Words by Mark Evans MBE
On 18 July 2026, after a long illness we lost a true polar great, someone who never got or sought the recognition he deserved. The epitome of modesty and humility, Geoff Somers was the first Briton to cross Antarctica on foot as part of the 1989-1990 international Trans-Antarctica Expedition.
Through his years with The British Antarctic Survey, and on private expeditions he was widely regarded as having driven dogs farther in Antarctica than any other Briton.
Geoffrey Usher Somers MBE was born in 1950 in Khartoum where his father was working as a doctor. They returned to England in 1955, to the small Suffolk town of Eye. After leaving school with few qualifications, he worked as an Outward Bound instructor in schools in the UK, Africa, Borneo and North America, followed by several years when he worked as a General Assistant with the British Antarctic Survey. An ability to turn his hand to anything saw him work as a carpenter, mountaineer and field guide.
That experience and ability to just get on and do things saw him invited to join the 1990 International Trans Antarctica Expedition (ITAE), representing the United Kingdom, in charge of logistics and dogs.
The international team of six explorers from USA, France, UK, Japan, China and the USSR successfully completed the first, un-mechanised, 3,741 km crossing of Antarctica by dog sled to draw the world's attention to Antarctica and the Antarctic Treaty, and to demonstrate the power of international co-operation.
They travelled from Seal Nunataks near the north end of the Antarctic Peninsula to reach the Russian station of Mirny on 3 March 1990, despite resupply problems as they passed the South Pole. This was the first and only crossing of Antarctica by its greatest axis.
The journey was hailed as a great success, both for its achievement and its contribution to international cooperation and its message for protection of the environment. In 2018 Geoff published ‘Antarctica … The Impossible Crossing’, with a foreword written by Sir Chris Bonington.
In recognition of Geoff’s wide-ranging travel and exploration, a Nunatak on the western edge of Reid Glacier on the Arrowsmith Peninsula was named after him, and despite his preference to remain out of the spotlight he received the MBE for services to Polar Exploration and outdoor education in 1992, and The Polar Medal followed soon after in 1996.
Words by Robert Swan OBE
In my view, Geoff Somers was worthy of far more recognition that he received. He was one of the Polar greats of our time. His Trans Antarctic crossing with Will Steiger was in my view one of the greatest polar journeys ever made.
I first met Geoff while I was working for the British Antarctic Survey in 1981 as a Base Camp General Assistant. I had great plans for the South and North Poles which most people laughed at. Geoff, however, took me seriously and offered advice in his own measured calm way.
Geoff, Crispin Day and myself made a pioneering Kite Journey from the South Pole in 1996/1997. As ever, with no experience with kites he became an expert in one day. What a travelling companion he was.
Bravo Geoff.
Words by Rosie Stancer MBE
RIP Geoff Somers, MBE and unsung polar hero. Geoff was my, and many other polar explorers and expeditioners mentor, teacher and for so many, the guide who shepherded so many to the South and North Pole.
Geoff represented GB in the 1990 Transantarctic Expedition, a six-man team from different countries, dog sledding 3,841 miles over the widest axis of Antarctica, drawing international attention to the continent of Antarctica and the early signs of climate change. not confined to frozen deserts, Geoff's keen sense of adventure took him over 1,400 miles across western Australia with camels, co-piloting the inaugural hot air ballooning over Patriot Hills on Antarctica, making the first 1,400 mile crossing of Greenland.
Geoff, when I first encountered him, was the ice trainer for the record breaking 1997 McVities Penguin Polar Relay, when I was a participant along with 19 other rank amateur women, to become the first all woman team to reach the geographic North Pole, a feat made possible by the grit and patience of our two female guides Matty McNair and Denise Martin – and Geoff's training, the very foundation to the expeditions success.
Despite his northern twinkling eyes, Geoff rather frightened us in those early days, with the power to declare any one of us unfit to handle the Arctic conditions. But in time we all grew extremely fond of him. I spent long days with him preparing for my solo polar trips.
Geoff had a delicious sense of humour. memories of which include his childish delight in putting joke spiders in the Chileans cups of tea at breakfast. at his house in Keswick, he had a variety of daft things including a cuckoo clock out of which on the hour, a cow would emerge moo-ing loudly.
I owe Geoff much – for all the time and patience he gave me, for all the knowledge he shared with me and for all the laughs too.
