TED2014
Ben Saunders: To the South Pole and back — the hardest 105 days of my life
Ben Saunders: Na južný pól a späť – najťažších 105 dní v mojom živote
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Polárnik Ben Saunders sa tento rok pokúsil o svoju najambicióznejšiu výpravu. Vydal sa dokončiť neúspešnú polárnu expedíciu kapitána Roberta Falcona Scotta z roku 1912 – štyri mesiace trvajúcu, 3 000 kilometrov dlhú cestu od okraja Antarktídy na južný pól a späť. Vo svojej prvej prednáške päť týždňov po zavŕšení svojho dobrodružstva ponúka Saunders neprikrášlený, pravdivý pohľad na túto „márnomyseľnú“ misiu, ktorá ho doviedla k najťažšiemu rozhodnutiu v živote.
Ben Saunders - Polar explorer
In 2004, Ben Saunders became the youngest person ever to ski solo to the North Pole. In 2013, he set out on another record-breaking expedition, this time to retrace Captain Scott’s ill-fated journey to the South Pole on foot. Full bio
In 2004, Ben Saunders became the youngest person ever to ski solo to the North Pole. In 2013, he set out on another record-breaking expedition, this time to retrace Captain Scott’s ill-fated journey to the South Pole on foot. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
So in the oasis of
intelligentsia that is TED,
intelligentsia that is TED,
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Takže v tejto oáze inteligencie TED
00:18
I stand here before you this evening
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stojím dnes večer pred vami
00:21
as an expert in dragging heavy
stuff around cold places.
stuff around cold places.
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ako expert na vláčenie ťažkých vecí
po studených miestach.
po studených miestach.
00:27
I've been leading polar expeditions
for most of my adult life,
for most of my adult life,
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Väčšinu svojho dospelého života
vediem polárne expedície
vediem polárne expedície
00:30
and last month, my teammate
Tarka L'Herpiniere and I
Tarka L'Herpiniere and I
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a minulý mesiac sme s kolegom
Tarkom L'Herpiniereom
Tarkom L'Herpiniereom
00:33
finished the most ambitious
expedition I've ever attempted.
expedition I've ever attempted.
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dokončili najambicióznejšie podujatie,
o aké som sa kedy pokúsil.
o aké som sa kedy pokúsil.
00:39
In fact, it feels like I've been
transported straight here
transported straight here
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Cítim sa, ako keby som sa
zrazu ocitol tu na pódiu
zrazu ocitol tu na pódiu
00:42
from four months in the middle of nowhere,
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po štyroch mesiacoch uprostred ničoho,
00:44
mostly grunting and swearing,
straight to the TED stage.
straight to the TED stage.
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plných nadávok a hromženia.
00:49
So you can imagine that's a transition
that hasn't been entirely seamless.
that hasn't been entirely seamless.
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Viete si predstaviť, že tento
prechod nebol úplne plynulý.
prechod nebol úplne plynulý.
00:53
One of the interesting side effects
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Jeden zaujímavý vedľajší účinok je,
00:55
seems to be that my short-term
memory is entirely shot.
memory is entirely shot.
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že moja krátkodobá pamäť
je z toho celkom mimo.
je z toho celkom mimo.
00:58
So I've had to write some notes
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Napísal som si preto poznámky,
01:00
to avoid too much grunting and swearing
in the next 17 minutes.
in the next 17 minutes.
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aby som počas týchto 17 minút
príliš nehromžil a nenadával.
príliš nehromžil a nenadával.
01:05
This is the first talk I've given
about this expedition,
about this expedition,
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Je to moja prvá prednáška
o tejto expedícii.
o tejto expedícii.
01:08
and while we weren't sequencing genomes
or building space telescopes,
or building space telescopes,
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Nepôjde síce o sekvenovanie génov
ani konštrukciu vesmírneho teleskopu,
ani konštrukciu vesmírneho teleskopu,
01:13
this is a story about giving everything
we had to achieve something
we had to achieve something
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no je to príbeh o tom, ako sme vydali
zo seba všetko, aby sme dokázali to,
zo seba všetko, aby sme dokázali to,
01:18
that hadn't been done before.
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čo nikto pred nami.
01:20
So I hope in that you might
find some food for thought.
find some food for thought.
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Snáď si v ňom nájdete niečo na zamyslenie.
01:24
It was a journey, an
expedition in Antarctica,
expedition in Antarctica,
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Bola to cesta, expedícia do Antarktídy.
01:28
the coldest, windiest, driest and
highest altitude continent on Earth.
highest altitude continent on Earth.
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Na najchladnejší, najveternejší,
najsuchší a najvyššie položený kontinent.
najsuchší a najvyššie položený kontinent.
01:32
It's a fascinating place.
It's a huge place.
It's a huge place.
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Fascinujúce miesto.
Obrovský svetadiel.
Obrovský svetadiel.
01:34
It's twice the size of Australia,
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Má dvakrát väčšiu rozlohu ako Austrália.
01:37
a continent that is the same size
as China and India put together.
as China and India put together.
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Je veľký ako Čína s Indiou dohromady.
01:42
As an aside, I have experienced
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Medzi nami, v týchto dňoch
01:44
an interesting phenomenon
in the last few days,
in the last few days,
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som sa tu stretol so zaujímavým javom.
01:46
something that I expect Chris Hadfield
may get at TED in a few years' time,
may get at TED in a few years' time,
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Astronaut Chris Hadfield toto asi
zažije na TED-e až o niekoľko rokov.
zažije na TED-e až o niekoľko rokov.
01:50
conversations that go something like this:
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Ide o konverzácie ako:
01:52
"Oh, Antarctica. Awesome.
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„Fíha, Antarktída. Paráda.
01:53
My husband and I did Antarctica
with Lindblad for our anniversary."
with Lindblad for our anniversary."
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S manželom sme tam boli na zájazde
s Lindbladom na výročie svadby.“
s Lindbladom na výročie svadby.“
01:59
Or, "Oh cool, did you go there
for the marathon?"
for the marathon?"
