Eric Philips

Dream big. Live bigger. Begin!

Astronaut

I was Mission Specialist and Medical Officer on board the historic Fram2 polar orbital mission.

Launching on March 31, 2025 from Cape Canaveral, the Fram2 crew spent almost 4 days in space, completing 55 orbits over the North and South Poles. Although we see curated photos of these regions on Google Earth and other platforms, there is something quintessentially human about seeing things with our own eyes and yes, they look different.

On April 4 we completed the first human splashdown off the west coast of the USA.

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Polar Explorer

Since 1992 I've been exploring the Earth's high latitudes.

Exploration has been at the core of my instinct. From my inaugural 1992 expedition to Canada's Ellesmere Island, to pioneering new routes through the Transantarctic Mountains to the South Pole, skiing from Russia to North Pole and North Pole to Canada, to snowkiting solo to the iconic peak of Ulvetanna, I've followed the urge to go where others haven't. To explore the path less travelled.

It's what drives me every day of my life.

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IPGA Polar Expedition Guide

Since 2004 I've been guiding ski expeditions and training in the Arctic, Antarctica and Australia. Any opportunity to introduce people to our wonderful ice environments is a privilege that I will forever appreciate.

In 2011, together with a team of guides spanning 6 nations, I launched the International Polar Guides Association, steering the organisation as President until 2024. Polar guiding is an awesome profession, one that combines my loves of adventure and education.

Contact me if you want to join a trip, need help with your own or are interested in becoming an IPGA guide.

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Polar Equipment Designer

Like many of the polar enthusiasts who use my products, I place absolute trust in the ability of my designs to do what's required of them.

Whether I'm guiding a short trip or on a long demanding expedition, I don't want the anxiety of worrying about gear failure or poor performance so I base my design work on a simple credo: Design and build things to perform dependably in the harshest conditions on the planet.

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Polar Expedition Consultant

In the harsh reality of a polar environment there's often only one chance at success. Don't squander that opportunity with guesswork, assumptions or bad advice.

I offer 4 levels of consultation, giving you the opportunity to balance your growing knowledge with my professional advice to create your optimum polar journey.


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Photographs

Most of the images on my website were taken by professional photographers. Martin Hartley, Petter Nyquist, Christian Åslund and Nick Cobbing are widely known for their work in the fields of polar adventure, conservation and science and I've enjoyed working with them immensely.

They all possess the rare ability to render an ordinary moment as an extraordinary event, an ephemeral blur as static motion, a fleeting nuance as an indelible memory.

My sincere thanks to these superlative artists.

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Eric - thank you for making the whole trip possible for us. I've had an absolute blast and have to pinch myself for reassurance that I really did make it to the North pole!

Fiona Johnson. UK (North Pole Flight 2017)

I just wanted to send you a note to again thank you from the bottom of my heart for our trip together to the North Pole. I simply could not have asked for a companion more experienced and professional who made the impossible possible for me in a totally alien environment, and I also could not have asked to be with anyone who was better company to be with and who could make even the torture and the cold seem enjoyable! I learned a huge amount from you Eric, not just about the technical aspects of trekking and surviving in -40C but also how to conduct oneself as a person. Your modesty about your skills and accomplishments and the way that you encouraged and pushed me beyond where I thought that I could go, but yet always knew when was the right time for me to stop or do something different, were really extraordinary

John Mullen. Australia (North Pole Extreme Ski 2017)

You're a professional, you behaved beautifully, taught me many things and I had fun with you.

Fabio DeMas. Italy (North Pole Odyssey 2012)

Eric, it was incredibly influential to watch you in your element, amongst the Arctic wilderness. Thank you for your guidance and mentoring me.

Eliza Brown. UK (Svalbard Expedition 2022)

Wow, what an incredible adventure! I always wanted to play 'polar explorer' and I got to do it on the Novice Icetrek trip around Mt Kosciuszko. Eric is an absolute legend - full of knowledge and experience, and with the communication and teaching skills necessary to impart that knowledge to the group. He's great company too and full of tales of derring do. An awesome trip. Thanks

Laura Waters. Australia (Australian Alps Winter Novice 2019)

Your dedication to do things right is outstanding. In our hearts we know you are the very best guide there is. You gave us such unforgettable, wonderful memories. Within me I still feel the appreciation for you taking such good care of us.

Heinz Fischer. USA (North Pole Explorer 2008)
Eric Philips, IPGA Polar Expedition Guide
International Polar Guides Association
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