North Pole Last Degree Ski Trip

• Veteran American Polar Ski guide Eric Larsen – 3 Full Length NP trips, Multiple Last Degree trips
• Access to satellite phone and email, dispatches of the team progress on our news site
• Emphasis is placed on providing high end logistics, staff, equipment and services to a small team of skiers
• We provide expedition Sleds, Harness, and can rent Skis/Binding/Boot Options

The North Pole last degree ski trip is a truly amazing expedition experience. We are offering a unique opportunity to join our guided expedition to ski the last 60 nautical miles to the Geographic North Pole.

Mountain Professionals is well positioned to offer top-notch polar expeditions. Our staff includes polar adventurers with in-depth artic ocean experience including multiple North Pole full ski expeditions and even world records.

With a small team of fellow adventurers, you will ski across the shifting sea ice and cross open water leads of the Arctic Ocean. Team members will learn and refine the necessary skills and techniques required to travel safely and comfortably in one of the most beautiful and remote environments on the planet. The group will meet in Longyearben, Svalbard. The plan is to meet on day 1 of the expedition and settle in to our comfortable guest house in this fascinating little town. We will take 2 days to complete a gear check and a thorough training program on the surrounding landscape. We feel that preparation is incredibly important in the arctic environment, so we take great care to organize and discuss all the details of travel.

These first days are well spent, acclimatizing to the arctic cold and humidity before flying further north to the Ice Camp at Barneo. Our plan will be to fly via helicopter, as soon as possible from Barneo to approximately 89 degree north latitude or 60 nautical miles away from the geographic pole.

Once we reach the ice we will ski and travel over this incredible and challenging terrain for approximately 7 days to reach the North Pole. We will spend the last night camping on the slowly drifting ice at the pole and await our helicopter return flight to Barneo. A celebration awaits us in the relative comforts of Barneo! From here we pack our things and then catch a flight back to Longyearben.

This expedition will be managed and guided by polar explorer Eric Larsen in addition to our other highly qualified polar staff who will guide as well. Eric was elected as one of Outside Magazine’s Eco All Stars in 2008. In 2006, Eric completed the first ever summer finish expedition to the North Pole. He successfully led his first expedition to the South Pole in 2008. In November 2009, Eric returned to Antarctica for the first leg of his world record Save the Poles expedition attempting to become the first person to reach “all 3 poles in a single year”. This time he completed a 750-mile ski traverse to the geographic South Pole then two short months later he was at the northern Ellesmere Island for a North Pole expedition. His international team reached the North Pole 51 days later on Earth Day April 22, 2010. Eric and Mountain Professionals Director Ryan Waters completed a full length unsupported North Pole Expedition from Cape Discovery in 2014.

We will have a comprehensive logistics and safety network to support our journey, but it is very important that participants should be prepared for a demanding trip. Depending on the group’s abilities and snow and ice conditions, this trip will take around 7 days to cover the distance to the pole. We will encounter extreme cold and participants will be required to help in all aspects of travel and camp set up. Each individual will need to pull a 40 kg. sled across frozen and rugged ice surface for a full day.

It is highly recommended that participants have prior experience in cold weather environments and we can discuss each persons background on an individual basis. Please feel free to contact us and we would be more than happy to talk about the trip. Mountain Professionals does offer private Polar Training in Colorado each winter or a highly recommended 1-week polar training course in January in Minnesota  each year.

• Day 1: Arrive Northern, Russia, Relax and get to know the staff and our team, relax at our comfortable guest house in the center of town
• Day 2: Today is spent going over expedition equipment, personal clothing and equipment and discussing the day to day style of travel. We will take the sleds out and get a feel for pulling the sleds, skiing and discussing technique to help maximize your experience, and efficient packing of your sled
• Day 3: This will be the day that our team is ready and waiting to fly to Barneo. We will spend the day in “ready” mode, in the event the weather and runway conditions allow us to fly up to Barneo
• Day 4: Dependent on the weather and flying conditions, we will take the helicopter to the 89 degree north latitude location on the ice. Move into our camp for the evening
• Days 5-12: Skiing and travel period to the geographic north pole
• Day 13: Dependent on the weather and flying conditions, pick up by helicopter and return to the tent camp at Barneo. Possible flight back to northern Russia.
• Day 14: Extra Day / Flight back to northern Russia.
• Day 15: Return Flight from Russia toward home country

Trip Cost Includes

• Mountain Professionals polar guides.
• Flights Russia to Barneo and helicopter to 89 degrees / return to Russia.
• All transportation, according to the program.
• Personal harness and polar sleds.
• Personal allowance of 30 kg. baggage on flight to/from Barneo.
• All permits and fees.
• All meals according to the program after leaving Russia.
• Group equipment, tents, stoves, safety, etc.
• Navigation equipment, compasses, GPS, maps.
• Communication, satellite phones, dispatches.
• Group insurance and emergency permits.

Price does not include

• International Airfare to and from northern Russia.
• Lodging in Russia.
• Food, beverages, while in Russia.
• Cancellation, Medical, and travel insurance (which you must provide yourself).
• Personal clothing and equipment, boots, skis, bindings poles.
• Expenses of personal nature.