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Alebo: „Super! Bol si tam na maratóne?“
02:02
(Laughter)
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(smiech)
02:06
Our journey was, in fact,
69 marathons back to back
69 marathons back to back
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V skutočnosti to bolo ako
69 maratónov po sebe za 105 dní.
69 maratónov po sebe za 105 dní.
02:10
in 105 days, an 1,800-mile round trip
on foot from the coast of Antarctica
on foot from the coast of Antarctica
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Bezmála 3 000 kilometrov pešo
z antarktického pobrežia
z antarktického pobrežia
02:16
to the South Pole and back again.
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k južnému pólu a zasa späť.
02:19
In the process, we broke the record
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Touto cestou sme prekonali rekord
02:21
for the longest human-powered polar
journey in history by more than 400 miles.
journey in history by more than 400 miles.
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najdlhšej polárnej výpravy bez leteckej
podpory o viac než 600 kilometrov.
podpory o viac než 600 kilometrov.
02:27
(Applause)
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(potlesk)
02:31
For those of you from the Bay Area,
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Pre vás z oblasti zálivu
02:33
it was the same as walking from
here to San Francisco,
here to San Francisco,
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bolo by to, ako ísť po vlastných
odtiaľto z Vancouveru do San Francisca,
odtiaľto z Vancouveru do San Francisca,
02:38
then turning around
and walking back again.
and walking back again.
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potom sa otočiť a vrátiť sa naspäť.
02:40
So as camping trips go, it was a long one,
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Táto túra bola teda dlhá
02:45
and one I've seen summarized
most succinctly here
most succinctly here
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a veľmi výstižne to zhrnuli
02:48
on the hallowed pages
of Business Insider Malaysia.
of Business Insider Malaysia.
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na stránkach uznávaného magazínu
Business Insider Malaysia.
Business Insider Malaysia.
02:52
["Two Explorers Just Completed A Polar Expedition
That Killed Everyone The Last Time It Was Attempted"]
That Killed Everyone The Last Time It Was Attempted"]
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[Dvaja bádatelia zavŕšili polárnu výpravu,
ktorú naposledy nikto neprežil.]
ktorú naposledy nikto neprežil.]
02:58
Chris Hadfield talked so eloquently
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Chris Hadfield hovoril
veľmi výrečne o strachu,
veľmi výrečne o strachu,
03:00
about fear and about the odds of success,
and indeed the odds of survival.
and indeed the odds of survival.
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o šanci na úspech
a vlastne o šanci na prežitie.
a vlastne o šanci na prežitie.
03:06
Of the nine people in history that had
attempted this journey before us,
attempted this journey before us,
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Z deviatich ľudí v dejinách,
ktorí sa vydali na túto cestu pred nami,
ktorí sa vydali na túto cestu pred nami,
03:10
none had made it to the pole and back,
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ani jeden nedošiel až na pól a späť,
03:12
and five had died in the process.
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pričom piati z nich zahynuli.
03:16
This is Captain Robert Falcon Scott.
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Toto je kapitán Robert Falcon Scott.
03:19
He led the last team
to attempt this expedition.
to attempt this expedition.
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Bol vedúcim ostatnej podobnej výpravy.
03:22
Scott and his rival Sir Ernest Shackleton,
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Scott a tiež jeho rival
Sir Ernest Shackleton
Sir Ernest Shackleton
03:24
over the space of a decade,
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v priebehu jedného desaťročia
03:27
both led expeditions battling to become
the first to reach the South Pole,
the first to reach the South Pole,
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viedli súperiace expedície s cieľom
dosiahnuť po prvý raz južný pól,
dosiahnuť po prvý raz južný pól,
03:31
to chart and map
the interior of Antarctica,
the interior of Antarctica,
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vytýčiť a zmapovať vnútrozemie Antarktídy,
03:34
a place we knew less about, at the time,
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územie, ktoré sme vtedy poznali menej
03:36
than the surface of the moon,
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ako povrch Mesiaca,
03:38
because we could see
the moon through telescopes.
the moon through telescopes.
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lebo ten sme mohli pozorovať teleskopmi.
03:40
Antarctica was, for the most part,
a century ago, uncharted.
a century ago, uncharted.
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Antarktída bola ešte pred storočím
z väčšej časti neznáma.
z väčšej časti neznáma.
03:44
Some of you may know the story.
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Niektorí ten príbeh poznáte.
03:46
Scott's last expedition, the
Terra Nova Expedition in 1910,
Terra Nova Expedition in 1910,
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Scottova posledná expedícia
Terra Nova v roku 1910
Terra Nova v roku 1910
03:49
started as a giant
siege-style approach.
siege-style approach.
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sa začala ako masívne obliehanie.
03:51
He had a big team using ponies,
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Scott mal veľký tím ľudí, mal poníkov,
03:54
using dogs, using petrol-driven tractors,
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psy a benzínové traktory,
03:56
dropping multiple, pre-positioned
depots of food and fuel
depots of food and fuel
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ktoré zanechávali zásoby jedla a paliva
vo vopred určených bodoch.
vo vopred určených bodoch.
04:00
through which Scott's final team of five
would travel to the Pole,
would travel to the Pole,
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Po nich Scottov cieľový päťčlenný tím
postupoval smerom k pólu,
postupoval smerom k pólu,
04:03
where they would turn around and ski
back to the coast again on foot.
back to the coast again on foot.
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odkiaľ sa mal potom na lyžiach
vrátiť na pobrežie.
vrátiť na pobrežie.
04:07
Scott and his final team of five
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Scott a jeho ľudia
04:09
arrived at the South Pole
in January 1912
in January 1912
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dosiahli južný pól v januári roku 1912
04:13
to find they had been beaten to it
by a Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen,
by a Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen,
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a tam zistili, že ich predbehla nórska
skupina pod vedením Roalda Amundsena
skupina pod vedením Roalda Amundsena
04:18
who rode on dogsled.
