The first man to walk to both the North and South poles is spending Christmas away from his son after being forced to abandon the pair’s mission to reach both poles using solar-power.
Durham-born Robert Swan, 61, made history in 1989 as the first man to walk to both the North and South poles.
This year he hoped to break another record with his son, Barney, 23, and reach both poles using only renewable resources.
Durham-born Robert Swan, 61, made history in 1989 as the first man to walk to both the North and South poles. His son Barney, 23, is hoping to reach both poles using only renewable energy
The lowest point for me was releasing that I simply did not have it in me to average more than ten miles a day’ Robert told the Times
On their trip, the father and son and their team have relied entirely on solar energy and renewable fuels made by Shell to keep warm and dry in temperatures as low as -40C as well send videos and updates on their journey.
However, as they reached the halfway point last week Robert admitted defeat to the grueling conditions and returned home.
‘The lowest point for me was releasing that I simply did not have it in me to average more than ten miles a day’ Robert told the Times.
Robert, who has an OBE and a Polar Medal added: ‘My pride is hurting from being slower than the others. Age eventually catches up with all of us and this is my moment.’
The trip was initially meant to take 60 days and cross Antarctica, covering 600 miles.
The pair hoped to raise awareness of climate change by only using renewable energy on the trip.
Robert is the founder of the 2041 Foundation that uses his experience seeing effects on climate change first hand to promote recycling and renewable energy and the preservation of Antarctica.
Robert is the founder of the 2041 Foundation that uses his experience seeing effects on climate change first hand to promote recycling and renewable energy and the preservation of Antarctica
Barney, who lives in California with his father is the expedition leader on this trip. He told the Newcastle Chronicle before embarking on the trip: ‘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’
Barney, who lives in California with his father is the expedition leader on this trip.
He told the Newcastle Chronicle before embarking on the trip: ‘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.’
His father offered the chance for him to return with him to return to base camp with him, but Barney decided to ‘carry on for the pair’.
Barney will continue the trip with Martin Barnett, who has climbed the highest summits of all seven continents and Kyle O’Donoghue, a cameraman.
Robert spent Christmas at the Union Glacier base camp where he hoped to call his 102-year-old mother in northeast England.
Barney was expected to settle for a celebratory toast of scotch and extra rations.
Robert offered the chance for Barney to return with him to return to base camp with him, but Barney decided to ‘carry on for the pair’
Robert walked 500km of the 1000km trip before returning to basecamp