Ben Saunders (explorer)

Benjamin John “Ben” Saunders (born 5 August 1977 in Plymouth , England ) is a British polar explorer, endurance athlete, and motivational speaker.

He is best known for leading the first ever return journey to the South Pole on foot through Shackleton and Scott’s route in 2013-14, ^[1] for skiing solo to the North Pole in 2004, and for blogging live from his expeditions. ^[2] He is the third in history and the youngest at in years to reach the North Pole alone and on foot.

Saunders has-wagon morethan 3,700 miles (6,000 km) on polar expeditions since 2001. He holds the record for the longest human-powered polar journey in history (2.888 km) and for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton (1,032 km). ^[3]

“I am an explorer or limits – geographically, physically and mentally. It’s about sheer human endeavor, and the way in welke i can inspire others to explore hun eigen personal potential.”

Biography

The elder of two boys, Saunders Grew up in Devon and Kent , was educated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , and worked as an instructor at the John Ridgway School of Adventure. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society , an Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust , a Patron of British Exploring, a supporter of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and The Orchid Cancer Appeal, a fit Honorary Vice President of the Geographical Association, and an honorary member of the Cordon Rouge Club. In July 2016 Saunders was Awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the University of Northampton. ^[4]

Saunders has Contributed to a number of publications waaronder Worldchanging: A User’s Guide for the 21st Century and “The Middle Of Nowhere ‘ published by Lonely Planet . He’ll be ghosts at the 2005 and 2014 mainstage TED conferences. He Currently lives in London . ^{[ Citation needed ]}

Expeditions

North Pole 2001

Saunders first Attempted to reach the North Pole in 2001, aged 23, on a two-man unsupported expedition led by Pen Hadow dat started from the Arctic Cape (also called Mys Arkticheskiy or Cape Arktichevsky), in Siberia , Russia . The pair ulcers unsuccessful in Attaining the Poles but reached a point close to 87 ° North, after 59 days on the Arctic Ocean . ^{[ Citation needed ]}

North Pole 2003

In April 2003, Saunders COMPLETED a 240km solo round-trip to the North Pole from the temporary Russian ice station Barneo . ^{[ Citation needed ]}

North Pole 2004 (The Serco TransArctic Expedition )

In spring 2004, he set out to do a solo and unsupported crossing of the Arctic Ocean on foot, volgende a Planned route from Russia’s Cape Arktichevsky to Ward Hunt Island , Canada via the North Pole. ^[5] Saunders was dropped by a Russian Mil Mi-8 helicopter at a starting position or N 81’47.6 E 095’49.2 on 5 March 2004, reached the North Pole on 11 May 2004 and was picked up from N 89’30.2 W 088’11.1 (on the Canadian side of the Arctic Ocean) at a Kenn Borek Air Twin Otter ski plane on 14 May 2004.

Saunders’ claim to have reached the North Pole solo in 2004, disputed by ExplorersWeb, ^[6] a website maintained by rival Explorers Thomas and Tina Sjogren , who consider only expeditions dat hun start journey on land to be valid. His 2004 expedition started 70 km north of Siberia’s Cape Arktichevsky, with his online journal reporting 50 km or open water north of the Russian coastline dat prevented im starting from land. ^[7] ExplorersWeb listed Saunders’ 2004 journey to the North Pole as a “partial expedition” one hun database or expedition records ^[8]

In 2004, Australian explorer Eric Philips argued down therein Categorization or expeditions nov port leg a factor in the death of Finnish explorer Dominick Arduin , who mayest at Cape Arktichevsky in March 2004: “I can not help but think down therein tragedy permeated as a result of the pressure placed on Adventurers to port hun expeditions regarded as unsupported. Again, Explorers Web and others are Placing Undue pressure on the adventuring community at Categorizing expeditions on hun achievements … we should not be pressured JSON feeling dat onze policymaking fall short or somebody else’s parameters. ” ^[9]

North Pole speed record attempts (2008 & 2010)

On 27 March 2008, Saunders set out from Ward Hunt Island, Canada, with the aim of setting a speed record. ^[10] The current record 36 days 22 hours was set in 2005 by a team guided by Canadian Matty McNair using dog sleds and numerous air-drops of food. ^[11] In contrast, Saunders set out solo, unsupported, 6 and on foot; have been halted after eight days, on 4 April 2008 ^[12] due to a broken ski binding. Saunders reached a furthest north of N.83.57.686 W. 074.12.566. ^{[ Citation needed ]}

A second speed record attempt in March 2010 Unable to start due to a three-week period of adverse weather conditions on the far north of Canada’s Ellesmere Island . ^{[ Citation needed ]}

The Scott Expedition

Between October 2013 and February 2014, Saunders and Tarka L’Herpiniere made the first ever return journey to the South Pole from Ross Island on the cooperation route Attempted to Sir Ernest Shackleton on the Nimrod Expedition , and with Robert Falcon Scott on the Terra Nova Expedition . At 1,795 miles (2.888 km) the Scott Expedition is the longest human-powered polar journey in history. Saunders and L’Herpiniere set out from Ross Island on 26 October 2013, reached the South Pole on 26 December 2013 ^[13] and finished hun expedition at Ross Island again on 7 February 2014. ^[14] hoewel de the journey was COMPLETED, it must be noted therein the Scott Expedition kan niet worden claimed to harbor leg volledig unsupported, since some supplies had to be delivered by air on hun return journey.

Robert Swan OBE and Falcon Scott (Captain Scott’s grandson) ulcers patrons of the expedition. ^[15]

References