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s použitím psích záprahov.
04:19
Scott's team ended up on foot.
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Scottov tím šiel nakoniec pešo.
04:21
And for more than a century
this journey has remained unfinished.
this journey has remained unfinished.
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A viac ako sto rokov túto
výpravu nikto nedokončil.
výpravu nikto nedokončil.
04:26
Scott's team of five died
on the return journey.
on the return journey.
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Všetkých päť členov
na spiatočnej ceste zahynulo.
na spiatočnej ceste zahynulo.
04:29
And for the last decade,
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Posledných desať rokov
04:31
I've been asking myself why that is.
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som si často kládol otázku prečo?
04:34
How come this has remained
the high-water mark?
the high-water mark?
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Ako to, že tento výkon nikto neprekonal?
04:38
Scott's team covered 1,600 miles on foot.
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Scottova skupina prešla
pešo 2 500 kilometrov.
pešo 2 500 kilometrov.
04:40
No one's come close to that ever since.
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Tomuto sa odvtedy nikto ani nepriblížil.
04:42
So this is the high-water mark
of human endurance,
of human endurance,
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Je to zatiaľ najvyššia méta
ľudskej vytrvalosti
ľudskej vytrvalosti
04:45
human endeavor,
human athletic achievement
human athletic achievement
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a ľudského úsilia; najťažší športový výkon
04:47
in arguably the harshest climate on Earth.
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v najdrsnejších klimatických
podmienkach na Zemi.
podmienkach na Zemi.
04:50
It was as if the marathon record
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Ako keby od roku 1912
04:53
has remained unbroken since 1912.
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nikto neprekonal rekord v maratóne.
04:56
And of course some strange and
predictable combination of curiosity,
predictable combination of curiosity,
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A, samozrejme, istá zvláštna
a predvídateľná kombinácia zvedavosti,
a predvídateľná kombinácia zvedavosti,
05:01
stubbornness, and probably hubris
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tvrdohlavosti a zrejme aj pýchy
05:03
led me to thinking I might be the man
to try to finish the job.
to try to finish the job.
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ma priviedla k myšlienke, že práve
mne by sa to mohlo podariť.
mne by sa to mohlo podariť.
05:07
Unlike Scott's expedition,
there were just two of us,
there were just two of us,
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Na rozdiel od Scottovej expedície,
my sme boli len dvaja.
my sme boli len dvaja.
05:10
and we set off from the coast
of Antarctica in October last year,
of Antarctica in October last year,
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Vyrazili sme z antarktického pobrežia
v októbri minulého roku.
v októbri minulého roku.
05:13
dragging everything ourselves,
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A všetko sme si ťahali sami na saniach.
05:16
a process Scott called "man-hauling."
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Tento postup Scott
nazýval „ľudský záprah“.
nazýval „ľudský záprah“.
05:18
When I say it was like walking from
here to San Francisco and back,
here to San Francisco and back,
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Keď hovorím o ceste pešo
odtiaľto do San Francisca a späť,
odtiaľto do San Francisca a späť,
05:21
I actually mean it was like dragging
something that weighs a shade more
something that weighs a shade more
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ide vlastne o ťahanie čohosi,
čo váži len o chlp viac
čo váži len o chlp viac
05:25
than the heaviest ever NFL player.
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ako najťažší hráč amerického futbalu.
05:27
Our sledges weighed 200 kilos,
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Naše sane na začiatku vážili
05:29
or 440 pounds each at the start,
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samostatne po 200 kíl.
05:32
the same weights that the weakest
of Scott's ponies pulled.
of Scott's ponies pulled.
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Toľko ťahal najslabší Scottov poník.
05:37
Early on, we averaged 0.5 miles per hour.
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Dosahovali sme vtedy
asi 0,8 kilometra za hodinu.
asi 0,8 kilometra za hodinu.
05:40
Perhaps the reason no one had
attempted this journey until now,
attempted this journey until now,
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Jeden z dôvodov, prečo sa na takú
výpravu žiaden človek nevydal
výpravu žiaden človek nevydal
05:43
in more than a century,
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viac ako sto rokov,
05:45
was that no one had been quite
stupid enough to try.
stupid enough to try.
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môže byť, že sa na to nenašiel
nikto dostatočne hlúpy.
nikto dostatočne hlúpy.
05:50
And while I can't claim we were exploring
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A hoci nemôžem tvrdiť, že sme objaviteľmi
05:52
in the genuine Edwardian
sense of the word —
sense of the word —
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ako za čias kráľa Eduarda VII.,
05:55
we weren't naming any mountains
or mapping any uncharted valleys —
or mapping any uncharted valleys —
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nepomenúvali sme nové pohoria
a nemapovali neznáme údolia,
a nemapovali neznáme údolia,
05:59
I think we were stepping into uncharted
territory in a human sense.
territory in a human sense.
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myslím si, že sme predsa len vstúpili
na neznáme územie z ľudského hľadiska.
na neznáme územie z ľudského hľadiska.
06:03
Certainly, if in the future we learn
there is an area of the human brain
there is an area of the human brain
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Ak v budúcnosti objavíme mozgové centrum,
06:06
that lights up when one curses oneself,
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ktoré sa aktivizuje,
keď človek sám seba preklína,
keď človek sám seba preklína,
06:10
I won't be at all surprised.
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nebudem ani trochu prekvapený.
06:13
You've heard that the average American
spends 90 percent of their time indoors.
spends 90 percent of their time indoors.
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Počuli ste už, že priemerný Američan
trávi 90 percent času vnútri.
trávi 90 percent času vnútri.
06:17
We didn't go indoors
for nearly four months.
for nearly four months.
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My sme takmer štyri mesiace
boli stále vonku.
boli stále vonku.
06:21
We didn't see a sunset either.
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A tiež sme nevideli zapadnúť slnko.
06:23
It was 24-hour daylight.
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Celých 24 hodín bolo vidno.
06:25
Living conditions were quite spartan.
