The Norwegian explorer – who in 1990 became the first to reach 90 degrees north without the help of machine nor beast – journeys into the past to uncover the myths, politics and pure joy of the northernmost point on EarthJust before reaching the north pole in 1990, Erling Kagge dropped to his knees on the ice. He’d been trying to open a bag of raisins while wearing thick mittens but one escaped. On all fours he flicked out his tongue like some foraging beast and licked it in to his mouth.What, the Norwegian adventurer asked himself, is the meaning of life out there on the ice, where it’s dark for six months each year, always cold, cannibalism a possibility, where winds howl through the bones of dead explorers and where, if you encounter a polar bear, the question will be which of you will become the other’s dinner? The answer, he reflected, “lies in small daily miracles”. Continue reading...
Erling Kagge's "The North Pole: The History of an Obsession" explores the myths, politics, and joy surrounding the northernmost point on Earth. Kagge, who in 1990 was the first to reach the North Pole without assistance, reflects on his own experiences and recounts the stories of other explorers who sought to reach 90 degrees north, highlighting the extreme conditions and the pursuit of knowledge, glory, and personal satisfaction. The book touches on themes of resilience, the appreciation of small pleasures in harsh environments, and the historical perception of masculinity in exploration.