Wow! It's been an emotional roller coaster over the last few weeks. Coming back from the South Pole, the worst happened. Ryan Waters, team member for the North Pole leg, dropped out due to personal reasons. Understandable as he had was still in Antarctica on a 70-day expedition.

Worse, was Darcy St. Laurent's email stating that our military flights to northern Ellesmere Island were cut. 'Expletive No' was the last response in a chain of answers that had been overwhelmingly 'yes'. Ouch. That one hurt.

Panic ensues.

On my way to the North Pole in 2006, there were often many times when I wanted to give up and quit. Unfortunately, during that trip there were many times where no real option to stop existed. We were outside of the realm of rescue. I would later realize that, sometimes, the best way to keep moving forward is to not have another choice.

Sitting comfortably in a house, it's easy to decide 'not' to go to the North Pole. Everything was stacked against me going. No major sponsor, team members dropping out, logistics flushed you-know-where. It makes my brain hurt just thinking about all those hurdles. Still, I had hope. I am working with an amazing team of voluteers who are helping promote and implement the entire mission of Save the Poles. Other partners like Miquel and MSNBC and Calvin at Newsvine are offering support as well. (By the way you should join the conversation on newsvine at http://ericlarsenexplore.newsvine.com/)

From the team at Scream Agency to Tim Harincar at webExpeditions (x-journal and x-plot), to sponsors like Terramar and Sierra Designs (and now Bing), the definition of team for an expedition like this is way more than just the few people traveling on the ice.

Amazingly, the hard work by everyone starts paying off. Through Lora's help, Discovery Channel Canada picks up the story. Tim cranks out much need web site changes and mapping updates. Elisabeth, his wife, continues to manage a lot of the overall web presence for Save the Poles. New team memebers come on board (more later). Sponsors like Goal0, Optic Nerve, Terramar and Atlas pledge financial support.

The biggest news however, was the effort of one single person. OK, maybe two. A friend from high school (in Wisconsin), Scott Bishop works at Microsoft and he was able to connect me with some key marketing people several years ago and then again, last fall. In January, I met with Kristin Meldahl at Bing, who took an immediate interest my project. After several weeks of meetings and arm twisting, a sponsorship agreement was hammered out. Wow. More news on this soon! (Thanks again Kristin).

By the way and in case you missed it, the fundraiser in Golden at American Mountaineering Center... A big success. HUGE thanks go to Audrey Milton, a long time friend and supporter of Save the Poles. She even wrangled her husband Dave and two kids into coming along for the show. Of course, Lora and Zack from Scream were there to lend a hand as were Paul from Scarp and Jason, Phil, Sue and Chris from Sierra Designs. A celebrity appearance by Aron Ralston was also nice. Special thanks to Maria for being the solid overall supporter as well.

This news... And everything I've just written... it is just the beginning. We are only one-third finished with the Save the Poles story. More is to come. Our North Pole departure date looms ominously close. We are hoping to be at our starting point in northern Ellesmere Island by March 1st!

That doesn't give us much time does it? Are you packed? Are you wearing your TX2 base layers? Just because I am going to the Arctic Ocean and you are staying home, doesn't mean that you are not part of the team too. We can not do all this alone.

No one of us is as strong as all of us!

Image: Sierra Designs' Phil Mesdag fitting the 'Big Kev' polar tunnel tent with a new fly.

Remember, it's cool to be cold. Save the Poles. Save the planet.

For more information, please visit www.ericlarsenexplore.com. For media inquiries, please contact lora@screamagency.com. For technical inquires, please contact webexpeditions.net