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Životné podmienky boli úplne sparťanské.
06:27
I changed my underwear
three times in 105 days
three times in 105 days
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Spodnú bielizeň som si
prezliekol trikrát za 105 dní
prezliekol trikrát za 105 dní
06:32
and Tarka and I shared
30 square feet on the canvas.
30 square feet on the canvas.
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a s Tarkom sme spolu bývali
na 9 štvorcových metroch celty.
na 9 štvorcových metroch celty.
06:36
Though we did have some technology
that Scott could never have imagined.
that Scott could never have imagined.
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Zato sme mali techniku,
o akej sa Scottovi ani nesnívalo.
o akej sa Scottovi ani nesnívalo.
06:40
And we blogged live every evening
from the tent via a laptop
from the tent via a laptop
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Každý večer sme naživo
blogovali zo stanu cez laptop
blogovali zo stanu cez laptop
06:44
and a custom-made satellite transmitter,
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a prispôsobený satelitný vysielač.
06:46
all of which were solar-powered:
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Všetko fungovalo na slnečnú energiu,
06:48
we had a flexible photovoltaic
panel over the tent.
panel over the tent.
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na stane sme mali flexibilný
fotovoltaický panel.
fotovoltaický panel.
06:50
And the writing was important to me.
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Písanie bolo pre mňa dôležité.
06:53
As a kid, I was inspired by the
literature of adventure and exploration,
literature of adventure and exploration,
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Ako malého chalana ma inšpirovala
dobrodružná literatúra o objaviteľoch
dobrodružná literatúra o objaviteľoch
07:00
and I think we've all seen
here this week
here this week
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a myslím, že tento týždeň
sme tu všetci videli
sme tu všetci videli
07:03
the importance and
the power of storytelling.
the power of storytelling.
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význam a silu rozprávania príbehov.
07:07
So we had some 21st-century gear,
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Mali sme síce najnovší výstroj,
07:09
but the reality is that the
challenges that Scott faced
challenges that Scott faced
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ale fakt je, že sme museli čeliť
07:11
were the same that we faced:
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rovnakým ťažkostiam ako Scott,
07:13
those of the weather and of
what Scott called glide,
what Scott called glide,
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teda počasiu a tomu, čo Scott
nazýval „glide“, či „kĺzanie“,
nazýval „glide“, či „kĺzanie“,
07:17
the amount of friction between
the sledges and the snow.
the sledges and the snow.
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miera trenia saní na snehovom povrchu.
07:20
The lowest wind chill
we experienced was in the -70s,
we experienced was in the -70s,
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Najnižšia pocitová teplota
za veterného počasia bola -70°
za veterného počasia bola -70°
07:24
and we had zero visibility,
what's called white-out,
what's called white-out,
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a väčšinu cesty bola nulová viditeľnosť,
07:27
for much of our journey.
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voláme to biela tma.
07:30
We traveled up and down one of the largest
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Absolvovali sme výstup a zostup
07:32
and most dangerous glaciers
in the world, the Beardmore glacier.
in the world, the Beardmore glacier.
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Beardmoreovým ľadovcom, jedným
z najväčších a najnebezpečnejších.
z najväčších a najnebezpečnejších.
07:35
It's 110 miles long; most of its surface
is what's called blue ice.
is what's called blue ice.
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Je dlhý skoro 180 kilometrov a väčšinu
povrchu tvorí takzvaný modrý ľad.
povrchu tvorí takzvaný modrý ľad.
07:39
You can see it's a beautiful,
shimmering steel-hard blue surface
shimmering steel-hard blue surface
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Ako vidíte, je to krásny,
ligotavý, oceľovo tvrdý ľadovec
ligotavý, oceľovo tvrdý ľadovec
07:42
covered with thousands
and thousands of crevasses,
and thousands of crevasses,
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pokrytý tisíckami trhlín.
07:46
these deep cracks in the glacial ice
up to 200 feet deep.
up to 200 feet deep.
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Tieto praskliny môžu
mať hĺbku aj 60 metrov.
mať hĺbku aj 60 metrov.
07:50
Planes can't land here,
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Lietadlo tu nedokáže pristáť,
07:52
so we were at the most risk,
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takže technicky bolo riziko najväčšie
07:55
technically, when we had the slimmest
chance of being rescued.
chance of being rescued.
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práve vtedy, keď šanca
na záchranu bola takmer nulová.
na záchranu bola takmer nulová.
08:00
We got to the South Pole
after 61 days on foot,
after 61 days on foot,
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Južný pól sme dosiahli po 61 dňoch chôdze
08:04
with one day off for bad weather,
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s jednodennou prestávkou pre zlé počasie,
08:06
and I'm sad to say, it was
something of an anticlimax.
something of an anticlimax.
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a, nerád to hovorím,
bolo to určité sklamanie.
bolo to určité sklamanie.
08:09
There's a permanent American base,
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Na južnom póle je stála americká základňa
08:11
the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station
at the South Pole.
at the South Pole.
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Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
08:15
They have an airstrip,
they have a canteen,
they have a canteen,
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Majú tam pristávaciu plochu aj jedáleň,
08:16
they have hot showers,
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majú horúcu sprchu,
08:18
they have a post office, a tourist shop,
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1905
poštu, obchod pre turistov
08:20
a basketball court that doubles
as a movie theater.
as a movie theater.
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a basketbalové ihrisko,
ktoré slúži aj ako kino.
ktoré slúži aj ako kino.
08:24
So it's a bit different these days,
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492091
1975
Zmenilo sa to tam.
08:26
and there are also acres of junk.
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A navyše sú tam celé kopy odpadu.
08:27
I think it's a marvelous thing
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1430
Je síce úžasné,
08:29
that humans can exist
365 days of the year
365 days of the year
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že človek dokáže žiť 365 dní v roku
08:34
with hamburgers and hot showers
and movie theaters,
and movie theaters,
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na hamburgeroch, horúcej sprche a filmoch,
08:38
but it does seem to produce
a lot of empty cardboard boxes.
a lot of empty cardboard boxes.
