Guided Adventures

With over 25 years of expedition experience, Eric Larsen is one of the world’s top expedition guides.

Small by design, Eric’s training courses and guided expeditions are skill based adventures where participants play an active and integral role in most of the aspects of modern expedition life. From learning how to set up tents and use stoves to navigation and decision making, an adventure with Eric is more than just ticking a box on the list.

Join renowned Polar Adventurer and Expedition Guide Eric Larsen for immersion into the world of winter travel and polar expeditions. Learn valuable skills and techniques that will allow you to travel comfortably, safely and efficiently in cold and snow. Special emphasis is placed on learning the necessary skills and systems required with planning your own winter adventure – whether it is just a weekend excursion or an expedition to one of the poles.

Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3

Level 1

Lake of Woods, Minnesota

Price: $3500 | Duration: 8 days | Dates: January 9-16

A detailed first step into the world of winter travel and polar expeditions. Learn valuable skills and techniques that will allow you to travel comfortably, safely, and efficiently in cold and snow – whether it’s just a weekend excursion or an expedition to the North or South Pole. Based out of a remote cabin near the Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, this course covers all aspects of modern-day polar travel through intensive seminars and culminates in a five-day, four-night polar expedition.

After spending the first three days alternating between indoor instruction and outdoor practicals, students will embark on a four-day traverse of Lake of the Woods. With temperatures well below zero and conditions nearly identical to the Arctic and Antarctic, this adventure will provide a challenging, yet safe, opportunity to experience the many facets of expedition life.

Upon completion of the course, participants will receive an official certificate (to be used as reference for Last Degree expeditions or Level 2 and 3 courses) as well as a portfolio of professional quality images.

Topics covered

polar travel philosophy, cold weather layering, sleeping in cold weather, expedition skiing and sled pulling, camp set up, expedition communications and electronics, travel techniques, nutrition and menu planning, safety and first aid, cold weather photography, team dynamics, crisis management and fundraising.