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Exploring Antarctica

Summary

7 December 2012

An expedition ship has set off from London, heading south to the world's coldest continent. It's the first stage of an adventure that Sir Ranulph Fiennes hopes will see him become the first person to walk across Antarctica during the southern winter.

Reporter:

Matthew Price

Report

The ship's mooring is wintry cold. Nothing, though, compared to Antarctica. Temperatures can hit minus 90 celcius. And Sir Ranulph will be skiing the 2000 miles.

On the ship's bridge, the 68 year old says he hopes to raise millions for charity, and conduct scientific research. The team of six must be self-sufficient, so they're taking bulldozers to drag their living quarters and supplies. 

Sir Ranulph Fiennes: "The vehicles, I would think, personally, are a bigger potential problem than the people. Minus 80 could be… damage to lung tissue when you're breathing in when you're skiing. But, in the vehicles, you have got steel, you've got rubber, which don't like minus 70, never mind when they're towing everything that they have to tow."

Can he do it? Even Britain's most acclaimed living explorer says he just doesn't know.