A FORMER Special Forces soldier is trying to become the first man to complete an epic return journey to the South Pole alone and unsupported.

Chris Foot from Poole will ski and walk 1,932 miles, dragging a sled with a starting weight of 22 stone, in winds that can reach more than 100mph.

The 32-year-old is trying to push himself to his absolute limit and also raise thousands for the armed forces charity Combat Stress.

What makes his expedition unique is that he is attempting a return journey from Hercules Inlet, the classic recognised starting point.

The celebrated polar explorer Conrad Dickinson encouraged Chris to take up a challenge which has so far defeated all-comers.

“This is monumental. People in the expedition world appreciate that,” said Chris, a former pupil of Kemp Welch School, now Rossmore Community College.

“This route is the only remaining conquest in Antarctica not to be claimed.”

He speaks with relish about conditions that would horrify most people and he already looks frighteningly fit.

But he is bulking up to 14st, to give him the strength and energy reserves to spend around 75 days walking. His exercise regime includes running up to 60 miles a week and dragging a tyre through Wareham Forest for two or three hours at a time.

“It’s definitely going to be the hardest I have ever pushed myself, physically, psychologically and emotionally,” he said.

“That’s what makes it so compelling. It’s 70-80 days of having to get up and motivate myself, to find out what you are really all about.

“It would be great to be the first person, but even if someone had done this before, I would still attempt it.”

Chris became the youngest member of the UK’s Special Forces aged 21 and, before leaving last year, specialised in mountaineering.

In May he raced 350 miles to the magnetic north pole in an Extreme World Races event and is also an instructor for the company.

Chris will be making the journey in November during the 24-hour sunlight of the Antarctic summer and temperatures will vary from 15C to -30C.

He will check in by radio once a day and carries a GPS beacon supplied by Trango for emergencies but will otherwise be completely alone.

The only voices he will hear will be those on his iPod, as he listens to the audio biographies of successful actors, entrepreneurs and sportsmen.

“Really, the pleasure will be 90 per cent when I get back,” he laughed.

“You won’t see me out there in a whiteout shouting ‘God, I love this’ at the sky! I will be cursing myself, saying ‘What am I doing here?’”

The main dangers will be falling into a deep crevasse or pushing himself too hard and descending into hypothermia without knowing it.

To make a donations or enquire about sponsorship go to chrisfootsouthpole.com.