Chasing History in Antarctica: Explorer Doug Tumminello’s Solo Adventure to the South Pole

Explorer Doug Tumminello recounts his recent unsupported solo expedition across Antarctica following the tragic news that British explorer Henry Worsley died on the brink of becoming the first man to cross the continent unaided. Tumminello explains the inspiration of Ernest Shackleton, a polar explorer who led three British expeditions to the Antarctic, and details the challenges he faced during his own Antarctic adventure, in this uncensored Lip News interview hosted by Jo Ankier.

Guest Bio

Doug Tumminello has led mountaineering expeditions to and summited many mountains around the world, including Alaska’s Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, and Argentina’s Cerro Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America. During one expedition to Denali, his team was awarded a commendation by the National Park Service for the assistance they gave to a climber during a severe storm high on the mountain.

As team leader, Doug led a private expedition that scaled Mt. Everest via the Southeast Ridge, the route made famous by the 1996 disaster reported in John Krakauer’s book Into Thin Air. After facing great difficulties, including the death of two of his Sherpa teammates in an avalanche, he stood atop Mt. Everest’s summit early in the morning of May 23, 2006.

In 2009, despite having no seafaring background, Doug was on an 8-person crew that rowed Audeaus (“Let Us Dare”), a 36’ ocean rowing boat, across the Indian Ocean from Western Australia to Mauritius, an island off the coast of Africa. The crew was at sea for 58 days and set the world record for the fastest row of the Indian Ocean, a total of 3,700 miles. The row set a number of firsts, including the first Americans to row the Indian Ocean.