Though not obvious, our Sun is an impressively variable star, capable of episodic, explosive, and enormous releases of energy. This presentation focuses on one such manifestation of solar variability, solar energetic protons, and their dramatic impact on the upper and middle atmosphere in Earth's polar regions. The story starts with the life of a proton, from its incredible journey from the Sun, through interplanetary space, and into the terrestrial environment, ending with the potentially damaging space weather effects it can induce. Finally, the presentation will demonstrate amazing connections between historic solar events and the imprints that solar energetic protons have left behind in arctic ice.