Prepare deliberately.
Understand the goal, the team, the terrain, and the uncertainty before setting out.
NORTH STAR / OUR STORY
Experience is the
foundation of exploration.
Led by experienced explorers, North Star brings together expedition planning and execution, practical risk management, outdoor-skills instruction, and field-tested judgment.
MEET THE CO-FOUNDERS ↓
GUIDED BY EXPERIENCE
01 — OUR FOUNDATION
Curiosity. Preparation.
Purpose.
The value of an expedition is measured not only by the objective accomplished, but by the journey undertaken, the challenges overcome, and the discoveries made along the way.
North Star approaches each undertaking personally: understand the objective, study the environment, assess and mitigate risks, and prepare deliberately. The result is practical advice informed by field experience rather than a one-size-fits-all itinerary.
MEET THE CO-FOUNDERS / ERIC
Eric Fies, FRGS
CO-FOUNDER · EXPEDITION LEADER · OUTDOOR EDUCATOR
Eric Fies is an explorer, expedition leader, and retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major whose life has been shaped by leadership, adventure, and a commitment to discovering what lies beyond the familiar.
His exploration pursuits have taken him from cave systems of Rapa Nui and Kashmir to Kenya's Mara Loita and Maasai Mara, and into environments where curiosity and ambition must be matched by experience, preparation, and sound judgment. These adventures have reinforced his belief that meaningful exploration is defined not simply by the destination, but by the challenges encountered, the people involved, and the experiences gained along the way.
Over more than 35 years of military and civilian public service, Eric developed extensive experience in operational planning and execution, risk management, and leading people through complex and demanding circumstances. Senior responsibilities in operations and mission assurance refined his ability to assess uncertainty, make difficult decisions, and adapt when circumstances demand it.
Those capabilities extend naturally into expedition leadership. Eric's field experience encompasses navigation, wilderness survival, remote camp operations, logistical planning, sustainment and resupply, and communications. He has repeatedly assembled effective expedition teams, selecting people whose complementary skills, judgment, resilience, and ability to work together suit the demands of each undertaking. He considers team composition a foundational risk-management decision—not merely an administrative step. From minimalist backcountry travel to complex, multifaceted expeditions, he understands that sound preparation establishes the conditions for success, but leadership, adaptability, and effective execution ultimately determine the outcome.
An experienced outdoor educator and instructor, Eric has trained hundreds of individuals in backcountry skills, wilderness preparedness, and responsible outdoor practices. His approach combines practical instruction, real-world experience, and a commitment to environmental stewardship.
A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and member of The Explorers Club, Eric co-founded North Star Adventure Consulting with Amber to bring together their professional experience and lifelong passion for exploration.
Through North Star, he brings a personal, practical approach to expedition planning and execution, field leadership, risk management, and outdoor-skills and fieldcraft instruction—helping others turn ambitious ideas into meaningful adventures while respecting the people, cultures, and environments encountered along the way.
MEET THE CO-FOUNDERS / AMBER
Amber Fies
CO-FOUNDER · EXPEDITION LEADER · PHOTOGRAPHER · CONSERVATIONIST
Amber Fies is the co-founder of North Star Adventure Consulting, an experienced expedition leader, photographer, conservationist, and accomplished equestrian whose life has been shaped by a deep connection to exploration and the natural world.
Her adventures have taken her through a remarkable range of environments. She has planned, organized, and led three separate caving expeditions to Kashmir, India; backpacked hundreds of miles along the Appalachian Trail; trekked through Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness; explored Norway's Lofoten Archipelago above the Arctic Circle; undertaken a multi-day backpacking and snowshoeing trek into California's John Muir Wilderness; and explored Iceland's volcanic terrain near Eyjafjallajökull.
Her connection to Kashmir extends beyond expedition leadership. Amber founded Tradewinds of Kashmir and serves as its president, recognizing Kashmiri culture, traditional handicrafts, and the artisans whose work expresses that heritage.
Photography is another important part of how Amber experiences and shares the world. She has participated in National Geographic photography workshops and had her portfolio reviewed by an editor at National Geographic magazine. Her longstanding interest in wildlife and conservation also informs her commitment to environmental stewardship.
Amber's interests extend to the equestrian world, where her experience includes upper-level dressage, riding and training, and certification as a Masterson Method Practitioner. Her equestrian work has also included ownership of Elite Power Stables in Virginia.
As co-founder, Amber brings an essential perspective to North Star: an appreciation for the places, people, and cultures encountered along the way, paired with the field experience and judgment needed to plan, lead, and execute meaningful adventures responsibly.
AMBER PHOTOGRAPHING HIPPOS · KENYA
THE NORTH STAR STORY
Born of adventure.
Guided by experience.
North Star's roots in expedition planning and outdoor instruction date to 2013. The company was formally established as a Virginia limited liability company in 2016.
Today, North Star remains an independent, founder-led consultancy, personal in scale and practical in approach. We work directly with those undertaking challenging journeys, shaping our involvement around the needs of each expedition rather than offering a fixed menu of trips.
Fear no dragons.
Come explore with us.
03 — OUR PRINCIPLES
Lead thoughtfully.
Combine sound judgment, adaptable plans, and care for the people involved.
Explore responsibly.
Respect communities, environments, and the lasting significance of every place visited.
LET'S BEGIN
Every expedition starts
with a conversation.
If you're planning an ambitious undertaking or seeking practical expedition advice, North Star welcomes the opportunity to discuss it.
START A CONVERSATION ↗