Ben Saunders
Encyclopedia
Ben Saunders is a British polar explorer, endurance athlete, and motivational speaker.
He is best known for skiing solo to the North Pole in 2004, and for blogging live from his expeditions. He is the third in history and the youngest by ten years to reach the North Pole alone and on foot.
Saunders made three attempts to reach the North Pole between the ages of 23 and 26, skiing more than 1,200 miles (2,000 km) in the high Arctic. He holds the record for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton, a straight line distance of 1032.3 km.
"I am an explorer of limits – geographically, physically and mentally. It's about pure human endeavour, and the way in which I can inspire others to explore their own personal potential."
and Kent
, was educated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, and worked as an instructor at the John Ridgway School of Adventure. He is an Honorary Vice-President of the Geographical Association, an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust, a Patron of the British Schools Exploring Society (BSES) and supports The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the Orchid Cancer Appeal. Ben has contributed to a number of publications including Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century and 'The Middle of Nowhere' published by Lonely Planet. He also spoke at the TED
conference in 2005. He currently lives in London
.
in 2001, aged 23, on a two-man unsupported expedition led by Pen Hadow
that started from the Arctic Cape
(also called Mys Arkticheskiy or Cape Arktichevsky), in Siberia
, Russia
. The pair were unsuccessful in attaining the Pole, but reached a point close to 87° North after 59 days on the Arctic Ocean
.
.
, Canada
, via the North Pole. Ben was dropped by a Russian Mil Mi-8
helicopter at a start position of N 81'47.6 E 095'49.2 on 5 March 2004, reached the North Pole on 11 May 2004 and was picked up from N 89'30.2 W 088'11.1 (On the Canadian side of the Arctic Ocean) by a Kenn Borek Air
Twin Otter ski plane- 14 May 2004.
using dog sleds and numerous air-drops of food in a time of 36 days 22 hours. In contrast, Saunders set out solo, unsupported and on foot, but was halted after eight days, on 4 April 2008 due to a broken ski binding. Ben reached a furthest north of N.83.57.686 W. 074.12.566
solo in 2004 is disputed by ExplorersWeb, a website maintained by rival explorers Thomas and Tina Sjogren, who consider only expeditions that begin their journey on land to be valid. His 2004 expedition started 70 km north of Siberia's Cape Arktichevsky, with his online journal reporting 50 km of open water north of the Russian coastline that prevented him starting from land. This 70 km head start represented just over 5% of his total journey. ExplorersWeb therefore listed Saunders' 2004 journey to the North Pole as a "partial expedition" on their database of expedition records In 2004, Australian explorer Eric Phillips argued that this categorization of expeditions may have been a factor in the death of Finnish explorer Dominick Arduin, who died at Cape Arktichevsky in March 2004: "I can't help but think that this tragedy permeated as a result of the pressure placed on adventurers to have their expeditions regarded as unsupported. Again, Explorers Web and others are placing undue pressure on the adventuring community by categorizing expeditions on their achievements. Of course decisions must be made in the face of what we sense, not what others will think, but we should not be pressured into feeling that our efforts fall short of somebody else's parameters."
He is best known for skiing solo to the North Pole in 2004, and for blogging live from his expeditions. He is the third in history and the youngest by ten years to reach the North Pole alone and on foot.
Saunders made three attempts to reach the North Pole between the ages of 23 and 26, skiing more than 1,200 miles (2,000 km) in the high Arctic. He holds the record for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton, a straight line distance of 1032.3 km.
"I am an explorer of limits – geographically, physically and mentally. It's about pure human endeavour, and the way in which I can inspire others to explore their own personal potential."
Biography
The eldest of two children, Ben grew up in DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, was educated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, and worked as an instructor at the John Ridgway School of Adventure. He is an Honorary Vice-President of the Geographical Association, an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust, a Patron of the British Schools Exploring Society (BSES) and supports The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the Orchid Cancer Appeal. Ben has contributed to a number of publications including Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century and 'The Middle of Nowhere' published by Lonely Planet. He also spoke at the TED
TED (conference)
TED is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading"....
conference in 2005. He currently lives in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
North Pole 2001
Ben first attempted to reach the North PoleNorth Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
in 2001, aged 23, on a two-man unsupported expedition led by Pen Hadow
Pen Hadow
Rupert Nigel Pendrill Hadow known as Pen Hadow, , is founding director of Geo Mission Ltd, an environmental sponsorship organisation, and British polar guide and explorer. He is the first person to trek solo and without resupply from the north coast of Canada to the North Pole...
that started from the Arctic Cape
Arctic Cape
The Arctic Cape is the northernmost point of the Komsomolets Island, which in turn is the northernmost island of the Russian Severnaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Its coordinates are approximately...
(also called Mys Arkticheskiy or Cape Arktichevsky), in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The pair were unsuccessful in attaining the Pole, but reached a point close to 87° North after 59 days on the Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
.
