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| South Pole pair push pain barrier | South Pole pair push pain barrier |
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| Two former Edinburgh students have told how they suffered frostbite and battled blizzard conditions to complete a 44-day trek to the South Pole. | |
| Gavin Booth, 33, and Adam Wilton, 30, have been hailed for their "amazing achievement" in the extreme conditions. | Gavin Booth, 33, and Adam Wilton, 30, have been hailed for their "amazing achievement" in the extreme conditions. |
| The pair were unsupported on the 1,130km expedition, pulling sleds which were twice their body weight. | The pair were unsupported on the 1,130km expedition, pulling sleds which were twice their body weight. |
| They completed the gruelling journey, which began on 11 November, in 44 days and 13.5 hours. | They completed the gruelling journey, which began on 11 November, in 44 days and 13.5 hours. |
| Three British women have completed the route in a faster time. | Three British women have completed the route in a faster time. |
| However, Mr Booth and Mr Wilton are claiming a new record for the fastest unsupported journey to the South Pole by a UK team. | However, Mr Booth and Mr Wilton are claiming a new record for the fastest unsupported journey to the South Pole by a UK team. |
| When you can't even see your feet for days, it really tests you Gavin BoothExplorer | When you can't even see your feet for days, it really tests you Gavin BoothExplorer |
| They join an elite group, as only 12 other Britons have successfully made it to the South Pole from the edge of the Antarctic continent unsupported and unassisted. | They join an elite group, as only 12 other Britons have successfully made it to the South Pole from the edge of the Antarctic continent unsupported and unassisted. |
| Mr Booth told BBC Scotland that they had to wear full plastic masks to stop their faces from freezing in the -50C temperatures. | Mr Booth told BBC Scotland that they had to wear full plastic masks to stop their faces from freezing in the -50C temperatures. |
| He said: "I still managed to get frostbite on my face, which meant I had scabs on my cheeks because the wind was still managing to get in round the edges of my mask. | He said: "I still managed to get frostbite on my face, which meant I had scabs on my cheeks because the wind was still managing to get in round the edges of my mask. |
| "My ankles felt like they had huge metal pins hammered into them and several times I thought we had bitten off more than we could chew. | "My ankles felt like they had huge metal pins hammered into them and several times I thought we had bitten off more than we could chew. |
| "It was very tough mentally as well because there isn't much to see. It's just a big white desert with a few mountain ranges now and then for 44 days, which made it tough. | "It was very tough mentally as well because there isn't much to see. It's just a big white desert with a few mountain ranges now and then for 44 days, which made it tough. |
| "Some days there were whiteouts where we couldn't even see our feet with blizzard conditions, so we had to rely completely on our compass. | "Some days there were whiteouts where we couldn't even see our feet with blizzard conditions, so we had to rely completely on our compass. |
| "When you can't even see your feet for days, it really tests you. | "When you can't even see your feet for days, it really tests you. |
| "We found we were repeating ourselves just to keep the conversation going to keep our minds off it." | "We found we were repeating ourselves just to keep the conversation going to keep our minds off it." |
| Scott's Hut at Cape Evans is in Antarctica | Scott's Hut at Cape Evans is in Antarctica |
| He admitted that because of the physical, mental and emotional stress of the trip they did have a few arguments about which direction they were going. | He admitted that because of the physical, mental and emotional stress of the trip they did have a few arguments about which direction they were going. |
| The property investment surveyor added: "I have read that mild hypothermia makes you more argumentative, but it has made our friendship even stronger. | The property investment surveyor added: "I have read that mild hypothermia makes you more argumentative, but it has made our friendship even stronger. |
| "The highlight had to be the last hour when we could see the US scientific base, which was amazing and I had butterflies in my stomach." | "The highlight had to be the last hour when we could see the US scientific base, which was amazing and I had butterflies in my stomach." |
| They had to have two showers each when they arrived back in Chile, where they threw out the clothes they had been wearing constantly during the trip. | They had to have two showers each when they arrived back in Chile, where they threw out the clothes they had been wearing constantly during the trip. |
| The pair, who reached the South Pole on 27 December, have now arrived back in the UK. | The pair, who reached the South Pole on 27 December, have now arrived back in the UK. |
| Tom Sjogtren, the founder of Explorers' Web, which records South Pole expeditions, said: "I am impressed how they handled themselves completely unsupported and self-reliant when they were not professional explorers before they left. | Tom Sjogtren, the founder of Explorers' Web, which records South Pole expeditions, said: "I am impressed how they handled themselves completely unsupported and self-reliant when they were not professional explorers before they left. |
| "It is an amazing achievement because the conditions are so extreme." | "It is an amazing achievement because the conditions are so extreme." |
| The pair have so far raised £20,000 towards The Discovery Hut at Hut Point, an Antarctic hut used by Captain Scott which needs £3m to be restored | The pair have so far raised £20,000 towards The Discovery Hut at Hut Point, an Antarctic hut used by Captain Scott which needs £3m to be restored |
| The hut is at risk after almost 100 years of harsh weather. | The hut is at risk after almost 100 years of harsh weather. |