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Interview with Børge Ousland, Polar Explorer

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We were first introduced to Børge Ousland when he gave a keynote speech during the Adventure Travel Trade Association in Tromsø, Norway. Børge has been called the most accomplished polar explorer alive and is also a noted author, speaker, and polar tour leader. He has been featured multiple times in National Geographic Magazine, and is legendary for pushing the bounds of human endurance to achieve historic firsts in polar exploration. Børge’s list of achievements includes being the first person to travel across both the Arctic and Antarctica solo by ski (and the only person to have crossed both solo), as well being part of the first two person team (with Mike Horn, another legendary solo explorer) to travel across the Arctic in the middle of winter during 24-hour darkness(!!!). Inspired by his adventures, we were thrilled when he agreed to an interview with us.

What was your first adventurous activity?
It must be when I was a kid sailing along the coasts of Scandinavia in our small sailboat as a family, just for holiday really- But I loved new horizons, islands and ports. I felt that the ocean had so many possibilities.

How did you first become interested in polar exploration?
A fair bit of it comes from norwegian polar history, and the first trip was across Greenland in 1986, which Fridtjof Nansen was the first to cross in 1888. The platform is outdoor life and adventure, and the polar is because of Norway’s nature and history. You have to do what you can do best, and where you have an advantage.

What made you first think about crossing the Arctic?
I like to cross things, it’s fascinating to move across a continent or across an ocean, not just stop half way and get picked up. Even if that also is a feat.

What gave you the idea to travel solo, and what is the most difficult part of traveling solo?
Solo is best and worst. Intense, depressing loneliness, more dangerous, harder, but at the same time great experience when you have no one else to trust than yourself, you also get closer to yourself and the nature when you are solo.

In, 2006, you tackled the North Pole in complete darkness with teammate Mike Horn. How does the experience of traveling as a team compare to your solo expeditions?
With a teammate you can achieve more, when it works. With Mike and me it worked very well, we had the same goal and we knew that we had to work together to make it. When you can get the best out in each other, and two becomes three, it is really interesting being in a team. But you have to be more or less equal, if not it will not work.

What is the most surprising thing about traveling across the Polar Regions?
The thing that has surprised me most is how fast the ice conditions has changed due to global warming. The drift ice has changed dramatically since I first started doing these trips. The beautifully shaped multiyear ice is almost gone now. Instead of being three meter thick ice and with a thick snow cover, the ice at the North Pole now is only 1,5-2 meter thick and it looks totally different.

We remember you saying that you’re more weary of walruses than polar bears - tell us more about that.
When paddling in kayaks it is true, we were more afraid of attack by angry walruses. They don’t eat humans, but they can be grumpy and have long tusks. They can flip a kayak around like nothing. If you are a few kilometres from land, this could easily become a serious problem.

Tell us about the funniest moment during your travel adventures.
It must be when I met Mr. Ibrahim Sharaf at the North Pole, a Dubai Business man (and now a good friend) with his traditional arab suit, jumping out of a helicopter at the North Pole. I was crossing the Arctic Ocean solo, had been alone for 52 days, and he was the first I met.

Watch a video of this encounter

Were there any moments at which you were ready to give up? What was it, and what gave you the strength to carry on?
When crossing the Arctic Ocean, my sled broke after two days. This was a big shock and I really felt like giving up. But my partner at home told me over the satellite phone to go on, I was not allowed to give up she said.

How long to do you plan, train and prepare for your adventures before departure? How long do you need to spend recuperating afterwards?
It takes about a year to plan serious and difficult expeditions, and it takes from 2-6 months to recuperate after a big trip.

What do you do when you are not out on adventure or preparing for one?
I just completed my new book from the Frans Josef land trip. It’s called “In the footsteps of Nansen” and can be ordered at http://www.ousland.com/

What advice would you give prospective adventurers?
Start with something you like and at a level you can handle. Take it from there and build experience. There are no easy shortcuts to doing big trips. I believe only in the hard way.

Since we run a travel site, we are curious - how much do you travel much outside of the Polar Regions?
I travel a lot doing lectures, when I go for relaxing I like to go fishing and sailing. Mostly in Norway, which is the most beautiful country on earth.

What’s next for you?
It should be the northern patagonia icecap next november.

Thank you very much for your time!

Learn more about Børge Ousland and his adventures on his web site.