If anyone has truly earned the title of adventurer, it’s Erling Kagge. Born in Oslo in 1963, he was the first person to reach the South Pole, the North Pole, and the summit of Mount Everest on foot. But what kind of vacation does a thrill-seeker like him look for?
The Norwegian Erling Kagge is considered one of the greatest adventurers of our time. He was the first person to reach the so called three poles of the earth on foot without help - the North Pole, the South Pole and Mount Everest. The law graduate is a passionate art collector, publisher and author of several books, including "Stille. A guide", "Walking. Go further. A guide" and "Great art for little money". He lives in Oslo and has three daughters.
Falstaff TRAVEL: What drives you to set off on an adventure?
Erling Kagge: Many people believe that life should be as carefree as possible - but not me. I have the ambition to make life more challenging than it needs to be. Responsibility and burdens give substance to life. This is the only way to discover what really counts. If you always choose the easiest path in life, then you are living an unfree life.
Many of your books are about the insights you have gained on your expeditions. Is that what traveling is all about - access to deeper insight?
Traveling is about many things - self-knowledge is one of them, another is all the people you meet along the way. A fulfilling social life is one of the greatest happiness factors of all. I believe we are all born explorers - you, me and everyone else too. Every child wonders what lies beyond the horizon. But over time, many people lose this urge.
Are we too afraid of failing at something?
Failure rarely feels good, but it's a valuable lesson. Anyone who has never failed has probably not dared enough in life.
What's the most important lesson you have learned on a trip?
There's no one thing. But I realize that we as humanity are increasingly distancing ourselves from nature - and that's one of the biggest mistakes of our time.
Can a vacation be an adventure?
Vacations and expeditions are two completely different experiences: A vacation means relaxation, sleep and good food, while an expedition involves the challenges of nature and a certain amount of danger.
What does your perfect vacation day look like?
I'm open to any destination - as long as it offers an adventure. A week's beach vacation, on the other hand, would be pure horror for me.
If you could be born again anywhere in the world to start a completely new life - where would it be?
If I was surrounded by nature, I could be happy anywhere in the world.
What will your next adventure be?
It'll be a major research project, but not in the sense you might think: the biggest mystery for me at the moment is human consciousness. Neither psychology nor neurology can fully explain it.