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2756
no zdá sa, že je z toho hŕba
prázdnych kartónových škatúľ.
prázdnych kartónových škatúľ.
08:40
You can see on the left of
this photograph,
this photograph,
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Na tejto fotke vidíte
08:42
several square acres of junk
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1435
niekoľko hektárov smetí,
08:44
waiting to be flown out
from the South Pole.
from the South Pole.
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ktoré čakajú na odvoz.
08:46
But there is also a pole at the South Pole,
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4032
Ale na póle je aj naozajstná zemská os
08:50
and we got there on foot, unassisted,
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a my sme k nej prišli
po vlastných, bez pomoci,
po vlastných, bez pomoci,
08:54
unsupported, by the hardest route,
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1646
podpory zvonka, najťažšou trasou,
08:55
900 miles in record time,
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1 500 kilometrov v rekordnom čase
08:58
dragging more weight
than anyone in history.
than anyone in history.
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2048
a ťahali sme najťažší náklad doposiaľ.
09:00
And if we'd stopped there
and flown home,
and flown home,
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1969
A keby sme odtiaľ odleteli domov,
09:02
which would have been
the eminently sensible thing to do,
the eminently sensible thing to do,
166
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3134
čo by bolo nanajvýš rozumné,
09:05
then my talk would end here
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1881
moje rozprávanie by v tomto okamihu
09:07
and it would end something like this.
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skončilo nejako takto:
09:10
If you have the right team around you,
the right tools, the right technology,
the right tools, the right technology,
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Keď máte okolo seba tých správnych ľudí,
správne vybavenie a technológiu,
správne vybavenie a technológiu,
09:15
and if you have enough self-belief
and enough determination,
and enough determination,
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a keď máte dostatočnú vieru v seba
a dostatok odhodlania,
a dostatok odhodlania,
09:19
then anything is possible.
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3445
všetko je možné.
09:24
But then we turned around,
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Lenže my sme sa vydali späť
09:27
and this is where things get interesting.
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2759
a až teraz to začalo byť zaujímavé.
09:30
High on the Antarctic plateau,
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2794
Vysoko na Antarktickej náhornej plošine
09:32
over 10,000 feet, it's very windy,
very cold, very dry, we were exhausted.
very cold, very dry, we were exhausted.
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3999
vo výške 3 000 metrov bolo veľmi veterno,
chladno a sucho a boli sme vyčerpaní.
chladno a sucho a boli sme vyčerpaní.
09:36
We'd covered 35 marathons,
176
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1870
Prešli sme vzdialenosť 35 maratónov
09:38
we were only halfway,
177
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1586
a boli sme iba v polovici.
09:40
and we had a safety net, of course,
178
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2031
Samozrejme, mali sme záchrannú sieť
09:42
of ski planes and satellite phones
179
570328
2124
v podobe lietadiel, satelitných telefónov
09:44
and live, 24-hour tracking beacons
that didn't exist for Scott,
that didn't exist for Scott,
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4053
a 24-hodinových signálnych
zariadení, ktoré Scott nepoznal,
zariadení, ktoré Scott nepoznal,
09:48
but in hindsight,
181
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1742
no pri pohľade späť,
09:50
rather than making our lives easier,
182
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2066
to, čo nám malo uľahčiť život,
09:52
the safety net actually allowed us
183
580323
2159
nám skôr umožnilo
09:54
to cut things very fine indeed,
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3855
ísť naozaj na doraz,
09:58
to sail very close to our absolute
limits as human beings.
limits as human beings.
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3767
lavírovať na absolútnom okraji
našich ľudských možností.
našich ľudských možností.
10:02
And it is an exquisite form of torture
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3473
Naozaj skvelý spôsob,
ako sa trápiť deň čo deň
ako sa trápiť deň čo deň
10:05
to exhaust yourself to the point
of starvation day after day
of starvation day after day
187
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2837
až do vyčerpania a vyhladovania,
10:08
while dragging a sledge
full of food.
full of food.
188
596414
4262
pričom ťaháte sane plné jedla.
10:12
For years, I'd been writing glib lines
in sponsorship proposals
in sponsorship proposals
189
600686
3927
Roky som písal sponzorom pekné reči
10:16
about pushing the limits
of human endurance,
of human endurance,
190
604613
3111
o posúvaní limitov ľudskej vytrvalosti,
10:19
but in reality, that was
a very frightening place to be indeed.
a very frightening place to be indeed.
191
607724
4412
ale v skutočnosti to tam
bolo naozaj strašidelné.
bolo naozaj strašidelné.
10:24
We had, before we'd got to the Pole,
192
612136
1909
Kým sme sa dostali k pólu,
10:26
two weeks of almost permanent
headwind, which slowed us down.
headwind, which slowed us down.
193
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3464
zažili sme dva týždne nepretržitého
protivetra, a to nás spomalilo.
protivetra, a to nás spomalilo.
10:29
As a result, we'd had several days
of eating half rations.
of eating half rations.
194
617509
2650
Preto sme potom niekoľko
dní jedli polovičné porcie.
dní jedli polovičné porcie.
10:32
We had a finite amount of food
in the sledges to make this journey,
in the sledges to make this journey,
195
620159
2719
Zásoby jedla v saniach boli obmedzené,
10:34
so we were trying to string that out
196
622878
2002
tak sme sa snažili pokryť celú cestu tým,
10:36
by reducing our intake to half
the calories we should have been eating.
the calories we should have been eating.
197
624880
3913
že sme znížili denný príjem
kalórií na polovicu.
kalórií na polovicu.
10:40
As a result, we both became
increasingly hypoglycemic —
increasingly hypoglycemic —
198
628793
3619
Dôsledkom bola u oboch
prehlbujúca sa hypoglykémia,
prehlbujúca sa hypoglykémia,
10:44
we had low blood sugar
levels day after day —
levels day after day —
199
632412
2824
hladina krvného cukru každý deň klesala
10:47
and increasingly susceptible
to the extreme cold.
to the extreme cold.
