Must Read Interview: Henry Worsley of the 2008 Shackleton Centenary Expedition

Shackleton. Scott. Amundsen. Mawson. Each of these individuals exemplify the early days of polar exploration and adventure. Their names have been written down in history books around the world. Their adventures, trials, and tribulations have become the backdrop for many explorers and adventurers that still look to them for inspiration. They are men of myth, men of legend, and men of intrigue. Their stories still consume us and occupy a small part of our minds that will forever make us yearn to strive farther and harder, pushing our boundaries to their utmost limits.

Ernest Shackleton, whom most people regard as one of the greatest polar explorers to ever live, never achieved his dream of reaching the South Pole. He was turned back less than 112 miles away from his original goal. In 1911, Roald Amundsen would beat him to the mark. Although Shackleton wasn’t the first to reach the South Pole, he is still remembered fondly for laying the groundwork that would eventually lead to it’s discovery. Through the course of his explorations, Shackleton was able to break many previous records for farthest person south. Just not the first to the South Pole.

In 2008, the Shackleton Centenary Expedition is set to launch. This expedition, led by Henry Worsley, will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ernest Shackleton’s 1909 polar expedition aboard the Nimrod. The Shackleton Centenary Expedition will follow the same course, visit the same places, and hopefully reach the South Pole, much as Ernest Shackleton attempted to do in 1909.

Perhaps it runs in the family. Members of the Shackleton Centenary Expedition are directly related to those who were on the original Ernest Shackleton Expedition of 1909. It is a big undertaking that should draw up much interest in polar history, as well as help launch The Shackleton Foundation, a new charitable trust that will be used to honor the original crew of Ernest Shackleton’s expeditions, as well as celebrate the pioneering spirit, through grants and other means, to those who strive to help the less-fortunate of today.

I feel privelidged and honored to be able to present to you an exclusive interview with Henry Worsley, leader of the 2008 Shackleton Centenary Expedition to the South Pole:

Henry, first off, welcome to The Adventurist and thank-you for taking the time to speak with me. In 2008, you and your crew mates are planning on launching the Shackleton Centenary Expedition. How are things looking on your end? Are preparations going smoothly?

Thanks very much Jason. I appreciate you taking an interest in our project and for inviting me to take part in this interview. Plans for the Shackleton Centenary Expedition are in their final stages of preparation. We have just returned from our final training session in Greenland which was a great success. We were able to confirm all our technical skills such as crevasse rescue, as well as hauling our sledges 100 miles over a glacier and ice cap. As we head towards October we are refining our kit, trying to put on weight, stamina training and fundraising for The Shackleton Foundation – a new charity that we have set up to honour the legacy of the great man.

This expedition is a pretty novel idea. I am sure this hasn’t come together all at once. Can you take us through the process of how the idea came about and what the Shackleton Centenary Expedition is looking to achieve during this process?

Five years ago, Will Gow (one of the team members) wanted to celebrate the centenary of the Nimrod expedition by completing the journey with descendants of the original party. I was introduced to him as he was forming this idea and helped him find some of the relatives. My relative, Frank Worsley, was Shackleton’s navigator on the later Endurance expedition but the rest of the team are all close descendants of Shackleton, Wild and Adams. Unfortunately we have not been able to find a relative of Eric Marshall who was the fourth member of the original journey.

Our expedition is looking to achieve the completion of unfinished family business. We have two aims; the first is to celebrate the original Nimrod expedition and to place the descendants at the South Pole in the centenary year which is something that their forebears never achieved. The second, and most important, is for the expedition to spotlight a new charity that we have set up as a legacy to Shackleton. We want to support leaders, that possess his same spirit and ethos and who have their own ‘Antarctic’ that they want to cross. We are not talking about physical endeavours necessarily, but any project that aims to make a difference to the less advantaged, but the individual must have the leadership qualities to want to make it happen.

Following Shackleton’s original expedition is only part of the overall plan. You guys will also be doing some scientific research and studies looking in to the effects of Global Warming on glaciers in the region. Can you tell us a bit more about what you are looking for?

Part of our journey will take us along the Beardmore Glacier – one of the longest and widest in the world. It is also rarely visited. So we want to maximise the opportunity by collecting blue ice samples for later isotopic analysis at Hull University in UK. We will also be collecting moraine samples and measuring the speed of the glacier with a very sensitive GPS.

Why is it so important to conduct these studies at this moment in time?

