Adventurer Ian Evans has always shied away from the expression “chance of a lifetime,” but now it seems he’s finally found a trip worthy of the phrase.
For those who know the Elora resident, it’s a big deal.
Not only has Evans climbed the highest summits on five continents, he has also cycled across Australia, Iceland, the United Kingdom and the Canadian Arctic.
Now he’s planning to make an 850km trek across Antarctica to the South Pole, a journey that will take him from the Ronne Filchner Ice Shelf to 9,000 feet above sea level. Accompanied by a guide, Evans will drag all necessary gear behind him for the 60 days it will take to complete the trip.
If there ever was extreme camping, this is it.
With less than four months to go, Evans is busy fundraising in anticipation of the start of the Antarctic summer, when he will be heading south.
Unfortunately friend and fellow Elora resident Jon Ralston, who was originally planning to accompany Evans to the South Pole, had to withdraw from the expedition due to personal commitments and lower-than-expected fundraising totals.
“With a wedding coming up and running (Riverfest Elora), and the lack of quick response from corporate sponsorship, I just didn’t feel like it was the right time for me to do it,” Ralston told the Advertiser.
“It sucks but it was the call that had to be made.”
Evans needs to raise $75,000 by November and has collected approximately $20,000 so far. A fundraiser held on Aug. 4 at the Cricket Club in Inverhaugh generated another $4,000 for his trip, as local enthusiasts came out to see the home team face off against the Stratford Festival players.
In September, a documentary film of Evans’ cycle trip across Australia will get a premier viewing at the Hot Docs cinema in Toronto, a show for which he is hoping to sell 700 tickets.
With so many things on the go, it’s no wonder Evans says preparing for the trip is a full-time job. While fundraising has required a lot of his focus, Evans says it’s merely a fraction of his necessary preparation.
In anticipation of the extreme conditions, Evans has started physical training that includes dragging tires around Elora to mimic the sled of supplies he will have with him on the trek.
“I put my harness on and my hiking boots, and grab my ski poles and I get two tires and drag them around Irvine Street,” he says. “I’m pretty fit, but I’m not strong enough yet.”
He is also freeze-testing his electronics to make sure they will be able withstand the frigid arctic conditions.
“It’s going to vary (in temperature),” he says. “At the coast it could be five or zero degrees, and then at the pole it could be negative 40 because you’re higher and more exposed.”
And it’s not just the physical exertion. Evans says part of getting ready for this type of trip is preparing mentally.
“I’m very excited, but I’m also a little concerned at the same time. I ask myself, can I do it? Can I handle the cold? But that’s what makes it an adventure,” Evans chuckles.
“My motto is, ‘life begins at the end of your comfort zone.’ When you’re right at the edge, when you’re a little unsure of things and pushing the envelope, that’s when you get the most out of life.”
The idea of attempting any of Evans’ adventures would seem daunting to many people, particularly the idea of spending two months in a virtual polar wasteland, far from the creature comforts of urbanity.
But Evans says in some ways, a nomadic lifestyle away from civilization is ideal.
“It’s a really simple lifestyle. You’re putting one foot in front of the other, you’re dragging around all the stuff you own, you’re setting up the tent, you’re cooking your own food and you get into a real routine,” he says.
“And I like that. I find life too complicated at home. There’s too many choices, there’s too much stuff going on. So with a trip like this, you get back to basics.”
For those interested in learning more about Evans’ trip, he will have a booth at the Fergus Scottish Festival this weekend. T-shirts and copies of his DVD, Australia by Bicycle will be available for purchase with proceeds going toward the Antarctica trip.
For information or to donate, visit www.ianevans.ca.
