SOUTH
I've been dropping hints about the next expedition for a while now. It's a project that has been nearly four years in the making, and it's going to be another year and a bit before we set out on what will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge of my entire life.
Here's the plan. The first return journey to the South Pole on foot and the longest unsupported polar journey in history. In October next year, Tony Haile and I will set out from Scott's hut, on the shores of McMurdo Sound on a 1,800-mile, four-month round trip, from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back. No dogs, no vehicles, no kites, no resupplies. We're calling it SOUTH.
The great Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen made the only return journey, using dogs, 93 years ago. His rival Captain Scott died on his return from the Pole just 11 miles from the relative safety of his largest depot. Since then every expedition has either been flown out from the Pole or used dogs, kites or vehicles. Many people have blamed Scott's failure on his reliance on human power, and many experts still believe an entirely human-powered journey of this magnitude to be impossible. We think otherwise.
Last year's expedition may have been solo, but it sometimes felt like I was sharing my tent with thousands - these are the people who shared our dreams, and these are the people whose flag we want to fly at the Pole. Our dream is to finance SOUTH from individual donations - we want this expedition to be owned by people who see the spirit and not just the commercial value of this endeavour. We want you to own a mile of the expedition.
I've never been much of a salesman, and I feel especially awkward writing this because essentially I'm offering you a slice of the biggest dream I've ever had. I hope you'll look beyond the ice and the cold and the machismo, and see this for what it really is: a story about daring to dream really big dreams, and being daft enough to open your heart and ask everyone else to join in and help out.
There's more at www.south.com.
July 21st, 2005 at 5:45 pm
PS - I was in the process of writing this when today's 'bombs' went off in here in London - I nearly changed my mind about posting it, but life in the big smoke seems to be carrying on regardless. Business as usual, and all that…
Ben
July 21st, 2005 at 10:19 pm
Heading to the South Pole and back…on skis
Ben Saunders is a little bit crazy. He does stuff like ski solo from Russia to Canada via the North Pole just for the heck of it. When I was last in London, I called him up to make dinner plans and he apologized if he seemed a "little" tired because …
July 22nd, 2005 at 12:34 am
Ben Saunder's $100 Ticket To Antarctica :: Bloggers Funding High Adventure
Ben Saunders has embarked on a new adventure - and he hasn't even left for Antarctica, yet.
July 22nd, 2005 at 6:51 am
Hey, hey, finally the wraps come off your plans. Wow, I mean wow, sounds like a really great challenge. And, quite right about posting it anyway - it makes a great change from reading all the stuff about the London terrorist bombs.
How's the Beemer by the way?
July 22nd, 2005 at 6:52 am
Will I be joining in?
Try and stop me……..
July 22nd, 2005 at 10:34 am
WOW. This is astounding, and I'll be rooting for you guys all the way. You're just a year older than me and have already accomplished so much; it's very humbling.
You don't have to be a salesman to sell this to anyone, it's an amazing feat to be part of even in a small way…so thank you for letting ordinary people (and not just the big corporations) follow this and be a small part of it.
July 22nd, 2005 at 12:40 pm
Right on, Ben! I'll be looking forward to following your preparations
as well as the expedition itself, next year! And I'm definitely
getting my name on one of those miles… ;-) I just told a friend
about you and sent him the link to your website…he responded,
"Dude, he's my age…I'm so freeking lazy!" LOL!! So now he's on
a mission to buy sneakers…
July 22nd, 2005 at 4:29 pm
Going South
Ben Saunders popped me an email earlier today announcing his next challenge which he and Tony are embarking in called "South. Ben is back after his Serco TransArctic Expedition. On 5 March, Ben Saunders set out to ski solo…
July 26th, 2005 at 4:28 am
I have never been so excited by a journey in my life. $100 seems like an amazing bargain to know you were a small part of history.
July 26th, 2005 at 5:17 pm
Because there are 88 keys on a piano, and because I am a musician in addition to being an awakened "closet" polar explorer (not to mention a devoted Saunders addict), I'd like to order Mile 88, please.
However…. HOWEVER…. for one aforementioned broken polar expedition boot currently sitting all bored on your shelf…. I will offer to reserve not just one, but 10 of those Antarctic miles you shall travel [wink-wink, nudge-nudge]. Yes, I am STILL waiting…. What says Ben who inspires so many to not only think large, but to act large?
Awaiting your response with bated (as well as minty) breath before I head over to PayPal…. [tap, tap-tap, tap-tap, tap]
July 26th, 2005 at 10:20 pm
Moki! 88 is yours - sorry it's taken me a while to reply to your email - things have been pretty busy!
B :)