Western Telegraph | Blogs

William McNamara is a man not fazed by a challenge. As CEO of the Bluestone National Park Resort near Narberth, he’s been actively building the business into one of the Wales’ most successful tourist destinations.

But his latest challenge will take him to boundaries he’s never experienced before. He has just arrived in Antarctica for a mammoth trek to the South Pole which he plans to reach on the 100th anniversary of Captain Scott reaching the Pole in his ill-fated expedition in 1912.

He plans to raise £100,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust through his trek. You can find out more at www.90degreessouth.co.uk.

Feeling restless: January 4th

First thing I had to walk across town to a briefing that took 2.5 hours. It was about Antarctica and the Antarctic treaty but then it moved onto the more serious stuff of safety, especially medical issues, a lot about frost bite, altitude sickness and sunburn. Not only is the sun very strong in Antarctica, but it bounces off the snow and can burn the underside of your nose and chin quite badly so that is something I have learnt today. Dehydration is also a big issue because the air down there is so dry as well as being very cold. My kit has now gone so I am left standing in the clothes that I shall wear in tomorrow and I will leave a small bag here in Punta for my return.

5th January: Union Glacier

I have had a very dramatic day which started by being woken at 5.45 am this morning and given just 30 minutes to be ready for the pickup to take me to the airport.

Santiago: January 2nd

I am currently in Santiago. I am 28 hours into my trip and hopefully on the last leg with only six more to go. It has been uneventful, except that I have been fighting with every check-in as I refuse to put my boots and jacket in the hold as I have been warned that they sometimes lose luggage. And if I lose these pieces of equipment I won’t be going to Antarctica. So far I have managed to blag my way onto the planes with excess cabin luggage, but if push comes to shove I will have to wear everything and go on that way as they will not be able to stop me.