What adventures are actually left?By Tom de Castella & Tom HeydenBBC News Magazine
Continue reading the main story The British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes's latest adventure is to lead the first winter crossing of Antarctica. But are there many meaningful challenges left for intrepid explorers?
Sir Ranulph Fiennes has already earned plaudits for crossing Antarctica unaided, discovering the Lost City of Ubar and taking a hovercraft up the Nile.
But genuine firsts in exploration are getting hard to find. The world's greatest peaks have all been climbed.
The earth has been circumnavigated many times by plane, foot, bicycle and balloon, among other means of conveyance. Many of the major rivers, lakes and seas have been swum or canoed.
There are few genuine unknowns. Satellite navigation technology allows mankind to see almost every river, copse and hill.
Machines can do the lifting and keep adventurers connected. Fiennes
will be followed by two bulldozers dragging industrial sledges carrying supplies and living quarters.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19621341