Mind Over Matter

The Epic Crossing of the Antarctic Continent

In November 1992, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr Michael Stroud set out to attempt the first unassisted crossing of the Antarctic continent. For ninety-seven days the two men fought pain, starvation and snowblindness, dragging 500-pound sledges across the frozen roof of the world. Equipment failure and injury dogged them, hypothermia very nearly claimed their lives, and the friendship between them turned to mutual hatred. Yet their will to succeed endured, and they completed by far the longest unsupported journey in Polar history.