R.I.P. Henry Worsley

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survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 25, 2016 - 08:15am PT
You made a hell of a good run Sir.







British explorer Henry Worsley has died attempting to be the first person to cross the Antarctic unaided, in an epic charity mission inspired by Ernest Shackleton.

The 55-year-old former British Army officer died after being airlifted to a hospital in Punta Arenas, Chile, suffering severe exhaustion and dehydration.

The father-of-two was found to have bacterial peritonitis (a bacterial infection in the abdomen), after having trekked around 913 miles unaided across the South Pole -- just 30 miles short of his end goal.

Worsley was 71 days into his record-breaking solo mission to complete the legendary British explorer Ernest Shackleton's unsuccessful crossing of Antarctica in the early 1900s.

But Worsley was forced to call for help on Friday amid blizzard conditions, and in poor health he was airlifted to hospital.

Worsley's last statement sent from Antarctica said: "The 71 days alone on the Antarctic with over 900 statute miles covered and a gradual grinding down of my physical endurance finally took its toll today, and it is with sadness that I report it is journey's end -- so close to my goal."
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 25, 2016 - 08:19am PT
Prince William, a friend of Worsley and a patron of the Shackleton Solo Expedition, said he and his brother Prince Harry were saddened by the news. "He was a man who showed great courage and determination," he said. "We are incredibly proud to be associated with him.

"Even after retiring from the Army, Henry continued to show selfless commitment to his fellow servicemen and women, by undertaking this extraordinary Shackleton solo expedition on their behalf."

Worsley's wife Joanna said: 'It is with heartbroken sadness I let you know that my husband Henry Worsley has died following complete organ failure; despite all efforts of ALE [Worsley's expedition team] and medical staff at the Clinica Magallanes in Punta Arenas, Chile.

"Henry achieved his Shackleton Solo goals: of raising over £100,000 ($142,000) for the Endeavour Fund, to help his wounded colleagues, and so nearly completing the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic landmass. A crossing made, under exceptionally difficult weather conditions, to mark the 100th anniversary of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance expedition -- his lifelong hero."
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jan 25, 2016 - 08:52am PT
Very sad. RIP, brave soul.
crankster

Trad climber
No. Tahoe
Jan 25, 2016 - 09:17am PT
A great adventurer following in Shackleton's footsteps. RIP.
Jon Beck

Trad climber
Oceanside
Jan 25, 2016 - 09:22am PT
Following Shackletons footprints was ballsy. They said he died of organ failure, was that brought about by hypothermia?
thebravecowboy

climber
The Good Places
Jan 25, 2016 - 09:26am PT
a bold and proud goal,
a sad and awful death.

sorry to hear of another traveler, another driven man, taken before his adventure was achieved. peace to the man and his loved ones.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jan 25, 2016 - 09:27am PT
Bacterial peritonitis is a death sentence without immediate help. He was probably already
septic by the time they picked him up.
BruceHildenbrand

Social climber
Mountain View/Boulder
Jan 25, 2016 - 09:42am PT
He was a distant relative of Frank Worsley, the captain of Shackleton's ship Endurance, which was the first to attempt the crossing when the ship was captured and crushed in the ice in 1914-1915.
Urizen

Ice climber
Berkeley, CA
Jan 25, 2016 - 01:26pm PT
Love that National Health dental work.
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
Jan 25, 2016 - 03:21pm PT
Quite the character. RIP, sir.

But didn't Messner and partner cross it unassisted long ago. Or did they use kites, which, I guess, is "cheating"/"assisted"?

BAd
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 25, 2016 - 03:31pm PT
One headline I read was that he was attempting to be the first SOLO UNAIDED crossing. I don't know where the hairs are split on this one....

He was a Lt.Col. when he retired from the British Army.
Mighty Hiker

climber
Outside the Asylum
Jan 25, 2016 - 03:46pm PT
Sad news, but the price of true adventure is all too often high.

Worsley was the greatgrandson of Frank Worsley, who was captain of Endurance 1914 - 16. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/30/ernest-shackleton-antarctic-expedition

Wikipedia indicates that Børge Ousland was first to make an unsupported solo crossing of Antarctica, in 1996 - 97, using a kite. It doesn't say what his route was - a crossing from coast to coast, i.e. where the ice shelves join land, may be shorter than one from ocean to ocean.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%B8rge_Ousland

Edits:

1. Shackleton, not Shakleton.

2. There were six men aboard James Caird on her famous voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia. Three of them - Shackleton, Crean and Worsley - went on to make the first crossing of the island to Strømness.
aspendougy

Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
Jan 25, 2016 - 05:17pm PT
When Shakleton abandoned the ENDURANCE, he took two men with him to go and get help. They had to take a small row boat across a dangerous, inhospitable sea, and hit an island dead on. Frank Worsley, this guy's great great grandfather was the navigator on that incredible boat trip. It is considered one the greatest feats of navigation in the history of exploration.

