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SOUTH | 1 the first Ever Return Journey to the South Pole on Foot SOUTH | 1 The first ever return journey to the South Pole on foot SOUTH | 2 INTRODUCTION en Saunders is a pioneering polar explorer. Only three people Bin history have skied solo to the North Pole (a challenge Reinhold Messner called “ten times as dangerous as Everest”). Ben is one of them, and at 26, he was the youngest by more than ten years. He achieved this feat in conditions NASA called “the worst since records began”, and in doing so set the record for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton. No one has repeated this journey since. Now Ben and fellow adventurer Alastair Humphreys embark on a groundbreaking expedition that pushes the boundaries of innovation and human potential still further. Alastair spent four years cycling round the world, a journey of 46,000 miles across five continents, a millennium.” He has also competed in through the Sahara. Despite breaking challenge Sir Ranulph Fiennes called the Marathon des Sables, the “toughest his foot during the race he still finished “the first great adventure of the new race on Earth”, running 150 miles as one of the top ten British runners. SOUTH | 3 THE COLD FACTS OUTH will be the first ever ! At 1,800 miles, the longest return journey to the South Pole unsupported polar journey in history Son foot; trekking from the edge ! 69 back-to-back marathons of Antarctica, to the South Pole, and ! Four months in the most brutal back to the coast. The two men will environment on the planet be alone, self-sufficient, and hauling ! 6,000–11,000 calories burned each all the food, fuel and equipment they day hauling 200kg sleds will require for four months. It will ! Since Captain Scott’s ill-fated be one of the toughest endurance expedition, no one has ever walked tests of our time, a unique platform from the coast of Antarctica to the to raise awareness of fast-changing South Pole and back again. No one polar climates, and a story to inspire has even come close. Indeed many a global audience of millions. SOUTH experts believe it to be impossible is a statement about what we are without external support (airdrops collectively capable of achieving. of food, or the use of vehicles, dogs The philosophy of SOUTH is to or kites) question accepted practice, to explore new ! The culmination of seven years’ possibilities and innovative techniques, training and preparation and to continually ask “why?” and “why ! Cutting-edge satellite not?” SOUTH encapsulates the drive to communications, carbon composites push the boundaries of human capability and next-generation solar fabrics and break new ground for others to follow. SOUTH | 4 “Polar exploration is at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time which has yet been devised.” Apsley Cherry-Garrard SOUTH | 5 GLOBAL REACH AND ENGAGEMENT en’s record-breaking 2004 expedition secured press Bcoverage around the globe, and the expedition website received millions of hits from the USA, Canada, India, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Finland and Australia. Since then Ben has spoken in sixteen countries, and his expeditions, stories and spirit have inspired, educated and engaged audiences around the world. Alastair has spoken in 30 countries and his lecture to a full house at the iconic Royal Geographical Society Readers Digest, and Newsweek in the was praised by the president: “with US and the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, the the possible exception of Sir David Daily Telegraph, The Observer, The Attenborough, that was the best Guardian, the Economist’s Intelligent lecture, and the longest applause, that Life and The Times in the UK. I have heard in the past 15 years.” The team’s reputation continues to “On the whole it is better to be a little grow with coverage by CBS, ABC, over-bold than a little over-cautious.” Oprah, the New York Times, GQ, The Worst Journey in the World SOUTH | 6 GLOBAL REACH AND ENGAGEMENT SOUTH | 7 SOUTH | 8 TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT How many people can “To face a thing because it was you fit in a tent? a feat, and only a feat, was not very attractive to Scott: it In April 2003, Ben sent the first ever real- had to contain an additional time video from the North Pole. The next object – knowledge.” year, he blogged live to an audience of millions from a 72-day solo expedition on the Arctic Ocean. Ben’s website has been MySpace, and Facebook. Technology live since 2000, Alastair’s since 2001, and is at the heart of what makes SOUTH their expedition sites featured “online unique: its ability to let ordinary diaries” long before the term “blog” had people live vicariously through Ben and entered the public’s awareness. Alastair’s experiences as they unfold. engaging former Vice-President Al Ben has pioneered uploading data Gore as expedition patron (Ben and from expeditions, sending text, images, A commitment to Vice-President Gore both spoke at audio and video back from the field on the environment the prestigious TED Conference in a daily basis. Unlike most conventional California), SOUTH represents a explorers, their feats resonate with a Each generation has a challenge to platform to highlight a long-term tech-savvy youth audience. SOUTH will face; environmental sustainability and commitment to environmental incorporate Web 2.0 technology, allowing climate change are ours. SOUTH offers stewardship and responsibility. The followers to comment on and interact a unique prism to focus awareness CarbonNeutral Company will ensure with the expedition’s regular blog, and interest onto what is happening that the expedition has a net CO2 podcast and video content for YouTube, to our climate. With the option of output of zero. SOUTH | 9 EDUCATION: SHARING THE LESSONS OUTH will feature a cross- “Our aim is to expand curricular online education children’s minds and help Sprogramme, supported by them think beyond the national educational bodies in the UK horizons of their school lives. and US. Alastair is a qualified teacher You more than achieved this and both he and Ben are determined objective and, as I hope you to maximise the potential of SOUTH to inspire young people to take action could tell, had a profound to explore their world and achieve effect on your audience”. their own potential. A background in Headmaster, Thomas’s education, an embracing of today’s London Day Schools myriad high-tech communication tools, and a thrilling adventure combine in this field, an excellent rapport to produce exciting potential for this with youth audiences, and a long- aspect of SOUTH. Ben is also involved term goal of establishing his own with a number of leading youth foundation to support young people charities. An Ambassador for the with adventurous aspirations. Skilled Prince’s Trust, Honorary Vice-President and sought-after public speakers, Ben of the Geographical Association, a and Alastair have proven track records consultant to the Edge foundation and a of using their experiences to unite Patron of the British Schools Exploring international and multi-disciplinary Society, Ben has established credibility workforces as well as young people. SOUTH | 10 EDUCATION: SHARING THE LESSONS WHY? SEIZING AN OPPORTUNITY OUTH is not a journey about surviving the cold, not merely Sa test of endurance. It is a message to the world about challenge. SOUTH is a declaration that with enough commitment, team work, determination and innovation we can overcome the challenges we face, no matter how insurmountable they seem. SOUTH is a vessel that will allow Ben and Alastair to share their message of maximising potential, thriving on adventure, risk and excitement, focusing on achieving quality in all that they do, and using their talents and their opportunities to benefit others. “… it is not strength of body but rather strength of will which carries For more information on the expedition please a man farthest where mind and body are taxed at the same time to their visit www.SOUTH.com, or call Ben Saunders utmost limit.” Apsley Cherry-Garrard on +44 7712 762 521 Brochure design sponsored by Giraffe Advertising: www.giraffeads.com SOUTH | 11 “Superhuman effort isn’t worth a damn unless it achieves results.” Ernest Shackleton SOUTH | 12.
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