National Breaking News

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

Brit explorer pulls out of Antarctic trek; team that includes Canadian to go on

By: The Associated Press

Monday, Feb. 25, 2013 at 12:47 PM | Comments: 0

FILE - In this May 24, 2009 file photo, British explorer Ranulph Fiennes , who became the oldest Briton to scale Mount Everest, is seen relaxing on his return from the mountain in Katmandu, Nepal. Fiennes has pulled out of an expedition to cross Antarctica during the region's winter after developing a severe case of frostbite, expedition organizers said in a statement released Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. The 68-year-old and his five-member team had hoped to conquer what has been called one of the last great polar challenges — traversing nearly 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) in a place where temperatures often dip as low as minus 70 Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Binod Joshi, File)

LONDON - A British explorer has pulled out of a group expedition to cross Antarctica during the region's winter, but the team that includes a Canadian says it will continue on without him.

Ranulph Fiennes is leaving the expedition dubbed "The Coldest Journey" after developing a severe case of frostbite.

The 68-year-old and his five-member team had hoped to conquer what has been called one of the last great polar challenges — traversing nearly 4,000 kilometres in a place where temperatures often dip as low as minus 70 Celsius.

"The condition is such that he has very reluctantly decided ... to withdraw from Antarctica while the possibility to do so still exists, before the onset of the Antarctic winter," the expedition said in a statement.

It added that the team is working toward evacuating Fiennes from Antarctica, but that the evacuation is being hampered by a blizzard.

But the others — including 28-year-old Spencer Smirl of Peace River, Alberta — plan to carry on with the mission, which aims to raise $10 million for a charity that seeks to prevent blindness.

Smirl, a mechanic, said last month he was looking forward to an unforgettable experience.

The expedition's website said the team has reached a point where they can readily establish a supply depot on the Antarctic plateau, putting them in an "excellent position" to start the crossing as scheduled on March 21.

Fiennes, who has been going where others fear to tread for decades and in 2009 became the oldest person to summit Mount Everest, is already missing parts of his fingers on his left hand because of frostbite suffered on a North Pole expedition a decade ago.

"This will be my greatest challenge to date," he had said on his website before the journey began. "We will stretch the limits of human endurance."

The trip is particularly hazardous because no aircraft can travel inland in the winter due to the darkness and risk that fuel will freeze — meaning there is virtually no chance of a search and rescue operation if disaster strikes.

--With files from The Canadian Press

Rate this
This article has not yet been rated.

We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 0 Comments

You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

There are no comments at the moment. Be the first to post a comment below.

Post Your Comment

The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.