Liv Arnesen
Encyclopedia
Liv Ragnheim Arnesen is a Norwegian cross-country skier
, adventurer, guide
, and motivational speaker
. Arnesen led the first unsupported women’s crossing of the Greenland Ice Cap in 1992. In 1994, she made international headlines becoming the first woman in the world to ski solo and unsupported to the South pole
. – a 50-day expedition of 745 miles (1,200 km).
, Norway
on the outskirts of Oslo where at an early age, her parents immersed her in their passions: cross-country skiing and polar history. At an early age, Arnesen acquired her taste for the great wide open spaces while spending winters and Easter holidays in the Norwegian mountains ]. Her love of athletics and the outdoors eventually led Arnesen to compete in orienteering and cross-country skiing, as well as to coach high school students in advanced-level cross-country skiing. At the age of 9, Liv read about Roald Amundsen
’s expedition to the South Pole [].
.
become the first women in history to sail and ski across Antarctica’s landmass — completing a 94-day, 1,717-mile (2,747 km) trek.
Arnesen and Bancroft’s goal is to reach 50 million youth around the globe
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
, adventurer, guide
Guide
A guide is a person who leads anyone through unknown or unmapped country. This includes a guide of the real world , as well as a person who leads someone to more abstract places .-Guide - meanings related to travel and recreational pursuits:There are many variants of...
, and motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
. Arnesen led the first unsupported women’s crossing of the Greenland Ice Cap in 1992. In 1994, she made international headlines becoming the first woman in the world to ski solo and unsupported to the South pole
South Pole
The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
. – a 50-day expedition of 745 miles (1,200 km).
Early life
Arnesen grew up in BærumBærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
on the outskirts of Oslo where at an early age, her parents immersed her in their passions: cross-country skiing and polar history. At an early age, Arnesen acquired her taste for the great wide open spaces while spending winters and Easter holidays in the Norwegian mountains ]. Her love of athletics and the outdoors eventually led Arnesen to compete in orienteering and cross-country skiing, as well as to coach high school students in advanced-level cross-country skiing. At the age of 9, Liv read about Roald Amundsen
Roald Amundsen
Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole between 1910 and 1912 and he was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. He is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage....
’s expedition to the South Pole [].
Greenland 1992
In 1992, Liv took part in a team which became the first all-woman team to make an unsupported crossing of the Greenland icecap.South Pole 1994
In her book ‘Good Girls do not Ski to the South Pole’, Liv details her first solo-encounter with the Antarctic. Without support, Liv skied 745 miles and reached the South Pole in 50 days.Mount Everest, North Ridge 1996
In 1996, Arnesen attempted to reach the top of Mount Everest but had to retreat as she developed incipient high altitude cerebral edemaHigh altitude cerebral edema
High altitude cerebral edema is a severe form of altitude sickness. HACE is the result of swelling of brain tissue from fluid leakage and almost always begins as acute mountain sickness...
.
Antarctica 2001
Arnesen and American polar explorer Ann BancroftAnn Bancroft
Ann Bancroft is an American author, teacher, and adventurer. She was the first woman to successfully finish a number of arduous expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic.-Biography:...
become the first women in history to sail and ski across Antarctica’s landmass — completing a 94-day, 1,717-mile (2,747 km) trek.
Arctic Ocean 2005
In 2005, following 2 years of preparation, Bancroft and Arnesen embarked on an attempt to make history as the first women to ski across the Arctic Ocean. Due to bureaucracy, all Arctic expeditions of 2005 were forced to evacuate the Arctic Ocean and forgo their dreams.Arctic Ocean 2007
On March 12, the BAE team was forced to abandon Arctic Ocean 2007, a 530-mile (853-kilometer) unsupported slog to the North Pole. Bancroft and Arnesen hoped to use their expedition to teach children around the world about climate change, but spring temperatures weren't cooperating.New project/expedition
Arnesen and Bancroft are currently planning an international expedition of women to the South Pole in 2012. Both will return to Antarctica, compelled by global challenges and the access they have to millions of schoolchildren around the world, thanks to past expeditions. On their website, the new project is titled Access Water 2012.Arnesen and Bancroft’s goal is to reach 50 million youth around the globe
Motivational speaker
Arnesen is a motivational speaker for corporations, schools, and non-profit organizations.Awards
- "Women of Discovery Courage Award" - 2008 - WINGS
- “Women of the Year”, 2001 by Glamour (magazine)Glamour (magazine)Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
- “Trailblazer”, 2001 by Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame
- “Achievement Award”, 2001 by the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce
- "Diploma of Honor", 1999 by The Russian Geographic Society
Other information
- Liv Arnesen co-owns an exploration company, with Ann Bancroft.
- Arnesen is an atheistAtheismAtheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
. - Liv is an ambassador to the Norwegian Refugee CouncilNorwegian Refugee CouncilThe Norwegian Refugee Council is an independent, humanitarian non-governmental organisation which provides assistance, protection and durable solutions to refugees, internally displaced persons, and returnees worldwide. NRC promotes and protects the rights of people who have been forced to flee...
Further reading
- No Horizon is so Far: An Extraordinary Journey across Antarctica. Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen. Da Capo Press. 2003. ISBN 0-7382-0794-2
- "Ann And Liv Cross Antarctica". Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen. Da Capo Press. 2003. ISBN 0-7382-0934-1