RECORD breaking polar explorer Pen Hadow from Hexworthy has set off on his latest adventure ? a two man expedition to Antarctica to raise £100,000 for the Royal Geographical Society.
Pen, who made history when he walked from Canada to the North Pole, solo and unsupported, via the toughest route, six months ago, is walking to the South Pole with Hong-Kong based businessman Simon Murray.
If they are successful Mr Murray, at 64, will be the oldest person to have ever completed the journey, which will begin from Hercules Inlet on the edge of the Antarctic continent.
The 1,160 kilometre challenge is expected to take 70 days and the pair will be pulling 275 kilos of food and supplies on sledges.
The money raised with go towards restoring the Royal Geographical Society?s entire polar archive ? including artifacts, maps, images and journals from the world?s greatest polar explorers including Scott and Shackleton.
Speaking to the Tavistock Times before he left Pen said that the Antarctic expedition was one he had never tackled before and it was by no means a forgone conclusion.
He said it would be tough and challenging.
Pen added it was a huge privilege to be allowed to raise money for the polar archive.