Antarctic adventurer attempts Shackleton’s challenge

Adventurer Henry Worsley is attempting Sir Ernest Shackleton’s journey across Antarctica in the hope of completing it, to mark the centenary of the expedition.

Henry Worsley boarding the flight to Antarctica on Tuesday November 10th Image by Instagram

The Shackleton Solo challenge starts on Wednesday and it’ll see 55 year-old ex-army officer Worsley travel 1,100 miles (1,770km) across freezing temperatures and inhospitable environments. He told a BBC radio programme that he expected to lose two stone (12.7kg) during the challenge.

He will be travelling with a sledge containing his food, supplies, tent and he won’t be assisted by airdrops or by dogs.

The Endurance expedition was the famous journey across Antarctica undertaken by Shackleton in 1915. The ship Endurance was blocked and eventually crushed by the Weddell Sea freezing over, leaving the navy men, adventurers, and Cambridge graduates stranded. It was never completed, but has become one of the best documented and fascinating expeditions in history.

Worsley & David Beckham flying the flag at Union Glacier I, November 11 Image by Instagram

Worsley will be undertaking the challenge in an effort to raise £100,000 for the Endeavour Fund, an organisation that helps wounded and sick soldiers. The Duke Of Cambridge is the expedition’s patron and he gave Worsley a replica of the flag given to Shackleton and his men. Speaking to the BBC in October he said, “There is no black art to driving one ski in front of the other. What is driving me on is the money for these wounded soldiers.”

You can follow Henry Worsley’s progress across Antarctica here.

The Duke of Cambridge and Henry Worsley Image by Instagram

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