# Sir Ranulph Fiennes latest Antarctic Expedition: Foolish or Stupid? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 8, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-ranulph-fiennes-latest-antarctic-expedition-foolish-or-stupid/646493 "2013-01-08T16:09:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-ranulph-fiennes-latest-antarctic-expedition-foolish-or-stupid/646493/1 "2013-01-08T16:09:30Z")
The guy is now 68 years aold-and he’s going to traverse the Antarctic continent (the same way he went back a few years). My question: exactly what is the point of such an “expedition”? Its been done before, it will gather almost no new information, and it will pollute (I know, not that much) a pristine environment. What reaaly got me: he was interviewed and remarked that “he really wasn’t looking forward to the trek”. So, why do it? To me, its like being the 10,000th man to summit Mt. Everest. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-ranulph-fiennes-latest-antarctic-expedition-foolish-or-stupid/646493/2 "2013-01-08T16:17:26Z")
For a minute there I thought you meant [Ralph Fiennes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Fiennes)but mangled his name. Because I’d watch the documentary or read the book. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-ranulph-fiennes-latest-antarctic-expedition-foolish-or-stupid/646493/3 "2013-01-09T15:56:04Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > For a minute there I thought you meant [Ralph Fiennes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Fiennes)but mangled his name. Because I’d watch the documentary or read the book. Huh - I thought the same. I’d never heard of the guy before. Turns out, Ralph and Joseph are [his cousins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranulph_Fiennes). As to why? Some people are just obsessed with adventure. Shackleton died just before attempting an Antarctic crossing. Fiennes (more properly, Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes - which is quite a mouthful!) seems determined to kill himself doing _something_, and the hell with safety (e.g. cutting off his own frostbitten fingertips). ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-ranulph-fiennes-latest-antarctic-expedition-foolish-or-stupid/646493/4 "2013-01-09T17:19:43Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Huh - I thought the same. I’d never heard of the guy before. > > Turns out, Ralph and Joseph are [his cousins](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranulph_Fiennes). > > As to why? Some people are just obsessed with adventure. Shackleton died just before attempting an Antarctic crossing. Fiennes (more properly, Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes - which is quite a mouthful!) seems determined to kill himself doing _something_, and the hell with safety (e.g. cutting off his own frostbitten fingertips). That was my point..he did it in 1958..what is repeating it prove? Plus, he quote about how he really isn’t looking forward to it-maybe he wants to die like Scott? ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sir-ranulph-fiennes-latest-antarctic-expedition-foolish-or-stupid/646493/5 "2013-01-09T21:49:44Z")
The difference is he and others are going to do it in the Antarctic winter, which hasn’t been done before. Good luck to him.