Tracking
the Journey
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Distance to go:
0 Mi
Distance
Ben and Tarka will cover 1800 miles starting from Scott's Terra Nova Hut at the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back to the coast again. That's equivalent to 69 back-to-back marathons hauling up to 200kg each (the weight of roughly two adult men) of kit and supplies necessary to survive.
Distances here are shown in statute miles.
Ben and Tarka Make History (Official Announcement)
S77° 50' 53.88", E166° 46' 15.96"
Duration: 5 Hr
Daily distance: 11.1 Mi
Distance to go: 0 Mi
Altitude: 26 Ft
On Friday 7th February at 01.15am Ben and Tarka have re-written history as they completed, for the first time ever, the ill-fated journey of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s iconic Terra Nova expedition.
Having trekked 1,795 miles across the inhospitable landscape of Antarctica on a return journey to the South Pole and back, Ben and Tarka have achieved the world record for the longest polar journey on foot in history.
The journey, which has taken a total of 105 days (just over ¼ of a year), has pushed the limits of physical and mental fortitude and reset the bar for polar expeditions of the future. Ben and Tarka hauled sleds with a starting weight of almost 200kg each and walked on average 17 miles daily in temperatures as low as -46oC wind chill.
Ben Saunders said, “It is almost impossible to comprehend what we have achieved. Completing Scott’s Terra Nova expedition has been a life-long dream and I’m overcome to be standing here at the finish. The journey has been a mammoth undertaking that has tested the bounds of our bodies and minds each and every day.”
“At times we found ourselves in dire straits in the intense cold, wind and altitude of the high plateau, weakened by half-rations and closer to the brink of survival than I had ever anticipated this journey taking us. In that light, both Tarka and I feel a combination of awe and profound respect for the endurance, tenacity and fortitude of Captain Scott and his team, a century ago.”
Captain Scott and his men died having covered almost 1,600 miles and this feat has never been surpassed in over 100 years, until today.
Land Rover and Intel are co-presenting partners of the Scott Expedition and have both played an important role in facilitating the expedition. Land Rover having assisted Ben in his training which has taken him to many inaccessible places across the UK, Europe and Greenland; and Intel provided Ultrabooks powered by its latest 4th generation Intel® CoreTM processor technology allowing Ben and Tarka to share their journey with the world along the way in their daily blog (www.scottexpedition.com/blog). Intel put the technology through its paces over several weeks prior to Ben and Tarka’s departure by freezing the Ultrabooks at temperatures of -40C.
Mark Cameron Jaguar Land Rover Director, Brand Experience “ It has been a true privilege for Land Rover to have played a part in this incredible expedition. I have followed Ben and Tarka each day, trying in some small way to live the experience so vividly and eloquently described through Ben’s blog. To complete this journey has taken the very highest levels of physical and mental fortitude as well as a sheer determination to succeed.”
“We all need heroes, incredible individuals or teams to provide inspiration to spur us on to achieve better for ourselves and the people around us. There are few feats of any description that exemplify more appropriately the Land Rover mantra of going ‘Above and Beyond’. Congratulations Ben and Tarka.”
Commenting on Intel’s support of the Scott Expedition, Patrick Bliemer, Regional Manager for Intel Northern Europe, said: “We are honoured to have played a small part in this record-breaking Scott Expedition by Ben and Tarka. We are incredibly proud that Intel technology has helped him share his experiences with audiences around the world – this unprecedented access is the first of its kind and one which will change the future of expeditions to come.”
Ben will be in touch shortly with the full low down and pictures from this historic moment. In the meantime - a massive thank you to all of you, our amazing followers. World - let's celebrate!
Comments
# Jake and Saskia Meyer, February 7th 2014
Guys,
So proud of you - an incredible achievement. Years in the making, months in the doing - your journey will join the ranks of history’s greatest. We’ve been with you every step of the way, but can only imagine the hardships and challenges that you’ve faced (despite your amazing and visceral blogging). Also a huge shout out to Andy and the team back home, your families, and your sponsors - From experience, we know that these adventures can only exist with the huge support of your army of followers, and although somewhat less physical, they’ve also had to share in the effort this undertaking. Well done to everyone who has been a part of this trip - whether out on the ice with the boys, or supporting from their desks and armchairs at home - I have no doubt that in their lonely moments, B&T found strength knowing that so many thousands of people were willing their every step and continued success and safety.
Enjoy the spoils of war - the food you’ve craved, conversation with someone other than each other and the embrace of your loved ones. You will never forget such an experience, and I neither will we! Scott would be proud.
# Damian, February 7th 2014
HUZZAH!
Congratulations both, what an inspirational achievement!
# Nick, February 7th 2014
Legends both of you!
# sue orr, February 7th 2014
Congratulations Ben and Tarka. I have loved following your amazing trip from Beijing China. Now wallow awhile in the much deserved glory.
# Louis Manners, February 7th 2014
SO unbelievably ecstatic to read this having just woken up! Unbelievable achievement.
# Nick Middleton, February 7th 2014
Congratulations!
# HC, February 7th 2014
EPIC inspiring and simply awesome. Congratulations
# Bill Taylor, February 7th 2014
Congratulations
Thanks for sharing thi with us
# Sally King, February 7th 2014
Ben & Tarka, I’ve been following your progress over the past week - what a phenomenal achievement! So pleased for you.
# Dominic Evans, February 7th 2014
Well Done Mate! Absolutely terrific!
# Steve Jones, February 7th 2014
Ben, Tarka,
Congratulations, I am so pleased for you both, doesn’t begin to cover it.
This has not just been a 105 day epic but more than a decade long quest to make this expedition happen - quite a number of people have dedicated themselves for months and years to making this expedition take place and you two have delivered the goods by working so hard so far for so long. It is a milestone expedition and you deserve every credit, as well as several days in a good restaurant and a week of sleep.
Thank you and acknowledgement to the sponsors who backed you and could see the value in this modern adventure. Thanks to Ben’s brilliant writing and daily updates thousands have joined the story and been captivated by it and it will be interesting to see where the two of you go from here (and I don’t mean Union Glacier, Punta Arenas and Heathrow)!
Very best wishes,
Steve
# John Murphy, February 7th 2014
Congrats, boys! Epic, historical achievement.