The Polar Explorers with the Panasonic Toughbook Rugged Computer and a Camera  Photo Source: Panasonic

There could be a sanctuary for brave men after all! Photo source: Panasonic

Vigilance can report that Panasonic System Communications Company Europe, Computer Product Solution Division are the official technology partners of `The Coldest Journey'- a Winter Antarctic ecology survey being lead by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Britain's best known polar explorer. 

Described as the greatest challenge of human endeavour remaining on Earth, to cross the Antarctic in winter and never having been attempted before, The Coldest Journey expedition team has selected Panasonic Toughbook rugged computer equipment to support expedition scientific experiments and communications via an Iridium sat-link, as well as editing footage and photographs professional Panasonic broadcast cameras and Lumix digital still cameras.

With 24-hour darkness and temperatures plunging below -70°C, this epic 2,000 mile expedition will take nearly a year to complete and is the ultimate test of human endurance and rugged computer equipment. Panasonic will supply Toughpad rugged tablet PCs and Toughbook CF-53 rugged computers to the ice team.

The Expedition

In case you are asking why would anyone so risks their lives to dare the territory of the gods, you are therefore, invited to reflect on the immortal words of a poet below:

There is no sanctuary for brave men,
Danger Allures them as if it were a sun;
what they have dared they will dare once again
and so continue till the day is done.

there is no satiation of brave deeds,
one draws another as wit ever heeds
the hour's necessity and springs to it

theres no intimidation of great thought
knowledge attracts it as the heavens eye
though dangerous 'tis to learn, it will be taught
pushing its question to the uttermost why

there is no sanctuary for brave men
danger allures them as the moon the tide
what they have dared they will dare once again
thought they lose all else in the world beside

Here then, are the answers from the polar explorers themselves:

What Do We Hope to Achieve?

“On 6th December, a team of explorers led by Sir Ranulph Fiennes will set off from London on the world's first ever attempt to cross the Antarctic in winter.

The 2000-mile journey has for many years been considered too perilous to try and the group will have to overcome one of earth's most hostile environments if they are to succeed, exposing themselves to temperatures as low as -80c and operating in near permanent darkness.

A winter traverse of the Antarctic is widely regarded as the last true remaining polar challenge and the expedition's success will reassert Britain's status as the world's greatest nation of explorers.

A fund-raising initiative will run side-by-side with the expedition with the aim of raising $10m for Seeing is Believing to help fight blindness around the world.

Having never been attempted, the expedition will also provide unique and invaluable scientific research that will help climatologists, as well as forming the basis for an education programme that will reach up to 100,000 schools across the Commonwealth.”

About Sir Ranulph Fienne: Expedition Co-Leader

Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE (born 7 March 1944), better known as Ranulph Fiennes, is a British expedition leader and holder of several endurance records.

After failing his A-levels at Eton, Sir Ranulph served in the British Army for eight years, including a period in counter-insurgency service while attached to the army of the Sultanate of Oman.

He later undertook numerous record-breaking expeditions and was the first person (with Charles Burton) to visit both the North and South Poles by surface means during the Transglobe Expedition (1979-1982), and was the first person (with Mike Stroud) to completely cross the Antarctic continent on foot. In May 2009, at the age of 65, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest.

According to the Guinness Book of Records he is the world's greatest living explorer. Sir Ranulph is also a prolific charity fundraiser, having raised over £14m for different UK charities. He has written numerous books about his army service and his expeditions, as well as a book defending Robert Falcon Scott from modern revisionists.

Recent Expeditions:

 

1992/1993         The Unsupported Antarctic Continent Expedition
2000                 The Arctic Solo Expedition
2003                  Seven marathons in seven days on seven continents
2005 and 2008   Everest Tibet and Everest Nepal summit attempts
2007                  North face of the Eiger
2009                  Everest Nepal Summit

****With additional information from “The ColdestJourney.org