HILLEBERG AMBASSADOR: POLAR EXPLORATION Pioneering and Environmental Educator Doug Stoup

Doug Stoup (pronounced like stout, but with a p at the end), he introduced himself with a smile, as an all-around explorer, professional guide, and founder of Ice Axe Expeditions.

He has skied more trips to both the North and South Poles than anyone else in the world, leading ski mountaineering expeditions to Antarctica and Greenland and stand-up paddleboarding in the Amazon. He also pioneered location beacons for tracking climate change and founded the Ice Axe Foundation's Impact School . This program, designed for high school students, takes them on international field trips to remote locations such as the Brazilian Amazon, the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, Congo, Greenland, California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, and Antarctica.

Doug is more than just an explorer; he dedicates much of his energy to raising public awareness about the impacts of climate change and plastic pollution. He is equally passionate about adventure and education: "I love taking people into these extreme environments. I love nature and these uncharted frontiers," he says. "I will continue to push the limits of human endurance while raising awareness for charities and humanitarian organizations."

Although Doug's expeditions have taken him around the world, including the African deserts, the Amazon rainforest, and the world's greatest mountains, his passion ultimately lies in the Far North and Far South. "I have a deep connection to polar environments," he says. "For the past 20 years, both as a professional ski mountaineer and as an international polar guide, I've lived in Hilleberg tents. One of the most important pieces of gear on an expedition is shelter, especially in the most inhospitable places on Earth. Hilleberg's Keron tents offer exceptional strength, a tunnel design, and a spacious vestibule. They're incredibly easy to pitch in strong winds, and their combination of strength and lightness makes them a must-have for every polar expedition."

Doug is committed to continuing to lead explorers to both the North and South Poles and developing more innovative and inspiring methods. This year, he plans to lead an expedition to the geographic South Pole using a fat tire bike. "I believe the Hilleberg tent is one of the most important pieces of equipment I own."

see dougstoup.com