200
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4758
a rástla citlivosť na extrémny chlad.
10:51
Tarka took this photo of me one evening
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2103
Tarka ma jedného večera odfotil po tom,
10:54
after I'd nearly passed out
with hypothermia.
with hypothermia.
202
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2130
čo som takmer zamdlel kvôli hypotermii.
10:56
We both had repeated bouts of hypothermia,
something I hadn't experienced before,
something I hadn't experienced before,
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4808
Obaja sme boli viackrát podchladení.
Nič také som ešte nezažil.
Nič také som ešte nezažil.
11:01
and it was very humbling indeed.
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1711
Bolo to vskutku pokorujúce.
11:02
As much as you might
like to think, as I do,
like to think, as I do,
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3668
Môžete si rovnako ako ja povedať,
11:06
that you're the kind
of person who doesn't quit,
of person who doesn't quit,
206
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2256
že ste typ osoby, ktorá z boja neuteká,
11:08
that you'll go down swinging,
207
656670
1994
že padnete s noblesou,
11:10
hypothermia doesn't leave you much choice.
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2252
no hypotermia vám aj tak nedá na výber.
11:12
You become utterly incapacitated.
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2810
Stanete sa doslova neschopným.
11:15
It's like being a drunk toddler.
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3181
Ako také opité batoľa.
11:18
You become pathetic.
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666907
1973
Úbožiak.
11:20
I remember just wanting
to lie down and quit.
to lie down and quit.
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4119
Pamätám si, chcel som
si len ľahnúť a skončiť.
si len ľahnúť a skončiť.
11:24
It was a peculiar, peculiar feeling,
213
672999
2174
Bol to ozaj veľmi zvláštny,
11:27
and a real surprise to me
to be debilitated to that degree.
to be debilitated to that degree.
214
675173
5239
a prekvapujúci pocit
byť takto veľmi oslabený.
byť takto veľmi oslabený.
11:32
And then we ran out of food completely,
215
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4482
A potom sa nám jedlo celkom minulo.
11:36
46 miles short of the first of the depots
216
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3458
75 kilometrov pred prvým
stanovišťom so zásobami
stanovišťom so zásobami
11:40
that we'd laid on our outward journey.
217
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1865
na spiatočnej ceste.
11:42
We'd laid 10 depots of food,
218
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1343
Založili sme 10 stanovíšť.
11:43
literally burying food and fuel,
for our return journey —
for our return journey —
219
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2717
Doslova sme zahrabali
jedlo a palivo na návrat –
jedlo a palivo na návrat –
11:46
the fuel was for a cooker so you
could melt snow to get water —
could melt snow to get water —
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3277
išlo o palivo do variča
na roztopenie snehu na vodu –
na roztopenie snehu na vodu –
11:49
and I was forced to make the decision
to call for a resupply flight,
to call for a resupply flight,
221
697554
5807
a bol som nútený rozhodnúť sa
a požiadať o zásobovací let,
a požiadať o zásobovací let,
11:55
a ski plane carrying eight days of food
to tide us over that gap.
to tide us over that gap.
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4569
lietadlo s jedlom na osem dní,
aby sme preklenuli toto okno.
aby sme preklenuli toto okno.
11:59
They took 12 hours to reach us
from the other side of Antarctica.
from the other side of Antarctica.
223
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3359
Trvalo 12 hodín, kým doleteli
z druhého konca Antarktídy.
z druhého konca Antarktídy.
12:03
Calling for that plane was one of
the toughest decisions of my life.
the toughest decisions of my life.
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3709
Privolať to lietadlo bolo jedno
z najťažších rozhodnutí v mojom živote.
z najťažších rozhodnutí v mojom živote.
12:06
And I sound like a bit of a fraud
standing here now with a sort of belly.
standing here now with a sort of belly.
225
714998
3476
S týmto bruchom teraz
asi vyzerám ako klamár.
asi vyzerám ako klamár.
12:10
I've put on 30 pounds
in the last three weeks.
in the last three weeks.
226
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2840
Za uplynulé tri týždne
som pribral asi 13 kíl.
som pribral asi 13 kíl.
12:13
Being that hungry has left
an interesting mental scar,
an interesting mental scar,
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3075
Ten veľký hlad sa mi ale
zvláštne podpísal na psychike,
zvláštne podpísal na psychike,
12:16
which is that I've been hoovering up
every hotel buffet that I can find.
every hotel buffet that I can find.
228
724389
4607
lebo teraz vybielim každý
hotelový bufet v dosahu.
hotelový bufet v dosahu.
12:20
(Laughter)
229
728996
1778
(smiech)
12:22
But we were genuinely quite hungry,
and in quite a bad way.
and in quite a bad way.
230
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5694
Ale my sme boli skutočne
veľmi hladní a bolo to hrozné.
veľmi hladní a bolo to hrozné.
12:28
I don't regret calling
for that plane for a second,
for that plane for a second,
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2441
Ani na chvíľu som neľutoval,
že som zavolal o pomoc,
že som zavolal o pomoc,
12:30
because I'm still standing here alive,
232
738909
2002
lebo tu teraz stojím živý
12:32
with all digits intact,
telling this story.
telling this story.
233
740911
2060
a bez ujmy vám rozprávam tento príbeh.
12:34
But getting external assistance like that
was never part of the plan,
was never part of the plan,
234
742971
4738
No takáto pomoc zvonku
nebola súčasťou plánu
nebola súčasťou plánu
12:39
and it's something my ego
is still struggling with.
is still struggling with.
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3204
a moje ego sa s tým stále nezmierilo.
12:42
This was the biggest dream I've ever had,
236
750913
3042
Toto bol môj najväčší sen v živote
12:45
and it was so nearly perfect.
237
753955
2092
a takmer to bolo dokonalé.
