“History is always an integral part of the present. We are well aware that we are sailing in the wake of great explorers and adventurers.” — BØRGE OUSLAND
When it comes to polar exploration, Børge Ousland is a natural. An avid outdoorsman and former member of Norway’s Marinejeger— equivalent to our Navy Seals—he has the physical and mental toughness to survive extreme conditions, as demonstrated by his history-making crossing of the Antarctic during the long polar night.
But Ousland brings more than toughness and endurance to his adventures at high latitudes. He is profoundly aware of those who have gone before him. Heir to a great Norwegian tradition of polar voyages, he has crafted expeditions to replicate the feats of pioneers such as Nansen and Amundsen—in some cases accomplishing what they were unable to do. In 2007, while retracing Fritjof Nansen’s historic trek across Franz Josef Land, he and his team were isolated for three weeks during which they were forced to live off the land. In 2010, Ousland completed the Northern Passage—a circumnavigation by ocean of the entire Arctic in a single season— a long-sought goal of Arctic exploration that became possible only with changing climatic conditions.
An audience favorite for his charismatic and compelling presentations, Børge Ousland will report on his latest expeditions with photos and hair-raising video direct from the field.
Tickets at nationalgeographic.com
National Geographic
Monday, March 04
7:00 PM