The five adventurers who took up this challenge are Iain Buchan, founder of the financial services company The Unlimited, his sons Zack and Barney, the veteran arctic explorer Dr Pete Berning and newcomer Ken Watt. 

They went to Antarctica and made history by summiting an icy mountain that has never been climbed. The five climbed the virgin territory with no designated route, guide book or recommendations. As the first explorers to tackle this mountain, the South Africans got to choose the name of the peak, which they have named ‘Mount Peace’.

Zack Buchan said that it was a true privilege to be the first people to ever stand at the top of the mountain. “The adventure aspect was mind blowing as we had to discover each section, make decisions, back track if necessary and basically thrash out a route from nothing. To then name that mountain, and to do that with your brother and father is just incredible,” he explained.

Iain Buchan echoed his son’s sentiments that whilst the experience was incredible, it was the opportunity to do it as a family that made it unforgettable. “Summiting at the same time as my sons was the most memorable moment of the Expedition. We just hugged each other in silence for ages.”

Iain Buchan said that the team faced many challenges whilst climbing ‘Mount Peace’. “Climbing an ice wall that has a 40 degree slope and goes 950 meters up on fixed ropes and each carrying about 22kg is really tough. This Expedition once again taught me the importance of being purposeful and deliberate. If we had not been continuously checking our kit and following the safety procedures, we could have lost some lives on Mount Peace.”

To add to this accomplishment, The Unlimited Twin Peaks adventurers also summited Mount Vinson prior to climbing Mount Peace. The highest point in Antarctica at 4892m, Mount Vinson is the most remote (and coldest) of the world renowned Seven Summits. The combination of altitude and extreme cold and wind (temperatures rarely climb above -25 °C, with a wind chill factor of -50 °C) was a test to this team’s physical strength.

“The really tough part of the Mount Vinson climb was undoubtedly the weather. With the wind chill factor the temperature was around -50°C which is the maximum of human endurance. Your body just can’t take this so while we wanted to stay, we weren’t on the summit for more than a few minutes,” explained Iain Buchan.
  
Of Mount Vinson, Zack Buchan said “The sheer isolation is breath taking. Nothing lives there, it is simply ice and snow and rock. It is so different, so extreme and brutal that it is quite a challenge to describe to anyone. The fact that we had a very tight team made a huge difference to the whole experience as it boosted our morale. We were determined to go out there, have fun and really savour the experience, which made the hardships more bearable.”

And what of all the people from The Unlimited staying warm in sunny South Africa? According to Steph Bester, CEO of The Unlimited, “The Expedition absolutely resonates with our company ethos, which is based on the belief that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. When this is the example set by the founders and leadership of a business, how can our people not be inspired by it?”

For more information and images of the journey, click here.