The last great challenge!

Justin and John in training!
In the middle of the summer holidays the South Pole may not be at the top of everyone’s mind, but it certainly is for our latest resident adventurer, Justin Miles. Justin and his partner in crime, John Wilton-Davies, are planning to walk from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back again. As if that wasn’t challenging enough, they’re doing it unsupported, which means they’ll have to carry all their food and gear necessary for the 77 day long trek.
The expedition, called the last great challenge, is going to be a gruelling test of the pair’s physical and mental strength. If they succeed, it will be the first time anyone in the world has conquered this feat of endurance. So you can imagine how thrilled we were to score an exclusive interview with the man himself.
What projects are you currently involved in?
Well, mainly there’s the last great challenge. Seeing as it is such a huge thing it would feel immoral not to do it for the benefit of a charity. So, after a lot of thinking, John and I decided that the expedition was going to support the British Heart Foundation (BHF). The BHF is responsible for educating people about heart problems, and with their help we developed the Great Heart Challenge, a health and fitness initiative for schools. I’m also involved in just for the ride, cycling from Trafalgar square to the Eiffel tower.
So, what are the main reasons for embarking on this trip?
Well, ever since I was young I’ve dreamed of being an adventurer, and it was that dream that pulled me through when I was recovering from a near fatal car accident. No-one’s done it before, so it would be good to bring a polar title home to Britain. And also the charity work side of it and getting kids active and interested in their health.
What are you doing to train for the last great challenge?
Doing a lot of hours in the gym, cycling and walking, either carrying a backpack or towing a string of tyres along the towpath.
What do you think will be the hardest part of the last great challenge?
I honestly think that the hardest part will be re-adjusting to normal life afterwards.
So what are the facts?
Well, altogether the journey is 2200 km, and we’re doing it over 77 days, which means we’re doing 25 miles per day for about 2½ months! It’s the first time anyone’s done this journey before, and we’ll be facing temperatures as low as -40deg to -50deg! Also, apart from the odd scientist, we will be the only things alive down there.
What are you doing about food? You’ll have to carry meals for 77 days.
Our food is one of the main considerations. To survive, we need to consume 6500-7000 calories per day! Fat has the highest calorie content out of all the food groups, about 9 calories for every gram of fat, so that’s what we’ll be surviving on. Our meals will all be freeze dried, to make them as light as possible. For breakfast we’ll be having this meal that closely resembles porridge. It’s made out of porridge oats, extra fatty milk powder, oil and butter. No matter how hungry you are it still tastes vile!
Follow Justin in the build up to the last great challenge and on his London to Paris cycle ride at http://www.lastgreatchallenge.com/ or show your support by joining his face book group; http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=112635402119039&ref=ts
















