1. Reading, Task 1 - 30 minutes with Parker Liautaud

  

 

Here we bring you an inspiring interview with a 19-year-old polar explorer and climate change campaigner, Parker Liautaud. He has participated in three expeditions to the North Pole since the age of 15. Through his expeditions he aims to collect scientific data that will contribute to a better understanding of climate change. The interview was given in 2013 before the Willis Resilience Expedition in Antarctica

 

 

 

1. It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?What are you reading right now?Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.Tell us about your studies at Yale University.Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?What are you working on right now?Who or what influences you?Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?How do you want to be remembered?What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?What’s one thing every man should know?What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

 

Definitely recovering after I failed to reach the North Pole during my first attempt at 15 years old. It was emotionally, mentally and physically very tiring. I was basically starting from the beginning because people and potential sponsors were not very willing to get involved and support my next attempt.

 

2. It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?What’s one thing every man should know?Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?How do you want to be remembered?Who or what influences you?What are you reading right now?What are you working on right now?What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.Tell us about your studies at Yale University.

 

Well, I have just arrived in Chile where I am making my very last-minute preparations for the Willis Resilience Expedition. In a few days I am leaving for Antarctica, where I will be spending six weeks, and then try to walk unsupported the 643 km from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. When I am not training, I am usually doing school stuff. I am studying geology and geophysics at Yale University. I guess I am a pretty busy guy.

 

3. What are you reading right now?Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.What are you working on right now?If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?Who or what influences you?Tell us about your studies at Yale University.How do you want to be remembered?What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?What’s one thing every man should know?

 

How to live out of one suitcase. I have learned that too much stuff will hold you back!

 

 

4. Tell us about your studies at Yale University.If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?How do you want to be remembered?Who or what influences you?What are you reading right now?Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?What are you working on right now?What’s one thing every man should know?

The people I respect and admire — how they behave and the things they do — I usually rely on them when I make decisions. I am also passionate about raising awareness about climate change. I hope I will provide a valuable contribution to our understanding of the Antarctic climate and the changes that are happening so rapidly.

 

 

5. Tell us about your studies at Yale University.What are you reading right now?What’s one thing every man should know?Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?Who or what influences you?Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?How do you want to be remembered?What are you working on right now?

I love breakfast, so it would have to be an all-you-can eat breakfast with bottomless black coffee. All the eggs, bacon, pastries and fruit. Then I would need a really long nap.

 

 

6. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?Who or what influences you?Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.What are you working on right now?How do you want to be remembered?What are you reading right now?If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?What’s one thing every man should know?Tell us about your studies at Yale University.Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?

 

Life is long, so go easy on yourself. Do not let one failure keep you from looking ahead, so work hard and try again. You are going to fulfil your dreams, and along the way, you are raising awareness about climate change.

 

 

7. What are you reading right now?How do you want to be remembered?If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?Tell us about your studies at Yale University.What are you working on right now?What’s one thing every man should know?What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.Who or what influences you?What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

 

My first expedition was when I was 15, with legendary explorer Robert Swan. The trip was unfortunately wrought with disastrous weather conditions and fast-drifting ice. So every morning we would wake up farther behind than where we started the day before. It felt like a huge slap in the face, and I was humbled by the magnitude of the challenge and the Arctic’s unpredictable nature.

 

8. Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.What’s one thing every man should know?Who or what influences you?Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.How do you want to be remembered?What are you reading right now?If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?What are you working on right now?It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?Tell us about your studies at Yale University.Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?

 

Well, for starters, I have never been to Antarctica. The geography will be totally new to me. I am also trying to complete the journey within 22 days to become the youngest and fastest man to complete this route. That means I have to cover 29 km a day. On top of that, I will be pulling a sleigh that weighs 82 kg.

 

 

9. What’s one thing every man should know?What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?What are you working on right now?How do you want to be remembered?Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.What are you reading right now?Tell us about your studies at Yale University.It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?Who or what influences you?

The 82-kilo sleigh I pull will contain everything I need to survive. It contains my food, tent, supplies, ice screws, ropes and more. I will also have polarized glasses that will protect me from snow blindness and a huge, insulated jacket that will keep me dry and warm in the -60ºC temperatures.

 

 

10. Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.Who or what influences you?It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?How do you want to be remembered?Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.What are you working on right now?What’s one thing every man should know?What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?What are you reading right now?What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?Tell us about your studies at Yale University.

I will have oatmeal with some dried fruit for breakfast. During the day I will have some beef jerky, nuts and chocolate. Then for dinner I will have high-calorie, custom-made, freeze-dried meals. I am also planning on bringing 44 chocolate bars, but they will be rock-hard and frozen from the weather. I will have to break them up into little pieces before the expedition.

 

 

11. Who or what influences you?What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?Tell us about your studies at Yale University.It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?What are you working on right now?What’s one thing every man should know?If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.What are you reading right now?Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?How do you want to be remembered?

Unfortunately, I do not have much time right now. But I will need to select a light one — for my expedition. Right now I am thinking about The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

 

 

12. Tell us about some of the unique tools and gear you’ll use on the expedition.What are you reading right now?It’s your last drink and meal on earth. What’ll it be?How do you want to be remembered?What’s one thing every man should know?What makes the Willis Resilience Expedition more challenging than previous trips?Who or what influences you?Your meals will be 5,000 calories per day. What are you going to eat?What are you working on right now?Describe some emotions you’ve felt on your trip to the North Pole.Tell us about your studies at Yale University.If you could go back and tell your 16-year-old self something, what would you say?What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

 

I really hope people will know me as a young campaigner for climate change. I want to use all of my expeditions and speaking opportunities as platforms to shine light on the growing need to call on our leaders to take action and make our environment a priority.