“THE LAST POSSIBLE”EXPEDITION OCT 2023
Ray at the South Pole after his solo 715 mile journey in 41 Days
The first 1600-mile solo coast-to-coast crossing of Antarctica
October 2023, Ray aims to complete the first solo, unsupported and unassisted full coast to coast crossing of Antarctica. Various routes have been completed from land to land starts, but the holy grail of crossings that is at the edge of human endeavour is still to be completed.
This is truly “The Last Possible”
This route remains unfinished and Ray has unfinished business too. He’s spent a decade fighting an irritating itch to return, and leave a legacy in Antarctica before he’s beaten by a Norwegian again! This expedition is not about being superhuman or an ultra-athlete. Having true motive and authenticity with a coating of plain bitterness as a limitless source of energy will drive this 90 Day crossing of “The White Nothing”
A bitter-pill Ray needs to swallow
Ray has already completed a 715-mile solo unsupported and unassisted effort in 2011 following a successful 10 years in the elite British SAS. The plan was to be the first person to walk 1430-miles to the South Pole and back. Annoyingly, a three-week weather delay at the start only allowed him a one-way ticket, though he still completed it with the full 160kg pulk loaded for the return leg. With only 23 days to return, Ray abandoned and always felt deprived of a historical feat.
The Plan
‘Reality has to meet fiction in pursuit of extreme daring’
Most people fail expeditions or extreme endurance events because of their ‘cutting-edge science dictates strategy’ approach. People are so geared towards efficiency or working out how to do something faster, which results in ridiculous notions of expected daily distances covered on daily calorie intake dictated by weight. Ray won’t risk blowing a £200,000 expedition because of an extra 20kg of weight for contingency rations. Some say contingency is anticipating failure, but Ray knows it’s simply due diligence.
‘We can’t explore anymore, but we need the mindset of early day exploration. This means carrying the extra weight, anticipating the unknown variables, as opposed to a perfect strategy with small margins that suit Olympians, not people walking across continents. Being the first at something isn’t enough motivation. You have to transport your mind to a world where the stakes are higher.’
Ray understands the unknown variables that can be an injury on day one, personal exhaustion that leads to catastrophic mistakes or environmental factors such as freak weather and crevasses. What he will always do is set out for the Long Walk doing what he has always done: believing that cutting-edge science will only get you so far, and after that, it’s the adoption of early-day pioneers that will carry you through the rest. This is where the SAS “Who Dares Wins” attitude and training shine through with the ability to conquer despite grim circumstances to get the job done is embedded into his soul. It’s never left Ray and it never will.
The Route
The Pain point
Expedition partners last time were C3IA, Y.C.O, Devere Group and Parents. Plus savings, a fully loaded overdraft and a maxed-out credit card!
Rays last solo expedition makes the logistics part look easy…but the price is always painful.
No-one likes to talk about money, well some do, and Ray is happy to listen to anyone’s rags to riches story over a pint. Attempting to be the first person to walk across Antarctica will cost a considerable amount of money. 80% is logistical support from ALE and Twin Otter/DC3 Flying time that will insert Ray and recover him at the end. The figure below normally makes potential sponsors spit out whatever they’re drinking, but Ray is looking to secure 10-20 sponsors. The intention is to get their money back through media and literature deals, future talks and even advertising budgie-smugglers at the South Pole.
Total funding required: £200,000 +
Corporate Packages – Support | Lead | Pioneer
Full investment PDF on request.
Become a part of this last remaining piece of Antarctica history and see Ray drive his Union Jack Flag in the ice again. A flag that is covered in war zone dust, polar ice, mountain peak rubble and beer from the AFC Bournemouth football terraces.