-based state-wide economic initiatives for industry, and growing nonprofit organizational work reaching across the globe. While these and other compelling forces continue to work to help protect the environment and to help people understand our human impact on the environment, Eric encourages everyone not to discount the importance of their own individual roles. “Top down and bottoms up!” says Eric. “Even on an individual basis, [our role] is not insignificant. There are all little things we can – as individuals – do to help, to have an impact, because there are a lot of us.”
An Unexpected Life Challenge
In meeting with Eric Larsen in person, you discover a humble, positive, highly thoughtful individual. He is now 52 years old and a dedicated husband to his wife, Maria, and father of two children, ages 10 and 8. He has always loved the wilderness and the unique places of this world. He came to Colorado from a small northern Minnesota town located on Lake Superior and near the Canadian border. He loved living in Minnesota and the surrounding wilderness, but ultimately came to Colorado for mountaineering training. In Crested Butte, he found the old, small-town feel of his home, a setting that offered incredible wilderness adventure opportunities and a community that he and his family love.
In January 2021, 3 days before Eric was set to leave to guide a training course, he was diagnosed with advanced Colorectal cancer. In an instant, his whole world changed. “My doctor told me that I wasn’t going anywhere,” Eric admitted. And, he began what became a two-year process of intense chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries to fight the cancer. He also learned that cancer runs in his family. He has Lynch Syndrome, a hereditary condition that predisposes individuals to Colorectal cancer and also creates a very high risk for uterine and other related cancers in women. Finding out this information was very valuable for his children and other family members so that they can be tested early and routinely. Colorectal cancer is very curable if caught early; and, very life-threatening if not.
Despite all of Eric’s extreme mountaineering and expedition experiences, he reflects, “My battle with cancer was the hardest and scariest experience of my life, a lot harder than any expedition.” Twelve weeks of chemotherapy followed by six weeks of radiation was brutal. Surgery and complications led to more surgeries and grueling hospital stays. He was so fatigued that he couldn’t carry an empty box across a room. He recalls laying in his bed at home, listening to his wife and children downstairs – living life – without him. The chemicals involved in the chemotherapy treatment made him highly and painfully sensitive to cold. This is ironic considering his years of experience with polar expeditions. He could not open his refrigerator door without gloves on his hands. With illness, treatments, multiple surgeries and related complications, his whole professional life shut down.
Now, in remission for months, Eric is reckoning with the obvious physical effects of cancer and his treatment on his body – as well as age. He describes himself as the same adventure seeker, but changing slightly. He still looks for new and unique adventures that challenge him to analyze and problem solve the uncertainties, however, he believes his risk tolerance has waned after becoming a father and facing a life-threatening illness. As an expeditioner, he has always been very thoughtful to “travel with his body” and the environment, and to be very self-aware of his physical condition and mental stamina. “Arrogance can get you into trouble.” Eric is okay, however, with where he is now and his current limitations. He feels very grateful to be in remission, recognizing others who have not made it through the fight.
In comparing his fight with cancer to prior extreme adventures, Eric does find some close similarities. “In cancer, you are going to a point with an uncertain outcome, over an uncertain amount of time and that’s the exact same thing as an expedition. Those parallel each other very closely. You’re basically doing the same things. You are just getting through the next hour and getting through the next treatment.” Through his expedition experiences, Eric is also used to being very uncomfortable and trying to find little ways to get through each moment. This experience helped him navigate step by step through his cancer treatment as well. Eric also credits his amazing medical team who helped him through his journey and the amazing love and support he received from his family and the Crested Butte community, including, the support he received from Living Journeys.
Living Journeys
During Eric’s illness, Julie Reid, Executive Director at Living Journeys - a local non-profit working to ensure that no one in Gunnison County has to fight cancer alone – contacted Eric and his family to provide support. “Julie reached out to my wife, Maria, and said, ‘hey, here’s what we can do.’ It was the most amazing thing ever for our family. There are a lot of national organizations and bigger groups, but there are a lot of aspects of getting treated for cancer where there are gaps in the support – just having a meal delivered, just having access to some counseling.” Living Journey’s programs focus on reducing stress and meeting the needs of the family. Financial grants assist with economic burdens. Professionally facilitated support groups and private therapy grants provide emotional support for patients, caregivers, and the bereaved. Living Journeys also provides delivery of thousands of healthy meals for its clients and their families each year in coordination with local chefs, restaurants, and farmers’ markets. The organization also offers transportation, lodging assistance and other travel resources for clients receiving cancer treatment.
As Living Journeys provided invaluable assistance and support to Eric and his family throughout his illness, Eric is now actively committed to helping others in their battles with cancer as well. Currently joining the Board of Directors at Living Journeys, among other things, Eric offers his time to speak at Living Journeys events, describing his journey through diagnosis, treatment and recovery and the invaluable resources provided by Living Journeys to Gunnison Valley’s community members. To learn more about Living Journeys, visit livingjourneys.org.
Moving Forward
These days, Eric is still figuring out life. His body may not be the same, but he has the same fundamental qualities at his core. He continues to seek opportunities to challenge himself in the wilderness and to bring those experiences to others. He is involved in multiple ventures related to his mountaineering and expedition adventures, holding training courses in guiding – with self-supported, expedition style travel training being his niche. He works with various sponsors including a current project designing a whole line of polar gear for the German company, Jack Wolfskin. He writes and speaks, and recently, with the help of his wife, organized a gravel biking/media trip with Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism and Prosperity Partnership (TAPP) to highlight gravel riding and recreational opportunities around Gunnison County. Eric is looking to expand his training in cold weather, expedition-style travel in the Gunnison Valley as well. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and skills learned in cold weather adventures with others.
Eric loves Crested Butte, being with his family, coaching soccer and riding his bike. He feels that Crested Butte offers endless possibilities for wilderness adventure in his own backyard. “You don’t have to do this crazy stuff to have a unique and compelling adventure. . . Crested Butte has a lot of that – opportunity for unique experiences, to be challenged and enjoy nature – all great things that come out of adventure.”
When asked what life lessons he has learned based on his incredible experiences, Eric responds, “Life teaches all of us lessons in one way or another. When you are on an expedition, all the clutter gets removed and, by default, you are able to see things more clearly.” Adding, “the way to find out what’s important is to remove everything in your life, and that’s what really happens on an expedition.”
For his children, he thinks it is important for them to know that “people are capable of a lot of pretty incredible things. It’s just a question as to whether you want to or not. As to those big problems, just take the small pieces and begin one step at a time. I’m a big fan of doing hard things. . . learning how to deal with adversity is really valuable.” Eric encourages his children to find their own passions and loves that Crested Butte presents a multitude of options for such endeavors. Finally, Eric states, “Expeditions have taught me a lot about ‘what we need to survive versus what we want.’ There is a big difference between those two things and I talk to my kids about that.”
As for local, young adventurers, Eric advises them to define their goals. That will define all you do going forward and help create a structure and a system to get there. “Also, as a young person, do what you want because even with a year or two in the wrong direction, there’s a learning experience. Don’t be afraid to fail. Therein is another learning experience. Ultimately, it’s about the journey. Even getting to the North Pole, there’s nothing there. The journey is the destination.”
View Bluebird Days Volume 12 here.
