Prince Harry to trek to North Pole as Richard and Steve get underway

27th March 2011

According to recent reports (click below for official announcement) it is highly likely that Prince Harry will be trekking to the Geographic North Pole at the same time as former Welsh rugby international Richard Parks and two-times Olympic Gold medallist Steve Williams.

The North Pole represents the 6th leg of Richard’s 9-leg challenge and the most demanding of all his tests so far, both physical and mentally.

Prince Harry will join a team of wounded military servicemen at the start of their expedition to trek unaided to the Geographic North Pole.

The Prince will join his group at their base camp in Longyearbyen, north Norway on 29th March.  Richard and Steve who leave for Norway on 29^th March will also conduct a day’s last minute preparation in the Longyearbyen surrounding, before flying to Barneo Ice Camp, located at 89 degree North where they will then begin skiing the last degree to the Geographic North Pole, pulling Pulk sleds for 60 nautical miles (111km).

It is not known whether their paths will cross during the expedition but Richard stated; “It’s cool that Prince Harry will be on the ice around the same time as myself and Steve.  I wish him and his team all the very best with their expedition”.

Richard and Steve, who conducted polar training in Greenland last April are ready for the dangers that lie ahead, Richard stated; “The North Pole is one of the most hostile environments on the planet.  The sea ice is made up of a fluid jigsaw of open ‘leads’ of water and ‘flows’ of ice that can be up to thousands of tons in weight. Steve and I will have to battle pressure ridges caused by colliding ice flows, soft porridge ice and even open leads of arctic water. As daunting as it sounds, we are both ready having spent time preparing on the sea ice of Greenland for this very environment.  Steve and I will be working together as a team to ensure we successfully complete this leg.  I’m focused and ready”.