Icetrek History

Svalbard Polar Expeditions. March

Two Svalbard expeditions and our Polar Primer.

South Pole Emperor Penguins Odyssey. December

The resumption of one of our longest annual standing trips

Svalbard Polar Expeditions. March

Our two Svalbard expeditions and our Polar Primer.

New route to South Pole. Nov-Jan

We conceived, planned and guided a new route to the South Pole from the Filchner Ice Shelf via the Support Force Glacier. Two Austrians and a Russian joined us on this 50-day, 865km unsupported ski expedition.

Australian Alps Novice and Advanced courses. August

We ran four trips to the Australian Alps, three Advanced and one Novice. Customers were mostly Aussie though we had a US and UK pair that were training for a South Pole last degree ski, which they completed successfully.

Svalbard Polar Expeditions. March

Two Svalbard expeditions and our polar primer.

THAT DAMN COVID!

South Pole. November

Our annual tour to Antarctica, flying to the South Pole, camping a night on the plateau, and visiting an Emperor penguin colony

Australian Alps Winter Advanced. August

Our advanced trek over the roof of Australia, going further afield onto the Main Range, to Blue Lake or a Mt Townsend circuit

Australian Alps Winter Novice. August

Our novice trek over the roof of Australia, including an ascent of Mt Kosciuszco

Svalbard Polar Expedition. March

Our annual expedition across the beautiful icescapes of Svalbard, one of the most beautiful polar environments on Earth.

Svalbard Polar Primer, Svalbard. April

Our annual primer trip to Svalbard where participants are introduced to the art and skills of safe polar travel.

Flexi Sinch launched. May

We introduced Sinch to take up the slack between our Vintro and Paramark bindings, offering extreme-cold touring functionality with ease-of-use ladder straps and ratchet buckles.

South Pole. Nov-Dec

Our annual tour to Antarctica, flying to the South Pole, camping a night on the plateau, and visiting an Emperor penguin colony

Omni Sled Harness launched. October

Perhaps our best yet. With six points of adjustment Omni is adaptable to the conditions and the wearer. It's for everyone.

Polar Training, Svalbard. April

Our annual trip to Svalbard where participants are introduced to the art and skills of safe polar travel.

North Pole Ski Last Degree. April

A multi-national team skis from 89 to 90 degrees in almost perfect conditions of stable ice, good weather, positive drift and temperatures in the low -30's

Svalbard Polar Expedition. March

Our annual expedition across the beautiful icescapes of Svalbard, one of the most beautiful polar environments on Earth.

South Pole. November

Our annual tour to Antarctica, flying to the South Pole, camping a night on the plateau, and visiting an Emperor penguin colony

Australian Alps Novice and Advanced courses. Aug-Sep

We ran three training trips to the Australian Alps. Some of our clients are training for South Pole expeditions, some climbing Mt. Kosciuszco as part of their Seven Summits campaign, others for the sheer fun of it!

Greenland traverse. May-June

With this west-east Greenland crossing Melbourne schoolgirl Jade Hameister and her father continue with her quest of becoming the youngest person to complete the Polar Hat Trick.

North Pole. April

A last degree expedition and dream come true for an Australian adventurer. He proved to his family and friends that at 61 he was still capable of challenging journeys.

Svalbard expedition and training. March-April

Two trips through the beautiful landscape of Svalbard. The first a 9-day expedition in the severe cold of March, the second a training trip, preparing a client for a South Pole expedition

Icetrek Polynya sled launched - March

A cut-down version of Nilas, Polynya is a lighter, sleeker expedition sled suited to long icecap journeys.

South Pole via Reedy Glacier. Dec-Jan

A 605km, 34-day new route from the Ross Ice Shelf through the Transantarctic Mountains to the South Pole. With Australian Keith Tuffley, who cycled around 50% of the trip on his fatbike, and Brit Rob Smith.

South Pole. November

Our annual tour to Antarctica, flying to the South Pole, camping a night on the plateau, and visiting an Emperor penguin colony

Our first season of training camps in the Australian Alps. Aug-Sep

We ran three training trips to the Australian Alps, all including a winter ascent of Mt Kosciuszco.

