Quark Expeditions | 30,114 followers on LinkedIn. Polar-Obsessed since 1991. | In 1991, adventurers Lars Wikander and Mike McDowell had a dream of visiting one of the few places on Earth they hadn’t explored: The North Pole. Once there, they were struck by its pristine beauty and inspired to share their experience with fellow explorers. Not long after this pioneering journey, Quark Expeditions launched their first-ever tourist transit of the Northeast Passage.