INGE SOLHEIM: MY FAVOURITE PLACE

Norwegian Solheim swapped his job in finance to be an adventurer and polar guide. He spoke to Esquire deputy editor Johnny Davis about the destination which most invigorates him. The Arctic Ocean is special because everything is in constant movement, and it’s huge, the size of Europe, covered by a thin layer of ice about 1.5m thick. People think, like, big icebergs… No, it’s a relatively thin layer of ice, and 4,000m of water. And this ice is constantly moving. Current and wind makes it drift around and pressure ridges form when the ice crushes together. Open “leads” form when they drift apart. It’s a constantly challenging environment. If you lower your guard for five minutes you’ll get beaten or eaten up. You have to be on your edge. And as you probably have experienced in your life, most challenging and difficult things are always the ones that are the most rewarding. Going to the North Pole is what makes me feel most alive in my job.