New Update Parks Antarctica
British Adventurer, Richard Parks’ food supplies critically low, 24 hours out from the pole
British adventurer and former Wales rugby international, Richard Parks’ position is now critical as his team estimate his meagre food rations are likely to run out during Tuesday. Parks has approximately 40 kilometres left to the South pole. If he gets there before his food runs out, he will set a new British record.
Parks took 25 days’ full rations and has been eking out his food supplies. On Sunday, Day 26, he decided against a food re-supply and backed himself to get the job done.
Parks is stubbornly optimistic. In an update to his family Parks text:
“In the tent now resting up and eating. Good block, good conditions and warm hands! Starting to feel upbeat. “
Starting in Hercules Inlet on the coast in Antarctica on 17 December, Parks has battled the elements in Antarctica, skiing through snow blizzards, freezing-cold temperatures and worsening weather conditions. His official start time was 17 December 2019, 11.23am British time. With the current British record standing at 29 days, 19 hours and 24 minutes, if Parks makes it to the pole before Thursday morning, he will set a new British Record.
His team estimate his food supplies will run out in the next 24 hours, possibly as early as Tuesday evening. Parks is expected to start his final push to the pole at 1pm today, Day 28. If he’s forced to ask for a food re-supply to survive, his journey will no longer be ‘unsupported’ and so he will not be eligible for the record.
As well as skiing over 1000 km from the coast, Parks has climbed from sea level (0m attitude) to an altitude of 2,700 m currently. Roughly twice the height of Ben Nevis or almost three times the height of Snowdon. The air on the polar plateau is thinner, so Parks will have to work even harder to cover these final miles of his journey.
Having recorded the 2nd fastest time in history in 2014, the mantra of Parks’ current expedition is “All in”. His original aim was to beat Christian Eide’s 24 day solo unsupported and unassisted world record but this is now about how much hunger and pain Parks’ can endure.
Richard has history with world record attempts. In 2011, he successfully became the first person to climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents and stand on the North and South pole in the same calendar year, recognised by Guinness World Records. In 2014 he set the current British record for skiing coast to pole in Antarctica, solo, unsupported, unassisted.
