Facing near-death, pirates and 80ft waves could not stop two young explorers from trekking across the globe using only natural power. Ruth Morgan spoke to Rob Gauntlett and James Hooper about their 26,000- mile adventure of a lifetime.

For most twenty-somethings completing university, buying a house or concentrating on a job are the most important things in their lives.

But for Rob Gauntlett and James Hooper, both 21, they have been taking on altogether more exciting challenges.

The pair, who attended Christ's Hospital School in Horsham, have just got home after their year-long 26,000-mile adventure from the North Pole to the South Pole.

They used only skis, sleds, bikes and boats - making them the first people ever to finish the trek using natural power.

The achievement is even more impressive considering that the plan was hatched only hours after the pair had made it to the summit of Everest two years ago.

Rob, from Petworth, said: "We came up with the idea when we were at the base camp of Everest. We wanted to do something unique.

"I suppose some people would have thought Everest was enough but we're not like that."

Facing the below-freezing temperatures and unforgiving terrain would be enough for most people to declare the plan a mission impossible, but the pair also faced many other challenges.

They decided to take on the trek to raise awareness of climate change, a cause they are passionate about, and came face to face with the real effects of environmental damage all too soon.

Disaster nearly struck only two months into their journey as Rob fell through a treacherously thin patch of ice.

He said: "We set off from Qaanaaq in Greenland on April 8 last year looking forward to the trip.

We were travelling on dog sleds in minus 30C conditions and I dropped a glove off the side.

"As I went back to pick it up I heard the ice crack and I fell through into freezing water, hitting my head on the ice on the way in."

Rob was face down in water for more than four minutes. James used his satellite phone to call for help and he tried to resuscitate Rob, who didn't fully regain consciousness for more than four hours.

Rob said: "It was pretty nasty. We were both shaken but we knew we had to continue and get our message across - especially as climate change melted the ice that caused my accident."

After a three-month trek across the Arctic, Rob and James sailed 3,000 miles to New York to begin an 11,000-mile bike ride.

Rob said: "Each stage of the journey was so different - that's the beauty of it. We cycled 100 miles a day which was draining, but we met people and we could sleep on dry land which was good."

Rob said one of the scariest times came aboard a boat when crossing the Gulf of Panama on a stretch of water known to be a home to pirates.

He said: "Piracy was rife and it was a big worry. It was very scary. We kept seeing lights approaching through the darkness but luckily all were false alarms."

Neither of the pair had really sailed before their epic trip and sailing a boat on the high seas quickly took its toll.

Shortly before reaching their final destination of the South Pole, the boat Rob and James were sailing, capsized in a storm.

Rob said: "We learned to sail on the job, and by the time we were nearing the South Pole we were pretty proficient.

"One day, the winds were terrible - about 75 mph - and the waves were around 80ft high. It was just a nightmarishsituation. I was in bed and I can only describe it as being inside a tumble-dryer.

"James was out on deck and the boat capsized as he clung to a pole. It was so lucky that when the boat righted itself he was still there."

Since returning home the pair have embarked on a programme of school talks across the country to promote their green message.

They are in discussions to create a documentary of their travels followed by a book about the trip.

Rob added: "We're still exhausted from the trip but I know we'll do something else. You never know which direction life will take you in and that's what I find exciting."

Have you been on an epic journey? Tell us about your adventures below.