After reaching the Island, they had to hike overland, with minimal gear, over a very hazardous mountain range, covered in ice and snow. After three or four days, they were at the top of a range, and it was getting late. They all knew if the didn't get down soon, they would freeze to death.They knew they couldn't survive another night. At this point, Shakleton suggested they slide down toboggan style, on a piece of some material that they had. Worsley and Tom Crean thought he was crazy. You couldn't see ahead and know how steep it would get, if you would run over a cliff, etc. It was an incredible risk. Shakleton reminded them they had no choice. They slid down and were unhurt, and were then close enough to Stromness Bay to walk in before night fall. Amazing story.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Jan 25, 2016 - 05:20pm PT
It wasn't exactly a small row boat and there were at least a dozen of them.
I'm sure we'll both be corrected. :-)
Gearhead

Trad climber
Novato Ca
Jan 25, 2016 - 06:54pm PT
R.I.P. Sir. I'm going to name my new pulk The Worsley.
BruceHildenbrand

Social climber
Mountain View/Boulder
Jan 25, 2016 - 07:51pm PT
But didn't Messner and partner cross it unassisted long ago. Or did they use kites, which, I guess, is "cheating"/"assisted"?

A few years back there was a big race to become the first person/expedition to cross the entire Antarctic continent unaided(no food drops, etc.). Yes, some of the expeditions used kites, but the silliness side of this whole situation is that the expeditions took the term 'continent' quite literally.

Since much of what we see on maps of Antarctica is ice and not actually land, these expeditions choose to fly in by plane or be picked up by plane where the land began or ended. Clearly, Shackleton didn't have that option in 1914, but such is the state of many expeditions in the 'modern' era.
Blakey

Trad climber
Sierra Vista
Jan 26, 2016 - 07:03am PT
All very sad. I was fortunate to work with him for a short while. A quality operator.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/12121935/Lieutenant-Colonel-Henry-Worsley-obituary.html

Steve


Ferretlegger

Trad climber
san Jose, CA
Jan 26, 2016 - 09:13am PT
Some years ago I was in London on business and found myself with a free day. I took the opportunity to visit the Naval Observatory in Greewich, which was displaying all of the Harrison clocks, the first made that were accurate enough to be used to calculate longitude on a ship at sea. After spending hours staring in wonder at the amazing articles of supreme craftsmanship,I wandered across the park to the Naval Museum. I found, to my delight, that they Suhaili, Sir Robin Knox Johnson's boat in which he did the first non-stop solo circumnavigation of the earth. It was a marvelous display, and I walked around the back to get a better view. Being focused on Suhali, I was not paying much attention to my surroundings, and smacked into something hard. I looked behind me and almost fainted when I saw that it was the James Caird, the SMALL boat alluded to above, in which Shackleton made his famous voyage. It was the original. Boat, and the handiwork done on the ice to make it more suitable for the voyage to Elephant Island was readily apparent. I spent hours there,soaking up the spirit of both of these testimonials to human greatness. It was one of the really great days of my life.

Reilly, the James Caird is TINY!!!! It was originally a rowing boat, perhaps 21 feet or so long. It had been decked over and several thousand pounds of rocks put in the bottom for ballast. There was only a small region aft for perhaps 2 people to work the boat. Underway, the other 3 people had to somehow exist on top of the rocks, with only perhaps 3 feet of headroom. a tiny mast was fitted, along with small sails. Having spent quite a bit of time at sea, in some rather bad weather, I can truthfully say that most sailors would have been unhappy taking this craft to the Farallones, let alone across 800 mms of the worst seas on earth. Those men were giants, and they left huge shoes to fill. All respect to Hendry Worsley. His ancestor would have been proud.

All the best,
Michael
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2016 - 09:53am PT
Ferretlegger, really good post.
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
Jan 26, 2016 - 10:11am PT
Thanks for that anecdote, Michael. I read Endurance like an addict stuck to the pipe. Amazing stuff.

BAd
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