Any knowledge of how our environment might be affected by the changes in weather patterns is, in my opinion, vital information that all contributes to a greater understanding of what our children might face in the future. We feel strongly that we must not squander the opportunity that the expedition offers. Having said that none of us are scientists but hopefully the relatively simple tasks that we will undertake will contribute towards that greater understanding.

The controversy of global warming in the press has many people confused as to what global warming is and if it really needs to be a concern. What would you say to the doubters in regards to this topic?

I hope that the doubters are correct. I fear that they are not- only time will tell. But it will be of significant global concern if sea levels rise. When Shackleton set off from his hut on 29th October 1908 he walked out over the sea ice towards the Ross Ice Shelf. One hundred years on, we might not be able to do that because the same area is often underwater at the same time of year. So, in only one hundred years simple but dramatic changes are taking place.

The Shackleton Centenary Expedition is also being used to help launch The Shackleton Foundation. Can you give us an idea of what this foundation will be used for and perhaps, what it will help support?

In sum – supporting leaders who have an ‘Antarctic’ that they wish to cross by making a difference to the lives of the less advantaged. It is not about funding expeditions. We want to find inspirational individuals, like Shackleton, who have the drive, leadership and a project (their Antarctic) that needs getting off the ground. We want to help them cross their Antarctic.

I need some cash, are you guys offering grants or how does this work?

We will be offering grants once we have raised significant funds. At present we have only raised enough to fund one project with £10,000 but we expect that to grow as we continue to raise the awareness of the charity. This will also be easier once we have completed the expedition. Full details are at www.shackletonfoundation.org

Over the past 100 years, technological advances in polar exploration have evolved to the point where many people now have the opportunity to visit Antarctica every year. Do you see Antarctic tourism as being a good or bad idea for this isolated region of the world, and what impact could this have on the Antarctic environment?

I think that as long as it is sensibly controlled then it is a very good idea. Why shouldn’t everyone have the chance to visit one of the great wildernesses on the planet ? The negative impact would be if the Antarctic Treaty was not renewed in 2041 and then exploration for natural resources became likely. Then things would obviously change for the worse. But as long as no harm is done and only photos are taken and footprints left then I think we should encourage people to visit, experience and learn about the Antarctic.

Ernest Shackleton failed to reach the South Pole. Don’t get me wrong, he set many milestones along his way and will be forever remembered as one of the greatest explorers of all time, but he still failed to reach his target goal. How sweet will it be when you guys are finally able to redeem that original goal and share it through generations?

This will be easier to answer in late January next year. But achieving any target you set yourself in life is a sweet feeling; I find the more demanding it is, the sweeter it tastes. Since Shackleton did this journey, more people have stood on the moon than have successfully retraced it, so I do not underestimate what we are setting out to achieve. But to complete unfinished family business in such a way will be utterly sublime and a demonstration to all that dreams really can come true with total commitment and unwavering focus on the prize.

In today’s day and age, most places have been explored or discovered. What do you see as being some of the final frontiers in exploration, and have these frontiers shifted with time to a more scientifically-based era of discovery and exploration?

Clearly space offers boundless opportunities for true exploration and of course science plays a role in that so that is an obvious area. But if we take exploration to its limits then we must include pushing the boundaries of medicine and seeking alternative energies as examples. The list should only be limited by mans ability to want and need to explore.

BONUS QUESTION

Name one item that you are taking with you that your fellow crewmates might find odd, but that you absolutely cannot live without.

We have to be very careful with what extras we are taking as weight is a big issue on a journey such as this; so the opportunity to take something instead of vital objects is slim. But the one unique item that I am taking is the actual compass that Shackleton took with him on the Nimrod journey. His granddaughter is going to lend it to me to take on the journey in the hope that it reaches the South Pole in the Centenary year. So you see; failure is not an option !

Henry, thanks for taking the time to speak with us. The Adventurist wishes you and the whole crew the best of luck. Myself and my readers will be following along with you as this expedition progresses. We look forward to the Shackleton Centenary Expedition landing at the South Pole. Good-luck, my friend.

Thank you Jason. I look forward to answering more questions when we return.

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If you liked this interview, check out a few from the past:

• David Tait, Everest 2007, Part I
• David Tait, Everest 2007, Part II
• Hubert A. Allen, Author, “Deep Blue Zone” –A look at the Mt. Hood tragedy of 2006
• Alan Arnette, Everest 2008, Part I

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