Pata Degerman | Fjällräven

Pata Degerman

Fjällräven Friend

Photographer

Hiker

Sustainability Leader

Finland | |

Professional Finnish explorer and award-winning keynote speaker, I, Patrick “Pata” Degerman am determined and unstoppable. To date, I have summited over 200 mountains in Antarctica, Greenland and the Himalayas and climbed 24 first ascents in some of the world’s most challenging environments. I’ve completed 47 expeditions throughout the Arctic circle, 7 in Antarctica, expeditions in the wild jungles of Amazonas, Borneo, and Costa Rica, and five deserted islands in the Pacific. Each tough journey takes up to three years of planning, mental preparation, and grueling physical training—and I’m not finished yet. 10. My purpose is fueled by witnessing the impact of climate change firsthand and realizing that we need urgent collective action to protect our planet. With each expedition, I return to Finland armed with firsthand accounts and photographs of melting glaciers and shrinking wildlife habitats in the world’s most vulnerable regions. Shaken by the rapid changes, I have spent the past 23 years delivering keynote speeches to businesses and schools throughout Finland. I share my stories, images, and strategies with humor and passion, raising awareness of the growing climate crisis and inspiring a new generation of environmental keepers.

Pata

What aspect of being in nature is most important to you?

Pata’s purpose is fueled by witnessing the impact of climate change firsthand and realizing that we need urgent collective action to protect our planet. With each expedition, Pata returns to Finland armed with firsthand accounts and photographs of melting glaciers and shrinking wildlife habitats in the world’s most vulnerable regions. Shaken by the rapid changes, Pata has spent the past 23 years delivering keynote speeches to businesses and schools throughout Finland. He shares his stories, images, and strategies with humor and passion, raising awareness of the growing climate crisis and inspiring a new generation of environmental keepers.

Tell us about your favorite adventure?

There still is widely unexplored areas on our planet. Antarctica is one of them. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest continent on the planet. The weather, strong winds and brutal storms have been synonymous with Antarctica since its discovery and continue to be a major challenge for modern explorers. Inspired by these facts I started to planning my first expedition to Antarctica. Putting up a goal of finding, climbing and giving a name to an unknown mountain in an unknown area, didn´t make it much easier. After four years of learning how to fund and organize a polar expedition, I reached the goal and could place the Finnish flag on top of the mountain. Later on we named it Mount SISU ( Finnish word for determination ). That was the starting point for several expeditions to unknown areas around the world and was definitely my favourite expedition.

Who do you enjoy spending the day out with?

First and foremost, my family, and after that good friends from different expeditions.

Share a podcast/article/book/movie that you have enjoyed lately

A book called: A quest for Adventure / Chris Bonington

Do you have any favorite quote or words of wisdom that you often use or like specifically?

I think we can do anything with two things: Teamwork and Finnish Sisu” (Sisu is a gritty, white-knuckle form of courage that is presented typically in situations where success is against the odds)