Arctic explorer headed for North Pole

Editor’s note: Arctic explorer Eric Larsen is trying to make it to the North and South Poles and the summit of Mount Everest in 365 days as part of an effort to raise awareness about climate change. Larsen joined us on American Morning before he set out on his Save the Poles expedition – and just launched the second leg of his journey to the North Pole. Below is an excerpt from his online journal.

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://www.x-journal.com/journal/ericlars/images/img_5584.jpg caption="Larsen’s crew trekking towards the North Pole. Courtesy: Eric Larsen"]

By Eric Larsen, From EricLarsenExplore.com

Is the ice more beautiful because, for us here, it is dangerous and potentially deadly? Or is it beautiful because so few people have seen this place? Perhaps, its the fact that we are looking at something that may be gone in the future. Or does beauty lie just by existing?

We continue to be astounded by the forms and variety of ice here. Each day has seen a slight change in conditions. Today, we were pleased to find harder patches of snow as well as fewer pressure ridges; however, we are presently camped among some of the biggest pressure we've seen yet.

One surprise was finding a nearly kilometer wide lead in the early afternoon. While we regularly encounter leads, this was the first that was relatively new. Stepping gingerly, we watched as the ice bowed underneath our Atlas snowshoes and sent ripples forward. We decided to skirt the thinest sections. Read the full story »