Skiing 870 miles across the Antarctic, pulling a 120kg sledge in temperatures of -40, would be a mammoth task for anyone.
But for Max Worsely, the challenge laid out ahead of him is much more personal – and will be a promise to his father, Henry, who died attempting the exact same feat. Later this year starting in November, Max, 31, will ski in the tracks of his father, alongside expedition partner Martin Nesse, to make the 60-day journey unsupported from the edge of Antarctic to the geographic South Pole, in a challenge called the Onwards Expedition.
A decade ago, his former SAS soldier dad was just 30 miles from completing the same journey when he fell ill. He was airlifted to hospital in Chile, where he later died aged 55.
View 6 ImagesMax in training for his expedition, which will see him have to pull his belongings in a 120kg sledge
And 10 years on, Max says carrying out his expedition will be fulfilling a dream to his late dad, who had wanted to one day embark on a father-son Antarctic adventure together.
He told the Mirror : “It was a dream dad and I had together and a promise we made to each other. So in a sense, this expedition is like me fulfilling his promise to dad.
“It will be a special trip as it will be the same route that my father did on his last and fateful expedition in 2016. So I will be skiing in his tracks, which will be very special. So there is definitely quite a strong personal angle to the whole expedition, and it is really why I’m doing it.
“The most special thing I will be taking is my dad’s diary from his last expedition. I will be able to read from his diary in the same exact location that he wrote 10 years before. This is a trip with dad at the heart of it – and trying to understand a little bit about why he loved Antarctica so much.”
The gruelling mission, for which Max has been in training, will see him and expedition partner Martin camp in plunging temperatures, pulling all the essentials they need behind them in sledges.
View 6 ImagesMax’s dad Henry Worsely, who attempted the same journey in late 2015/early 2016
Training has included polar courses in the likes of Norway and Chamonix, learning how to negotiate fatal crevasses and they have had to learn other skills, such as how to eat the 6-7,000 calories they each day to keep up their energy, all while wearing mittens.
Throughout, Max from West London has had the support of his mum, Joanna and sister Alicia. It was his father’s letters and text messages back home to his family on his expeditions that always ended with the word ‘onwards’ that have inspired the name of Max’s journey.
Meanwhile, another person to have thrown his support behind the expedition is Prince William. It was announced in January that the Prince of Wales would be a patron of the expedition – a role he took on for Max’s father’s expedition in 2016.
Speaking at the time, William said: “I was immensely proud to have supported his father Henry, and it is deeply moving to see Max skiing the same route ten years on, demonstrating the same courage, determination and sense of purpose that defined his father’s life.
“This expedition is not only a powerful tribute to Henry’s legacy, but also a reminder of Antarctica’s vital importance to the health of our planet.”
View 6 ImagesPrince William with Henry Worsely. The Prince of Wales is the patron of Max’s expediton too
And Max, who recently met up with the prince at a Buckingham Palace garden party, explained: “It’s absolutely incredible. To have a royal patron is extraordinary, but to have the connection between His Royal Highness and my father makes the whole thing even more special.
“He came to my dad’s funeral and he was very supportive towards myself and my sister and mother after dad died. I felt very pleased when he accepted the role of patron and very honoured.
“He gave my dad a Union flag that he signed. He presented it to dad with my mother, sister and the idea he will do the same and present it back to me, which will be really special. It’s very generous of him, he has been wonderful.”
6View 6 ImagesMax with expedition partner Martin Nesse
6View 6 ImagesMax will read his father’s own diary during the trip
As well as the expedition being a personal mission, it also aims to support two organisations – the British Exploring Society and William’s own Earthshot Prize.
Max said: “I realised after he died and when I started thinking about doing this expedition more and more that it had to be more than just me following in dad’s footsteps. It’s about people and the planet. So the people angle is trying to get young people to form a deeper connection with our natural world and the outdoors. And it’s ironic that the way we are most likely to do that is through social media.
“But the reality is we are trying to get young people to spend less time behind screens and devices because nature and the outdoors have been such a part of my life and upbringing – and I’ve felt the physical and mental wellbeing effects of nature. They’re strong, and it is transformational, and I want to help young people reconnect.
“However, it’s not about these big expeditions, it starts small at your home. You can hike through your nearest woodlands and listen out for the birds and try and identify the trees.
“That’s an adventure. It’s about being curious about the natural world. It starts on a small level and that’s where some of the best adventures happen – close to home, on a small budget and on the spur of the moment.”
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To find out more about the Onwards Expedition, visit www.onwards-expedition.com or @onwards_expedition on Instagram.