Philips Eric (Australia)

Philips Eric

The Australian Eric Philips has lead expeditions to the four biggest ice caps in the world and has been, with his fellow citizen and companion John Muir, the first Australian to reach both the North and South Pole on skis.

Adventurer, explorer, polar guide, lecturer, movie director and actor, Eric Philips is a big name in polar adventure.

Born in April 1962, he studied at the University of South Australia from which he received a Bachelor's degree in Education and Outdoor Education. During his young years, he was the director of Outdoor Education on the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School.

In his early thirties, he rushes headlong into his first big challenges. In 1995, he succeeds in crossing Greenland for the first time, using skis, power kites and a kayak, from Ammassalik to Kangerlussuaq. A film came out of this adventure: "Chasing the Midnight Sun" which was awarded the Emmy Award. A few years later, he used his experience to cross the Patagonian ice cap; he also crossed the Spitzberg cap (2008), the Icelandic glaciers =(2003) as well as the Ellesmere Island glaciers (1992).

In 1996-97, Eric Philips worked as a field education officer at the Mawson Australian station (Antarctica) for the Australian Antarctic Division.

Here are a couple of other sportsmanship accomplishments:

2004-08: guidance and consultancy at the North Pole
2008: skiing expedition to Spitzbergen (see above)
2007-08: a guided skiing expedition of 925 km to the South Pole
2006-07: Sarsen trip in Antarctica
2004: he is awarded the OAM metal of the Australian Order for the feats he has accomplished in the Polar Regions
2002: expedition to the North Pole without being resupplied, from Cape Artichewski, in Siberia
2000: transpatagonian expedition, without resupply
1998-99: Philips inaugurates a new route from Ross Island to the South Pole, passing through Shackleton Glacier
1994: rock climbing in New Zealand
1993: a trip through Patagonia and the Tierra del fuego by bike
1992: crossing of Ellesmere Island
1991: rock climbing in New Zealand
1986: bike trip from Holland to Egypt

Eric Philips is also known to have developed new techniques and methods relative to extreme travelling in the Polar Regions. He has tested a lot of equipment for some of the biggest outdoor companies. He has also written many books and directed film documentaries about his explorations and trips. There has no equivalent, if we are to believe what is said to captivate the public before a conference on one of his polar experiences.

Finally, he has been hired on many occasions by the Australian police and the country's Defence department. He is looked upon as a skilled mediator for resolving inter-relational conflicts, such as those which often occur within human groups of which ever nature they are.