Hayes gets second world record for Arctic trek

Dubai: A British explorer who lives in Dubai, Adrian Hayes, has achieved a second world record for an Arctic expedition he did in 2009.

Hayes, the UAE's world record-breaking polar explorer and adventurer has set another world record for his unsupported journey across Greenland. The 2009 Emirates NBD Greenland Quest has been confirmed by Guinness World Records as the "longest Arctic unsupported snow-kiting expedition" in history.

During 2009, Hayes and Canadian teammates Devon McDiarmid and Derek Crowe, spent 67 days covering a total distance of 4,262km before reaching the final destination of their historic vertical crossing of Greenland.

The trio braved temperatures as low as -30C and endured extreme conditions and terrain on the route from the southern to northern tips of the Greenland ice cap and then onto north-west Greenland. The journey had never been completed before.

Challenging

"Our expedition the length of Greenland was one of the most strategically challenging and difficult I have accomplished and, whilst I don't do this for records sake, I'm delighted it has been recognised by Guinness — a nice recognition for a great team effort," said Hayes, a British Army Gurkha Officer and father of two.

The team used kites and skis to transverse the enormous distance, fully managing their entire resources with two sleds attached by rope behind the men.

Hayes previously received a Guinness World Record for reaching the Earth's three poles by walking all the way to the North Pole, South Pole and summiting Everest, in the shortest period of time in history between 2006 and 2007.

He was the 15th person to achieve the feat.