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.

+ More

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.

+ More + Biography

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.

+ More + Chronology

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.

+ More + Buy

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.


+ Show me

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.

+ Photographers

It was a great trip and well done to you for playing such a vital role in it's success!

Clark Carter. Australia (North Pole to Canada 2011)

Many thanks for your efforts in getting me there. The whole experience of Svalbard, the activities there, the people I met and finally getting to the North Pole after so much 'hurry up and waiting' was pretty amazing.

Tony Fosgate. England (North Pole Direct 2005)

I just recently completed the Last Degree walk to the north pole guided by Eric, I had an amazing adventure. Although there were a few delays to start with this was without anything Icetrek could do but with everyone pulling together to sort the issue we were soon heading for the ice.

I would say I am inexperienced with camping , sking and cold weather experience so Eric had his work cut out guiding me. He was patient and very well experienced which in turn made me feel safe and confident on the ice .
I would recommend this experience to anyone and especially recommend Icetrek as your guides/organisers as I felt in good safe hands throughout the trip.
Bobby Arbuckle. Scotland ((North Pole Ski Last Degree 2018)

Many thanks for your help on the expedition. We finally made it and we really do appreciate the effort you put in to make it happen for us.

Paul Stewart. Australia (South Pole Emperor Odyssey 2014)

Dear Eric, thanks for the adventure of a lifetime. Well organised, brilliantly executed and full of enthusiasm fun and drama. Your experience and competence made the recurrent challenges seem ' a walk in the park". To have a guide with the humour, experience and character displayed by you is rare. Everyone should do this sometime in their life!

Jon McCarthy. Australia (North Pole Odyssey 2010)

We did extensive research about who the best guiding company would be for a 14 year old girl with a dream of skiing to the North Pole. Our conclusion was that Eric Philips and Icetrek was the stand-alone global leader when it comes to polar expeditions, not only in terms of extensive polar experience, but also a history in outdoor education and background in managing media productions in remote locations. Eric’s calm, patient and relaxed personality, mixed with his work ethic and professionalism made him the perfect team member and leader. No request was too hard. Both Jade and I finished our expedition with a huge amount of respect for Eric and sharing a friendship with him that will no doubt last a lifetime.

Paul Hameister. Australia (North Pole Exped 2016, Greenland crossing 2017, South Pole new route 2018)
Eric Philips, IPGA Polar Expedition Guide
International Polar Guides Association
  • Email
  • Telephone +61 417 390 490
© Eric Philips 2025. All rights reserved.