North Pole. April

Three ski expeditions to the North Pole. Two started from 88.40 (one with a 14yo girl, her father and a Norwegian cameraman filming for National Geographic, the other with a team of 4 Brits and an Aussie, the third trip was a last degree.

Flexi Paramark launched. January

Flexi Paramark was introduced to give backcountry and kite skiers more ankle support while using any any boot of their choice.

Svalbard. March

Eric and his daughter Mardi complete a 9-day ski trip in Svalbard. This is not Mardi's first polar trip; she visited Antarctica in 2007 on board MVSarsen when she was 10.

Antarctica. December

A solo kite-ski expedition by Eric Philips to Ulvetanna, an iconic peak in the mountains of Queen Maud Land.

South Pole. Nov-Dec

Our annual tour to Antarctica, flying to the South Pole, camping a night on the plateau, and visiting an Emperor penguin colony

North Pole. April

A ski expedition from 88.20 to the North Pole with two Australian soldiers wounded in action and a Moroccan mountaineer.

South Pole. December

Our annual tour to Antarctica, flying to the South Pole, camping a night on the plateau, and visiting an Emperor penguin colony

North Pole to Canada. April - May

Icetrek guided climate-change activist Bernice Notenboom and photographer Martin Hartley on an attempted ski from North Pole to Canada.

North Pole guiding. April

A last degree trek with a Chinese climber and Chamonix guide.

Walking with the Wounded. South Pole expedition. Nov-Dec

Three teams of wounded soldiers from Australia, USA, Canada and UK ski to the South Pole.

South Pole. Nov-Dec

Our annual tour to Antarctica, flying to the South Pole, camping a night on the plateau, and visiting an Emperor penguin colony

Walking with the Wounded. Norway training. September

A week of training in the mountains of Norway, preparing wounded soldiers for a race to the South Pole.

Walking with the Wounded. Colorado training, August

A week of training in the mountains of Coloado, preparing wounded soldiers for a race to the South Pole.

North Pole Guiding. April

Greenpeace 'Save the Arctic' Campaign to the North Pole.

Icetrek Sleds launched. April

Icetrek launched a range of polar sleds. Available in three models, each optimised for weight, strength and tactical use.

Kate Leeming South Pole Cycle Training. March

Two weeks of preparation and training in the mountains, fiords and glaciersof Svalbard. Kate hopes to become the first person to cycle across Antarctica.

Walking with the Wounded Iceland Training. March

Three weeks of ice training in Iceland, preparing wounded soldiers for a race to the South Pole.

South Pole. November

Our annual tour to Antarctica, flying to the South Pole, camping a night on the plateau, and visiting an Emperor penguin colony

IPGA Founded

Together with a team of polar guides from all over the world, Icetrek founder Eric Philips launches the International Polar Guides Association.

North Pole Guiding. April

A multi-national expedition within the last degree.

Introduction of Multi-Shim

Flexi NP and Oversize are completely re-engineered and the revolutionary Multi-Shim introduced.

Pole to Pole Run, South Pole. Dec-Jan

Icetrek supported Pat Farmer on the final stage of his 20,000km Pole to Pole Run. 1200km in a record 19 days running from Union Glacier runway to the South Pole.

South Pole. November

Our annual tour to Antarctica, flying to the South Pole, camping a night on the plateau, and visiting an Emperor penguin colony

Pole to Pole Run, North Pole to Canada. April-May

Guided Pat Farmer on the first leg of his historic Pole to Pole Run. We skied 800km in 40 days from the North Pole to Canada's Ward Hunt Island.

Antarctica via every gateway town

Eric became the first person to have entered Antarctica via all gateway towns - Hobart, Christchurch, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia and Cape Town

South Pole via Cape Town. Nov-Dec

Icetrek guided a group of 11 Chinese to Antarctica via Cape Town, South Africa, flying to the South Pole, camping a night on the Plateau, and visiting Emperor penguins

Flexi Oversize launched

Flexi Oversize was developed to accommodatye a trend in wider polar boots. Now the most popular Flexi model.

