We almost left yesterday. So close. But another bad weather forecast and report from near the North Pole grounded our flight. It is what it is. At this point Im fairly detached emotionally from the many obstacles in our path.

Itâ??s been a long time since I believed one positive outcome (in anything) could change my lifes station or trajectory. Im not a pessimist but I sincerely believe the good times are the exception. The obstacle is the path is one of my favorite sayings.

Which is why I like traveling on the Arctic Ocean so much. There is no certainty. Not much goes according to plan. Change is the only constant.

I sent this quote out to the group chat of all my North Pole clients earlier today: The harder you work for something, the greater you feel when you achieve it.

I went for a long walk along the river yesterday. As a sun set it cast a warm glow on the surrounding buildings. Families with small children were playing on playground equipment. This could be any walking path along any river in any city.

I spent some time looking at sea ice data as well. Its been a few years since I did a deep dive into all things Arctic Ocean. One of the biggest surprises (not really a surprise considering the warming climate) is the amount of multi year older ice that exists currently (and itâ??s not a lot) versus the past. This ice traditionally has been formed over many years as it flows across the ocean from Russia toward Canada and Greenland. With the overall extent of sea ice diminishing rapidly, the Arctic Ocean will be ice free in the summer in as little as a decade (some estimates). How that will impact North Pole expeditions is all too obvious. A hard reality for me both personally and professionally. Im an imperfect advocate.

I have spent most of my adult life obsessing over Arctic expeditions and adventure. I feel so lucky to have had so many wild adventures over the years (and survived). And then there is cancer, since recovering Im more focused on sharing my experiences with others than pushing my own feats forward.

To that end, in July I will be taking applications for clients to join me on a â??fullâ?? North Pole expedition from land in 2026. No one has complete a full North Pole expedition from land since 2014 (my last North Pole expedition). More on that later.

For now, I hope the weather gods shine brightly on our small group and we can begin our adventure to the ice in earnest.