In 2009, renowned Arctic Explorer Eric Larsen will begin an unprecedented journey to the top, bottom and roof of the world. During a continuous 365-day period, Larsen will mount major unsupported expeditions to the North and South Poles and an expedition to the summit of Mt. Everest. This feat has never been completed in one year. To date, only 15 people (no Americans) in history have been to all three 'poles'. The expedition's objectives are:

• Complete the first-ever expedition to Mt. Everest, the North Pole and South Pole in a continuous 365-day period
• Promote clean energy solutions, advocate strategies for reducing carbon emissions post Kyoto 2012 and collect relevant scientific data
• Produce a documentary film, book and educational CD-ROM that focuses on global warming, teamwork and the spirit of adventure
• Develop a post expedition multi-media lecture series

Mount Everest and the North and South Poles represent the harshest and most extreme environments on the planet. Yet as inhospitable as these places are to humans, they are also the areas most affected by people. By summer 2040, the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free. Recently, the 1,250 square mile Larsen B Ice Shelf collapsed off of Antarctica and disintegrated into the Southern Ocean. Snow and ice once stretched to Edmund Hillary's Everest base camp but now ends five miles above.

While we are seeing the most dramatic changes in the Polar and higher altitude regions, Global Warming is an issue that affects us all.

In Tibet, Mt Everest is called Chomolungma which means mother goddess of the universe. And its no wonder why. Topping out at 29,035 (8850m) it is five and a half miles above sea level. This is equivalent to the size of almost 20 Empire State Buildings. Mt. Everest is often referred to as the third pole.

The first seven attempts on Everest, starting with a reconnaissance in 1921, approached the mountain from Tibet, where a route to the summit via the North Col and North Ridge seemed possible. All were unsuccessful. George Mallory, who spearheaded the first three expeditions, lost his life with Andrew Irvine during a failed ascent in 1924.

Unsuccessful attempts continued through 1938, then halted during World War II. By the war's end, Tibet had closed its borders, and Nepal, previously inaccessible, had done the opposite.

Starting in 1951, expeditions from Nepal grew closer and closer to the summit, via the Khumbu Icefall, the Western Cwm, over the Geneva Spur to the South Col, and up the Southeast Ridge. In 1953 Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit. Since the first successful ascent, many other individuals have sought to be the first at various other accomplishments on Everest, including many alternative routes on both the north and south sides.

The death percentage on Everest is currently around 5 percent. On Everest, dangers include Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), avalanches, falling rocks or ice, crevasse falls, severe weather, frostbite, hypothermia, dehydration and even other climbers.

Antarctica is the 5th biggest continent and 10 percent of the earth's land area yet only two percent of the land is not covered by ice. It is also home to the most extreme: lowest ever recorded temperature; -90¡C; (Inland temperatures range from -70¡C in winter to a balmy -35¡C in summer) the windiest place on earth with gusts up to 327 km/hr having been recorded; the driest place on earth where some places like the Dry Valleys have not seen rain for thousands of years.

Despite the apparent lack of precipitation, snow accumulated over thousands of years eventually becomes ice. Antarctic ice which at its thickest reaches 5 km in depth, comprises almost 70% of the earth's fresh water. If it all melted, sea levels would rise between 50 and 60 m.

Dangers in this land of solely ice and snow stem from intense cold and wind: frostbite and hypothermia. Crevasses also pose a major threat as well.

Located at the top of the globe, the Arctic Ocean is 50 percent larger than the United States and covers 8.5 million square miles. It plunges to a depth of 14,000 feet, yet until recently has remained mostly frozen throughout the year. Despite the climate's chilly hold, the ice is influenced by tides, currents and wind and is in constant motion. Huge ice pans break apart and collide, creating gigantic ice pressure ridges and wide leads of open water. Seen from above, the ice cap looks like a maze of frozen puzzle pieces, a white sheet split by thousands of dark, watery lines. Polar bears roam the drifting pack in search of seals. Intense cold, heavy fog, cold water submersion, polar bears, ice drift, pressured ice and hypothermia are just a few of the many potential dangers.