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Geoff Somers, Antarctic explorer
Geoff Somers (Polar Medal, MBE) is one of the World's most
accomplished Polar travellers and has completed several 'firsts' including the
only traverse of the entire Antarctic Continent by its greatest axis - a seven
month, near 4,000 mile (6,200 km) journey, using Husky dogs to pull the sledges.
Prior to this expedition and in order to train, his team completed the longest
unsupported Arctic journey, 1,400 miles (2,000 kms) traversing south to north of
the Greenland Ice Cap. During both these adventures, each with an international
team, he was responsible for the logistics, navigation and driving the lead team
of husky dogs.
On foot, on ski and by kite power, he has travelled
some 14,000 miles in the Arctic and Antarctic. He was a guide on the first
commercial expedition to the North Magnetic Pole and guided the first self
supported commercial expedition skiing 700 miles (1,120 kms) to the South
Geographic Pole.
As well as completing six South
Pole journeys he has undertaken numerous other daring journeys, six times
leading groups to the North Pole as well as training others (including the
successful all women team to the North and South Poles).
In Australia, with three camels from the wild, he
travelled on foot 1,400 miles (2,000 kms) from Perth across the deserts to
Uluru (Ayers Rock), the 'Red Centre' of the Continent and last June and July
across the Australia Simpson Desert.
As well as leading and undertaking 'Adventure' polar journeys, he has guided scientific expeditions in Antarctica and on the Greenland Ice Cap, and sailed the North Atlantic in a 10m yacht.
Talks
Geoff has lectured to some five hundred groups around the world, from local venues, schools, the Royal Geographical Society to universities and businesses. He has presented to numerous companies on Inspirational, Motivational, Leadership, Risk Assessment and Team Work issues and been guest lecturer on many tourist ships to Antarctica and the Arctic, including on a Russian Ice Breaker to the North Pole.
Scott. Hero or Loser? (Special 100th Anniversary talk 2010 - 2013)
1910 – 1913 marks the 100th anniversary of Robert Falcon Scott’s last expedition to the South Pole. Today he remains a courageous yet tragic figure from the ‘heroic age of Antarctic exploration’. In the so-called ‘Race to the South Pole’ he was famously beaten to the South Pole by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen. Utterly dejected, he and his companions died whilst struggling to return to their base.
Geoff Somers, one of the world's most accomplished Polar travellers, was recently involved with two re-enactments of Scott’s fateful, yet fascinating journey. Navigation systems, food, clothing, tents, sledging equipment etc, were as near as possible to the Scott era itself.
In this compelling talk and based on his own experiences, Geoff puts into perspective the huge undertakings of these early expeditions when Antarctica was virtually unknown and rarely visited. No telephones, radios, aeroplanes or any hope of rescue should things go wrong …
A Camel Odyssey
With three wild camels, trained to carry loads, Geoff and a companion trekked 1,400 miles across the deserts of Western Australia to Ulura (Ayres Rock). An amusing account of how a couple of 'Pommies' fared with these wild and unpredictable creatures during their three month trip in the desert 'Outback' of Australia.
A Journey to Remember ... 3750 miles across Antarctica
This epic journey, the longest in Antarctic Polar history, was one of international co-operation. Although privately funded and organised, it succeeded where governments had failed. Six men, six countries, 36 husky dogs - it is the only expedition of its kind ever undertaken. During the 220 day crossing, Geoff was navigator and drove the lead dog team. Over the two and a half years of preparation, he was responsible for the logistical organisation, from toothbrush to transport.
