At the age of 68 Sir Ranulph Fiennes is about to embark on a 2,000-mile expedition across Antarctica in midwinter.
One hundred years ago Captain Scott reached the South Pole. The return journey claimed his life.
Scott was travelling in what passes for summertime in Antarctica. He was 43 years old and in peak condition.
At 68 Sir Ranulph Fiennes will be making the same journey in the dead of winter, when permanent darkness shrouds the desolate land and temperatures can dip to -90.
He will attempt it having lost the top third of all the digits on his left hand to frostbite and having suffered multiple heart attacks, one of which saw him resuscitated no fewer than 13 times and another that occurred 1,000 feet below the summit of Everest.
He will pass his 69th birthday in the world’s most hostile environment during its most savage season, attempting to do what no one else has done and claim the last great prize in exploration crossing the Antarctic in midwinter.
Ahead of a talk at this week’s Dundee Mountain Film Festival, Sir Ranulph has spoken to The Courier and revealed why, despite all the risks, he is not scared.For more, see Thursday’s Courier. Sir Ranulph Fiennes will be speaking at Dundee Mountain Film Festival at 9pm on Friday.Photo by John Stillwell/PA Wire