The 2011 Antarctica season is still a couple of months off, but it is closing in quickly. One of the expeditions that has already been announced is the Polar Vision excursion which will see five team members, including visually impaired Alan Lock, heading to the South Pole on foot.
In December, Alan, along with teammates Sean Swarner, Richard Smith, Garrick Hileman, and Andrew Sensen, will head to the Ronne-Filchner Ice Shelf in Antarctica and begin their 600-mile long journey to the South Pole. As is typical with this kind of expedition, theyβll be pulling sleds with all of their gear and supplies behind them, as they trek through one of the coldest and most inhospitable environments on the planet, following in the footsteps of Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott.
The five-man team is undertaking this journey to not only show that a visually impaired person can still do amazing and adventurous things, but to also raise funds and awareness for Sightsavers and Guide Dogs For the Blind, two charities that help the blind.
Explorers Web, which is where I first came across this story, reports that Alan is no stranger to challenging, physically demanding adventures. He has completed 10 marathons, including the Marathon Des Sables, has rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, and has visited plenty of mountains as well.
Expect to hear more about this expedition once it gets underway in a few months time.
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