North Pole Guiding. April

A last degree expedition, during which we encountered some of the worst conditions seen in the region.

North Pole Guiding. April

A half degree expedition with a team of Australians

Flexi Plateau launched

Flexi Plateau, a lightweight ski binding suitable for any footwear, was introduced during the Antarctic Peninsula trip.

Geelong Grammar School Antarctic Expedition. December

Polar guide for a world-first student expedition, sailing from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula where we skied, sea kayaked and climbed

Greenpeace Climate Impacts Expedition. June-Dec

Polar guide on a circumnavigation of Greenland aboard Arctic Sunrise. A worrying insight into the consequences of climate warming

North Pole Wedding. April

Arranged by Icetrek, this is the first wedding to take place at the North Pole,

North Pole Guiding. April

A fast 5-day last degree expedition with a New Zealand adventurer

Antarctica's Gamburtsev Province. Nov-Jan

Eric appointed Field Leader of AGAP South on Dome Argus. AGAP was a major project of the International Polar Year

North Pole Guiding. April

Two expeditions within the last degree including a couple in their late 70's, camping a night at the North Pole

Svalbard Traverse. March

A private 300km, 8-day ski expedition across Spitsbergen.

Messner Route to South Pole

An international team of four men and women, skiing 900+km in a fast 38-day from the Ronne Ice Shelf to the South Pole.

North Pole Guiding. April

A last degree expedition with 3 Australians and the first Indian woman to ski to the North Pole

Sarsen Voyage to Antarctica. December

A voyage across the Southern Ocean to Macquarie Island and east Antarctica, with 4 children under the age of 10 on board.

Icetrek Spartan Sled Harness

The Spartan is a stripped back lightweight harness suited to expeditions not requiring a sit harness for kiting or rescue.

North Pole Guiding. April

Australian Polar Extreme, including the first Australian woman to ski to the North Pole, followed by a 3-day North Pole trek with an American.

North Pole Guiding. April

A team of 7 Australians, skiing the last degree to the North Pole in 8 days.

Flexi Ski Bindings launched

The first commercial incarnation of Flexi Ski Bindings, Flexi NP, was used on the 2004 expedition.

North Pole Guiding. April

Icetrek's first guiding trip, a 112km last degree expedition to the Geographic North Pole.

Global Extremes:Mt Everest

Eric was a guide and host on this US television series. A kind of Survivor show that took athletes all over world. The winners had the opportunity to climb Mt. Everest.

North Pole from Russia. March-April

Icetrek's first incursion onto the Arctic Ocean, a baptism of ice. 900km in 58 days, polar bears, immersions, frostbite...the usual. Film: Icetrek North Pole. A prototype of Flexi Ski Bindings were used on this expedition with great success.

South Patagonian Icecap. Aug-Sept

A 23-day, 220km ski-kite traverse from Chile's Jorge Montt Glacier to Lago Argentino. Taking on the wild weather of Patagonia. Film: Riding the Tempest.

Atlas Sled Harness

The Icetrek Atlas sled harness with built-in leg loops for kiting and rescue was launched with this expedition.

Icetrek Expeditions founded

Icetrek Expeditions was founded by Eric Philips as a professional polar expeditioning company.

Icetrek South Pole Expedition. Nov-Jan

An 84-day, 1425km new route from McMurdo to the South Pole via the Shackleton Glacier. The first expedition under the Icetrek brand. Film: Icetrek. Into the Teeth of the Blizzard.

Antarctica 1996-97

Eric worked for 6 months as a Field Training Officer at Mawson Station, an Australian base.

Greenland crossing. July-August

Green Ice Traverse was the first crossing of Greenland by an Australian team. Using kayaks as sleds, the team paddled from Tasillaq to Isortoq then skied and kited across the icecap to Kangerlussuaq. Led by Eric

Ellesmere Island, Canadian High Arctic. June-July

Eric's first polar expedition, making the first crossing of the world's fourth largest icecap and the first ascent from sea level of Ellesmere Island's highest mountain, Barbeau Peak.