Jan. 29, 2008

Will Steger was featured on NPR's The Story, with host Dick Gordon. The program aired nationally on Jan 29th, 2008. 
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In 2002, Arctic explorer Will Steger was in his late 50's, holed up in his remote cabin in northern Minnesota, designing winter clothes and building an environmental conference center.

Then he read about the sudden collapse of a major ice shelf in Antarctica, and he was jolted back to action. He came barreling out of his hideaway to tackle the biggest issue of our time: global warming.

One of the biggest names in extreme exploration, Will is suited to the task. He had made the world's first unsupported dog sled trip to the North Pole, and he once spent 220 days crossing Antarctica.

Now 63, he's leading a new generation of explorers to witness the effects of a warming planet. He talks with Dick Gordon about how he is spreading the word about the coming catastrophe.

Music heard in this story: Qiugaviit by Tudjaat from the album Putomayo Presents Native American Odyssey, Inuit to Inca.