North Pole 2003
In April 2003 Saunders completed a 240 km solo round-trip to the North Pole from the temporary Russian ice station, BarneoBarneo
Camp Barneo is an ice base annually established on an ice floe relatively close to the North Pole. The first "Barneo" ice base was established in 2002. The ice base is sponsored by the Russian Geographic Society and normally lasts for the month of April...
.
North Pole 2004 (The Serco TransArctic Expedition)
In spring 2004 he set out to make a solo and unsupported crossing of the Arctic Ocean on foot, with a planned route from Russia's Cape Arktichevsky to Ward Hunt IslandWard Hunt Island
Ward Hunt Island is a small, uninhabited island in the Arctic Ocean, off the north coast of Ellesmere Island. Its northern cape is one of the northernmost elements of land in Canada. Only a 17 km stretch of northern coast of Ellesmere Island around Cape Columbia is more northerly. The island...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, via the North Pole. Ben was dropped by a Russian Mil Mi-8
Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
helicopter at a start position of N 81'47.6 E 095'49.2 on 5 March 2004, reached the North Pole on 11 May 2004 and was picked up from N 89'30.2 W 088'11.1 (On the Canadian side of the Arctic Ocean) by a Kenn Borek Air
Kenn Borek Air
Kenn Borek Air is an airline based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It operates regional passenger and cargo services, contract operations in the Arctic and Antarctic and aircraft leasing. Its main base is Calgary International Airport...
Twin Otter ski plane- 14 May 2004.
North Pole 2008 (speed record attempt)
On 27 March 2008, Ben set out from Ward Hunt Island, Canada, with the aim of setting a speed record. The current record was set in 2005 by a team guided by Canadian Matty McNairMatty McNair
Matty L McNair is an American explorer. She now lives in the Canadian Arctic in Iqaluit, Nunavut, on Baffin Island, where she runs her company NorthWinds...
using dog sleds and numerous air-drops of food in a time of 36 days 22 hours. In contrast, Saunders set out solo, unsupported and on foot, but was halted after eight days, on 4 April 2008 due to a broken ski binding. Ben reached a furthest north of N.83.57.686 W. 074.12.566
Future plans
Ben aims to repeat his North Pole speed record attempt in March 2010, followed by The Scott Antarctic Expedition 2011-12, the first return journey to the South Pole on foot. At 1,800 miles (2,900 km) and nearly four months, it will be the longest unsupported (i.e. human-powered, with no air-drops, vehicles or kites) polar expedition in history.North Pole Debate
Saunders' claim to have reached the North PoleNorth Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
solo in 2004 is disputed by ExplorersWeb, a website maintained by rival explorers Thomas and Tina Sjogren, who consider only expeditions that begin their journey on land to be valid. His 2004 expedition started 70 km north of Siberia's Cape Arktichevsky, with his online journal reporting 50 km of open water north of the Russian coastline that prevented him starting from land. This 70 km head start represented just over 5% of his total journey. ExplorersWeb therefore listed Saunders' 2004 journey to the North Pole as a "partial expedition" on their database of expedition records In 2004, Australian explorer Eric Phillips argued that this categorization of expeditions may have been a factor in the death of Finnish explorer Dominick Arduin, who died at Cape Arktichevsky in March 2004: "I can't help but think that this tragedy permeated as a result of the pressure placed on adventurers to have their expeditions regarded as unsupported. Again, Explorers Web and others are placing undue pressure on the adventuring community by categorizing expeditions on their achievements. Of course decisions must be made in the face of what we sense, not what others will think, but we should not be pressured into feeling that our efforts fall short of somebody else's parameters."
See also
- Ranulph FiennesRanulph FiennesSir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE , better known as Ranulph Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records. He is also a prolific writer. Fiennes served in the British Army for eight years including a period on counter-insurgency service while...
, British adventurer - Bruce ParryBruce ParryBruce Parry is a Former Royal Marines Officer and Instructor who is now a TV presenter and adventurer, known particularly for the documentary programme series Tribe , co-produced by the BBC and the Discovery Channel...
, British adventurer - Ed StaffordEd StaffordEd Stafford is an English explorer and former British-army captain. He was also an expedition leader for extreme conservation company Trekforce.-Biography:...
, British adventurer
External links
- Ben Saunders' website
- Ben Saunders' speech at TED
- This Much I Know by Jane Oddy, The ObserverThe ObserverThe Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, 29 February 2004 - New York Times article on Ben Saunders
- Recording of Ben Saunders' speech to PopTech conference in Maine
- Terra Cognita by Joanne Ramos, Intelligent LifeIntelligent LifeIntelligent life may refer to:*Intelligence including:**Animal cognition**Extraterrestrial intelligence - theoretically intelligent Extraterrestrial life...
, December 2007 - Ben Saunders by Andy Bull, GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, March 2008