Polar Explorer Eric Larsen
Dongsheng in Antarctica
overcast and 35 degrees F
17 February 2010 | Boulder, CO
Wow, this stuff is really starting to get fun. And we haven't even left yet! Another day dotting I's and crossing T's. My old expedition partner Lonnie Dupre would be proud of me today after crossing so many things off my list. 'Got that done,' he would often say.

I had a brief conversation with another polar adventurer and good friend John Huston. 'Are you getting any sleep?' He asked knowingly. Last year at this time John was preparing for his own North Pole Journey.

The morning started nicely with another arrival from Clif Bar. This time it was my Builders Bars - chocoalate and cookies and cream flavors. In Antarctica, these were special treats. Tasty, crunchy and packed full of energy. I usually ate them during my first break.

I have been in contact with Dongsheng my client (and team member) from the South Pole. While we have talked about exchanging pictures, I have been too busy to send both Bill and Dong a representative selection of pictures from the South Pole. For his part Dongsheng's video camera didn't work in the cold so he was left with mostly inside the tent pictures.

How does an expedition change a person? As you can see from Dongsheng's face over the course of 48 days... Quite a bit. In an email he wrote, 'I am doing the first things on my wish list which I made on the ice. The South Pole trip has changed lots of thing in my life!'

Changes around here, are a bit more subtle. The list is getting smaller (and kind of growing too). I'm in the process of sorting out my Iridium Sponsorship. New Suunto compasses should be arriving this week as well. MSR XKG stoves, a new heat exchanger, ThermaRests and more!

For better or worse, I still need to wash my Terramar long underwear from the South Pole. But luckily a new partnership with Seventh Generation will make that tough job a bit easier.

Picture: Dongsheng for 48 days in Antarctica.

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
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