Desert training for South Pole trek
May 23, 2004 16: 47 EST
Published May 17, 2004 18: 49 EST
Australian adventurer Rob Porcaro is in his final stages of training for a crossing of the Madigan Line, a 520km trek across the northern section of the Simpson Desert.
Last year Rob wanted to attempt to be the first Australian to trek 1300km unassisted from Berkner Island to the South Pole. Plans were waylaid though when Cerpolex, organizing the expedition, had to drop out.
So now Rob, who has trekked across deserts before, is going to warmer climates. But don’t think that the South Pole has been forgotten; Rob plans to make his journey in 2005. According to his website he will start the expedition at Berkner Island (located on Ronne Ice Shelf on the coast of Antarctica) and trek to the South Pole covering a distance in excess of 1300 km's in approximately 55 days on foot and unassisted.
The first solo unsupported expedition from Berkner Island to the South Pole was made in 1992 by Norwegian Erling Kagge.
Rob is undertaking this expedition in order to raise awareness of depression, a debilitating illness which currently affects 1:5 Australians and is predicted to become the second greatest cause of premature death and disability worldwide by 2020.
Starting out in 2005, Rob Porcaro 44, will attempt to become the first Australian to trek 1300km unassisted from Berkner Island to the South Pole. Rob is undertaking this expedition in order to raise awareness of depression, a debilitating illness which currently affects 1:5 Australians and is predicted to become the second greatest cause of premature death and disability worldwide by 2020.
Rob is in his final stages of training for the first solo crossing of the Madigan Line, a 520km trek across the northern section of the Simpson Desert.
The 44 year old marketing executive will leave Adelaide on Saturday, May 22, and commence the trek on Tuesday, May 25 - ahead of him will be 16 days of trekking through clay pans, salt lakes and over more than 700 sand ridges, some up to 20m high.
Image of Rob courtesy of lassothemoon.com.
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