Sussex adventurers complete pole to pole expedition (From The Argus)

Sussex adventurers complete pole to pole expedition

7:29am Friday 25th April 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

Two young explorers have completed an epic 26,000 mile expedition from the North Pole to the South Pole using only human and natural power.

British adventurers Rob Gauntlett and James Hooper, both 20, sailed through their final check point, the South Magnetic Pole yesterday after embarking on their challenge back in April 2007.

The pair aimed to raise awareness about climate change and prove to their generation you can achieve the "impossible".

Speaking over a satellite phone, Mr Gauntlett from Petworth, said: "It has been an exhausting year, especially down in the Southern Ocean where the bitter cold and severe weather systems have battered us for the last two months."

They will now set sail for Australia and aim to cross the finish line in Sydney Harbour on May 9, after 1,800 nautical miles and 70 days at sea.

Mr Hooper, who is also from Sussex, added: "We are delighted to have completed the expedition and look forward to celebrating our 21st birthdays in the warmth of Sydney."

During their gruelling expedition, the duo skied, dog-sled, sailed and cycled through Greenland, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Cost Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina.

Their 180 degrees Pole to Pole Manpowered challenge was not without its fair share of drama and setbacks.

While skiing and pulling their supplies between Canada and Greenland, Mr Gauntlett fell through the melting sea ice and was left unconscious for three hours as Mr Hooper phoned for help to organise their evacuation to safety.

Determined to continue they then sailed to New York to begin the 11,000-mile cycle ride to Punta Arenas, Chile.

The pair, who are both former pupils of Christ's Hospital in Horsham, still face a massive low pressure system stretching from the Pole to Tasmania as they complete their journey to Australia.

They are hoping to avoid a repeat of the 60mph winds and 70ft waves that knocked them down last week.

Their expedition is helping to raise money for the Prince's Trust.

The pair became the youngest Britons to climb to the summit of Mount Everest aged just 19 on May 17 2006.