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I'm going to North Pole to help out Santa this year.

Expeditions are escapism. The stuff that we're normally concerned about just doesn't matter out there. Tax returns, gas bill, none of it. Life becomes very simple, it's about moving in a certain direction - north if you're going north - staying warm and not getting eaten. That's it.

I've become quite a serious explorer: I've been to Everest three times; I'm the oldest man to reach the North Pole; and I've just been to the lost world of Venezuela.

I have actually led more expeditions to Antarctica than Scott, Amundsen, and Shackleton put together.

My Antarctic expedition is just about doable, just feasible and that's what is exciting to me. If I knew it was possible, if I knew I could do it without too much bother, I wouldn't be interested.

Within 10 years it will be impossible to travel to the North Pole by dog team. There will be too much open water.

If it's enough money, I'll play the North Pole.

I'm not sure you can do anything quickly or easily with the North.

I went for a walk in the Arctic Circle without map or compass. Fortunately, I was only lost for hours, not days.

Going to the Arctic was immense for me.