Whitley, UK, January 21 2014 ‑ Land Rover Ambassador Ben Saunders and Tarka L'Herpiniere step into the final stage of their 1800 mile journey on foot from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back are honoured to have received a personal message from Prince Harry. The message was received as the duo commemorated the anniversary of Captain Scott, the inspiration behind the Scott Expedition, and his Polar Party reaching the South Pole just over a century ago.
In his blog from Antarctica Ben said, "We've received a message from His Royal Highness Prince Harry. It made our day here in Antarctica, I hope he won't mind me quoting it below and I'm deeply honoured that he's among the people following our journey."
"One hundred and two years ago today Captain Scott reached the South Pole. As his expedition tragically demonstrated, such a trek sits at the very limit of human endeavour. You're well on your way to completing what Scott attempted; I wish you both the very best of luck for the rest of your journey. You guys will be an inspiration to the next generation as Scott has been to this." Prince Harry.
Ben and Tarka set out from Scott's Terra Nova Hut on 25 October 2013 on an 1800 mile journey to the South Pole and back. It's a journey that sits at the very limits of human capability, which will take approx. 110 days, hauling up to 200kg of weight in their sleds and covering on average16 miles (25 kms) per day.
So far they have covered a staggering 1350 miles (2,170km) on foot from the coast to the South Pole and part of the way back. In 88 days experiencing temperatures down to ‑46C wind chill.
The journey has pushed both Ben and Tarka to their very limits. They are now operating on simply the 6,000 calories they consume daily with no fat left on their bodies to supplement their daily intake.
They now begin their final 430 mile stretch back across the Ross Ice Shelf to their journey's end at the coast ‑ a welcome change from the challenges faced descending the Beardmore Glacier.
"We're both hungrier than ever, which I wasn't expecting after the amount we refuelled following our resupply, but I suspect our bodies have so little fat or superfluous muscle they can turn into fuel that we're almost totally reliant on what we eat to keep us going now. Tarka commented today that dragging a sledge full of food around and yet being hungry all day is a pretty effective form of torture," Ben said.
Join Ben and Tarka on this unique and ground‑breaking challenge as they step into their final stage. Ben's blogging daily at www.scottexpedition.com. Footage sent back from the Antarctica can be found at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUAuh5Ht8DS09P95HGmglj8hqGPtrGcrB.
Ben and Tarka are due to reach the coast early February 2014.
Falcon Scott (grandson of Captain Robert Falcon Scott) and Robert Swan OBE (first to walk to both the North and South Pole and Founder of 2014) are expedition patrons.
ENDS
For further information log onto www.media.landrover.com or contact:
Lydia Haley
Senior Press Officer, Land Rover
02476 564147/07730923504
Editors Note:
Land Rover
‑ Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true breadth of capability across the model range. Defender, Freelander, Discovery, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's 4x4 sectors. Land Rover products are currently sold in approximately 180 global markets.
‑ The technology that is now available to Ben has developed considerably since Captains Scott's mission in the early 1900s; the world of Land Rover has also evolved significantly since it was founded 65 years ago. With continuous advances in design and engineering and high‑tech systems giving today's models even greater off‑road capabilities and on‑board connectivity. At the same time, Land Rovers have retained at their heart the same essential principle of all‑terrain ability that inspired the original, in the same way as Scott's polar ambition remains central to what Ben Saunders wants to achieve
‑ Although Land Rover vehicles will not play a physical role in Antarctica, they are highly valued by Ben as his vehicle of choice for all types of occasion ‑ with the versatility to carry all the kit he needs to the remote training areas beyond the Arctic Circle, and take him across the UK on a busy schedule of speaking engagements and personal appearances. A great supporter of the Land Rover Discovery 4 ‑ with its reputation as the go‑to vehicle for many modern explorers ‑ he says that it is "never just a journey" in a Land Rover as the brand is so closely associated with "adventure and excitement"