12:48
On the way back down to the coast,
238
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1681
Cestou späť k pobrežiu
12:50
our crampons — they're
the spikes on our boots
the spikes on our boots
239
758648
2191
sa naše mačky, tie špice na topánkach
12:52
that we have for traveling
over this blue ice on the glacier —
over this blue ice on the glacier —
240
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2926
slúžiace na pohyb po ľade,
12:55
broke on the top of the Beardmore.
241
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1655
dolámali hore na ľadovci.
12:57
We still had 100 miles to go downhill
242
765420
1765
Ostávalo ešte 160 kilometrov zostupu
12:59
on very slippery rock-hard blue ice.
243
767185
2234
po veľmi šmykľavom a tvrdom povrchu.
13:01
They needed repairing almost every hour.
244
769419
2391
Museli sme ich opravovať
skoro každú hodinu.
skoro každú hodinu.
13:03
To give you an idea of scale,
245
771810
1951
Pre lepšiu predstavu o tej vzdialenosti,
13:05
this is looking down towards the mouth
of the Beardmore Glacier.
of the Beardmore Glacier.
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773761
2997
toto je pohľad smerom k ústiu
Beardmorovho ľadovca.
Beardmorovho ľadovca.
13:08
You could fit the entirety of Manhattan
in the gap on the horizon.
in the gap on the horizon.
247
776758
3475
Do priestoru na obzore
by sa vošiel celý Manhattan.
by sa vošiel celý Manhattan.
13:12
That's 20 miles between
Mount Hope and Mount Kiffin.
Mount Hope and Mount Kiffin.
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3214
Je to 30 kilometrov medzi vrcholmi
Mount Hope a Mount Kiffin.
Mount Hope a Mount Kiffin.
13:15
I've never felt as small
as I did in Antarctica.
as I did in Antarctica.
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783447
6233
Nikde som sa necítil
taký malý ako v Antarktíde.
taký malý ako v Antarktíde.
13:21
When we got down
to the mouth of the glacier,
to the mouth of the glacier,
250
789680
2105
Keď sme zišli k ústiu ľadovca,
13:23
we found fresh snow had obscured
the dozens of deep crevasses.
the dozens of deep crevasses.
251
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4646
zistili sme, že početné hlboké
trhliny zahalil čerstvý sneh.
trhliny zahalil čerstvý sneh.
13:28
One of Shackleton's men described
crossing this sort of terrain
crossing this sort of terrain
252
796431
2950
Jeden zo Shackletonových mužov
opísal prechod takýmto terénom
opísal prechod takýmto terénom
13:31
as like walking over the glass roof
of a railway station.
of a railway station.
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ako chodenie po veľkej sklenenej
streche železničnej stanice.
streche železničnej stanice.
13:36
We fell through more times
than I can remember,
than I can remember,
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Prepadli sme sa nespočetne veľa ráz,
13:39
usually just putting a ski
or a boot through the snow.
or a boot through the snow.
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obvykle len lyžami alebo nohami.
13:42
Occasionally we went in all
the way up to our armpits,
the way up to our armpits,
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Niekedy to bolo až celkom pod pazuchy,
13:45
but thankfully never deeper than that.
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ale, vďakabohu, nikdy nie hlbšie.
13:48
And less than five weeks ago,
after 105 days,
after 105 days,
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A pred necelými piatimi
týždňami, po 105 dňoch,
týždňami, po 105 dňoch,
13:52
we crossed this oddly
inauspicious finish line,
inauspicious finish line,
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sme prešli tou zvláštne
neprajnou cieľovou čiarou,
neprajnou cieľovou čiarou,
13:56
the coast of Ross Island
on the New Zealand side of Antarctica.
on the New Zealand side of Antarctica.
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pobrežím Rossovho ostrova
na novozélandskej strane Antarktídy.
na novozélandskej strane Antarktídy.
13:59
You can see the ice in the foreground
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V popredí môžete vidieť ľad
14:01
and the sort of rubbly rock behind that.
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a potom drobivé skálie.
14:04
Behind us lay an unbroken
ski trail of nearly 1,800 miles.
ski trail of nearly 1,800 miles.
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Za nami leží neprerušená biela
stopa dlhá skoro 3 000 kilometrov.
stopa dlhá skoro 3 000 kilometrov.
14:08
We'd made the longest ever
polar journey on foot,
polar journey on foot,
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Podnikli sme doteraz najdlhšiu
pešiu polárnu výpravu,
pešiu polárnu výpravu,
14:10
something I'd been dreaming
of doing for a decade.
of doing for a decade.
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niečo, o čom som sníval desať rokov.
14:15
And looking back,
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Keď sa obzriem za seba,
14:17
I still stand by all the things
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stále si stojím za všetkým,
14:19
I've been saying for years
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čo som roky hovoril
14:21
about the importance of goals
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o dôležitosti cieľov,
14:23
and determination and self-belief,
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odhodlania a sebadôvery,
14:26
but I'll also admit that I hadn't given
much thought to what happens
much thought to what happens
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ale pripúšťam,
že som nepomyslel na to, čo sa stane,
že som nepomyslel na to, čo sa stane,
14:31
when you reach the all-consuming goal
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keď človek dosiahne ten náročný cieľ,
14:35
that you've dedicated
most of your adult life to,
most of your adult life to,
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ktorému venoval väčšinu dospelého života.
14:38
and the reality is that I'm
still figuring that bit out.
still figuring that bit out.
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Skutočnosť je taká,
že ešte vždy premýšľam, čo s tým.
že ešte vždy premýšľam, čo s tým.
14:42
As I said, there are very few
superficial signs that I've been away.
superficial signs that I've been away.
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Ako vravím, napohľad veľmi nevidno,
že som niekde bol.
že som niekde bol.
14:45
I've put on 30 pounds.
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Pribral som 13 kíl.
14:47
I've got some very faint, probably
covered in makeup now, frostbite scars.
covered in makeup now, frostbite scars.
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Mejkap asi zakrýva, že mám niekoľko
bledých jaziev po omrzlinách.
bledých jaziev po omrzlinách.
