The big question answered: "So Why are you doing this North Pole Expedition?"

I get asked this all the time, some even put 'their clear opinion' on it, asking: "Why would you want to spend 50 days suffering in the cold, just to get to place that isn't even marked or obvious that you arrived there?"

The truth is that I don't analyse 'why?' before I choose these specific adventures, they are part of my dreams, and innermost desires! It's amazing that when they get formed in my head it just feels right in my soul and the analysis comes later! It's almost like falling in love again, some special passion flow kicks in and it becomes a 'no brainer' and a priceless opportunity. But I know that won't satisfy the cynics, and psychologists out there so here is the result of my analysis over the past years of doing these crazy things:

Following on from the esoteric theme from above, I do believe there is something deep within our making that makes us want to explore, experience and discover new things and places. This is one of the attributes of humans that differentiates us from animals.

In my readings, I came across a book written in the late sixties by JLR Anderson, entitled "The Ulysses Factor, The Human need to explore". This book talks about this basic human instinct we all have in our blood pushing us to explore and challenge new frontiers. It's about actually needing to actually experience ALL aspects of the exploring, not just simulating it, not just reading about it, not just watching a movie of someone who 'did it', not 'paying for a seat' on a trip that passes along the same route, but rather actually doing 'IT'! The Ulysses drive demands that we LIVE the exploration, and actually experience the 'total package' of physical and mental challenges, the unknown, the risks, etc, because it's about how a human deals with that whole package, and masters it. The author goes on to define this factor, and although it has a few words that may raise your eyebrows, I am sure many of you readers will immediately associate a part of you with it:

The Ulysses Factor is: "A powerful drive made up of imagination, self-discipline, selfishness, endurance, fear, courage, and perhaps most of all, social instability..." I find this a powerful definition and being defined as 'a drive within' it may go a long way to explaining why 'people who do these things' can't explain why they are doing them, because it's a natural force within that feels so right and normal!

It is pointed out that we all have different levels of this 'factor, the great explorers like Amundsen, Chichester, Scott etc, have huge 'doses', and at the other extreme are those who have virtually none, and fear moving out of their local village and routine based lifestyle. Somewhere in the continuum between these two extremes, each one of us fits in. It's not about there being a 'superior' place 'to be' along this continuum, or being a lesser / better human being, depending on where one is on the continuum, but rather knowing where oneself is along the continuum, and accepting how it helps define oneself relative to others. I have come to understand that I have a 'fairly good dose' of Ulysses Factor, and to my surprise I realise that this was with me in my work career as well, I treated business as an adventure / expedition, always talking on new challenges, and behind them all was this huge 'drive to explore'. In saying this, I do see that I am nowhere near the real explorer end of the continuum. I feel very low Ulysses in the presence of people like Richard Weber, our expedition leader, who is clearly close to the outer limit. (Among other impressive achievements, in 1996 Richard and Misha Malakhov became the 1st, and only people to date, to have completed an unsupported Canada to the North Pole and return expedition. Experts concur that this feat will be unlikely to be every repeated.)

Beside this natural 'Ulysses Factor drive', this North Pole expedition has a strategic 'life fit' for me. In 2004 I chose to break away from the "big bad, materialistic, and big city, world, to pursue a dream that cost my two marriages in it's pursuit! I guess another true 'Ulysses driven' decision! This dream was to lead a simple 'adventure life', initially centred around solo sailing, cycling and sea kayaking as a form of travel and exploration in more remote and 'interesting' places of the world. As it turns out this has been more of an inner personal journey than a physical activity one....! In my adventures I met a number of people who had explored the Poles, and I became very intrigued, to the point that I decided to expand my circle of focus to include polar adventures. Eighteen months of reading, learning, exploring options, meeting the right people, and perseverance, has now delivered this once in a lifetime opportunity, that helps diversify and expand the original concept behind my 2004 dream. Each adventure adds some more richness and personal growth that helps me finesse my simple, adventure life, non-traditional, philosophy of living. From the many day to day interactions I have with others around the world, I feel I am gaining valuable insights that will be used later in helping other humans achieve their potential and get closer to their dreams, whatever those maybe.

At a lower level in the 'Reasons' hierarchy, like most of us, I do enjoy gaining new skills and knowledge, and this step into a fairly foreign world of 'Cold and Ice' is providing me with huge learning and skill development. Approaching the cold from a perspective of trying to learn how to become comfortable in it rather than saying "I hate the cold and will never live in a cold place", brings a positive mindset and one that nurtures learning and adaptation. Learning how my body will adapt to being fueled by a 90% fat diet for 50 days is something I find interesting. Moving away from a hot climate 'Sweat is good' mindset, to a new one of 'Sweat is bad' is interesting. Then there are all the 'on the ice' techniques, the learning about the Polar environment, the value of meeting and getting to know an expert like Richard Weber, etc, etc.

The value of being experiencing intimately a very unique, beautiful, remote, unspoilt last frontier of the world, that is every changing is hard to describe and rank on the Reasons list, but it is another huge, albeit secondary motivation for me. I love being out in an environment that has those criteria, and then getting as close as one can to being at 'one with nature' is something very special, as many of you would know. While in the huge and wonderful Wrangell St Ellias Park in Alaska, I remember thinking to myself that this is Nature at her 'biggest, best and most dominant'. I thought I was getting closer to being at one with her, but the truth is I am so insignificant in her wonder that she is indifferent to my presence. This was a powerful and humbling experience in understanding significance. Deserts do the same to me, and I am imagining that the Arctic will be produce another extreme of this. In her book entitled 'Exploring the Infinite', Maria Coffee explains the sixth sense many extreme adventurers speak of—in which they become keenly attuned to the environment—and how anyone can develop a deeper spiritual connection by exploring nature. She confirms that to get this deep level of connection, one has to take on the 'full package' of a true expedition type experience, as I describe above.

And Lastly, I have to confess I am a drug addict! Maria Coffey also goes on to explain the evidence of a 'higher level endorphin' that is produced when extreme adventurers like mountaineers, solo sailors, polar adventurers etc are exposed to body and mind endurance challenges, while having to deal with personal risk in a totally natural environment. This drug produced by the body creates a euphoric feeling or well being, soulful peace and close connected-ness with Nature. I have definitely had my fair share of this drug in the past 6 years, and after the 'prison' of 2009, I am now longing for another 'big dose' that will no doubt be associated with this expedition!

Gee, I have opened up my 'kimono' quite a bit...there is always a risk to that, but then I hope my risk has provided you with some insight that may help you on your 'life journey', even if it is just to confirm, "He is a bloody weirdo!"

Ok, before you think I am really losing it, I'll sign off, and with my fellow team members arriving tomorrow, the Postings will be more related to the actual expedition activities.





a powerful drive made up of imagination, self-discipline, selfishness, endurance, fear, courage, and perhaps most of all, social instability..." J. R. L Anderson