Legendary adventurer on mission to preserve Antarctic wilderness
THE South Pole might not seem like the obvious place to harvest solar energy, but one explorer and his son are determined to make it work.
Legendary adventurer Robert Swan, a Durham University graduate who grew up near Barnard Castle, is taking his son Barney on an epic trip to Antarctica in a bid to achieve a world first: an expedition to the South Pole powered entirely by renewable energy.
Robert, 61, who in 1989 became the first person to walk to both the North and South Poles, is aiming to raise awareness of global warming and the need to preserve Antarctica, as well as passing on the baton of exploration to his son Barney, 23.
On the 60-day trip across Antarctica, covering 600 miles to reach Earth’s southernmost point, Robert and Barney will be relying on solar energy, advanced biofuels provided by energy company Shell, and an ice melter designed by NASA, using those renewable forms of energy to keep warm and dry as well as to send videos and other updates on their journey.
Robert, who has an OBE and a Polar Medal, said: “We have planned for every scenario but our main contingency for when we’re in an Antarctic blizzard and I can’t see my hand in front of me is the advanced biofuels provided by Shell, which will keep us warm, comfortable and most importantly safe. The greatest exploration left is our ability as humans to learn how to live on the earth sustainably.”
Robert is the founder of the 2041 Foundation, which draws on his experience of seeing the effects of climate change first hand to promote the preservation of Antarctica with recycling and renewable energy.
His son Barney, who will be the expedition leader on this trip, said: “My generation has too much information and we’re tired of the inconvenient truth but this expedition is about the convenient solutions that can address the current climate change challenges.
“Our expedition is a small example of how we can all make choices to help us transition to a cleaner energy future.
“For people at home who are wondering what they can do, just making small changes like eating from sustainable sources, using less plastic cups and bags, and using solar-powered appliances to charge your phone will all help.”
As well as his first-to-both-poles feat, Robert’s 900-mile walk to the South Pole, ‘In The Footsteps Of Scott’, set a record for the longest unassisted walk ever made on Earth, and the melting oceanic ice both put his team in danger and alerted him to the dangers of climate change.
In addition, the hole in Antarctica’s ozone layer has permanently changed the colour of Robert’s eyes, reinforcing his efforts to preserve the planet’s last great wilderness, and highlight to governments and corporations the need to join in the effort.
Barney, who currently lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, is logistics and team manager for the 2041 Foundation.
In temperatures as low as -40 degrees, Robert and Barney will need to take in 5,000 calories a day as they fight off frostbite, altitude sickness and snow blindness, but will be sharing videos of their expedition at Facebook.com/Shell.
They are expected back home from their 60-day trip in late January.