14:50
I've got one on my nose, one on
each cheek, from where the goggles are,
each cheek, from where the goggles are,
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Na nose, na obidvoch lícach
tam, kde som mal okuliare,
tam, kde som mal okuliare,
14:54
but inside I am a very
different person indeed.
different person indeed.
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ale vnútorne je zo mňa vskutku iný človek.
14:59
If I'm honest,
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Úprimne,
15:01
Antarctica challenged me
and humbled me so deeply
and humbled me so deeply
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Antarktída ma preverila
a pokorila tak hlboko,
a pokorila tak hlboko,
15:06
that I'm not sure I'll ever be able
to put it into words.
to put it into words.
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že to asi nedokážem
nikdy vyjadriť slovami.
nikdy vyjadriť slovami.
15:10
I'm still struggling to piece
together my thoughts.
together my thoughts.
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Mám čo robiť,
aby som si utriedil myšlienky.
aby som si utriedil myšlienky.
15:14
That I'm standing here
telling this story
telling this story
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To, že som teraz tu a rozprávam,
15:18
is proof that we all can
accomplish great things,
accomplish great things,
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je dôkazom, že všetci dokážeme veľké veci
15:23
through ambition, through passion,
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vďaka ctižiadosti, vášni,
15:25
through sheer stubbornness,
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čírej tvrdohlavosti,
15:27
by refusing to quit,
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neochote vzdať sa,
15:28
that if you dream something
hard enough, as Sting said,
hard enough, as Sting said,
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a že keď ideme vytrvalo za svojím
snom, ako tu povedal Sting,
snom, ako tu povedal Sting,
15:31
it does indeed come to pass.
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naozaj sa splní.
15:34
But I'm also standing here
saying, you know what,
saying, you know what,
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Ale opakujem aj známe klišé, viete,
15:38
that cliche about the journey being
more important than the destination?
more important than the destination?
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že cesta je dôležitejšia než cieľ.
15:44
There's something in that.
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Niečo na tom je.
15:47
The closer I got to my finish line,
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Čím viac som sa približoval k cieľu,
15:49
that rubbly, rocky coast of Ross Island,
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k sutinovému, skalnatému
pobrežiu Rossovho ostrova,
pobrežiu Rossovho ostrova,
15:53
the more I started to realize
that the biggest lesson
that the biggest lesson
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tým viac som si uvedomoval
to najväčšie ponaučenie,
to najväčšie ponaučenie,
15:56
that this very long, very hard walk
might be teaching me
might be teaching me
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ktoré mi ťažký pochod dal:
16:01
is that happiness is not
a finish line,
a finish line,
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že šťastie nie je konečná méta,
16:05
that for us humans,
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že pre nás ľudí
16:06
the perfection that so many of
us seem to dream of
us seem to dream of
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nemusí byť dokonalosť,
o ktorej toľkí snívajú,
o ktorej toľkí snívajú,
16:10
might not ever be truly attainable,
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nikdy úplne dosiahnuteľná,
16:14
and that if we can't feel content
here, today, now, on our journeys
here, today, now, on our journeys
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a že pokiaľ necítime uspokojenie
dnes, tu a teraz, na ceste
dnes, tu a teraz, na ceste
16:22
amidst the mess and the striving
that we all inhabit,
that we all inhabit,
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uprostred neporiadku a námah, kde žijeme,
16:27
the open loops,
the half-finished to-do lists,
the half-finished to-do lists,
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v nedokonalosti,
v tom, čo sme nedokončili,
v tom, čo sme nedokončili,
16:29
the could-do-better-next-times,
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a v našich druhých pokusoch,
16:32
then we might never feel it.
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že asi nebudeme spokojní nikdy.
16:36
A lot of people have asked me, what next?
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Veľa ľudí sa ma pýta: „A čo ďalej?“
16:39
Right now, I am very happy just recovering
and in front of hotel buffets.
and in front of hotel buffets.
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Teraz som spokojný. Dávam sa dokopy
a chodím po hotelových bufetoch.
a chodím po hotelových bufetoch.
16:46
But as Bob Hope put it,
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Ale ako povedal komik Bob Hope,
16:50
I feel very humble,
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cítim veľkú pokoru,
16:53
but I think I have the strength
of character to fight it. (Laughter)
of character to fight it. (Laughter)
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no myslím, že som silný charakter,
a prekonám to. (smiech)
a prekonám to. (smiech)
16:57
Thank you.
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Ďakujem.
16:59
(Applause)
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(potlesk)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ben Saunders - Polar explorerIn 2004, Ben Saunders became the youngest person ever to ski solo to the North Pole. In 2013, he set out on another record-breaking expedition, this time to retrace Captain Scott’s ill-fated journey to the South Pole on foot.
Why you should listen
Although most of the planet's surface was mapped long ago, there's still a place for explorers in the modern world. And Ben Saunders' stories of arctic exploration -- as impressive for their technical ingenuity as their derring-do -- are decidedly modern. In 2004, at age 26, he skied solo to the North Pole, updating his blog each day of the trip. Humble and self-effacing, Saunders is an explorer of limits, whether it's how far a human can be pushed physically and psychologically, or how technology works hundreds of miles from civilization. His message is one of inspiration, empowerment and boundless potential.
He urges audiences to consider carefully how to spend the “tiny amount of time we each have on this planet.” Saunders is also a powerful advocate for the natural world. He's seen first-hand the effects of climate change, and his expeditions are raising awareness for sustainable solutions.
Being the youngest person to ski solo to the North Pole did not satiate Saunders' urge to explore and push the boundaries. In 2008, he attempted to break the speed record for a solo walk to the North Pole; however, his journey was ended abruptly both then and again in 2010 due to equipment failure. From October 2013 to February 2014, he led a two-man team to retrace Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated 1,800-mile expedition to the South Pole on foot. He calls this journey the hardest 105 days of his life.
Ben Saunders | Speaker | TED.com