Shrewsbury's Mark gets set for challenge in the desert

Mark Evans is planning to spend 60 days walking 1,300 kilometres across the magnificent but desolate Rub Al Khali desert, the largest sand desert in the world, on the Arabian Peninsula.

Dubbed the "empty quarter crossing", Mr Evans along with two Omanis – one of whom grew up in the desert – will attempt to re-trace the route of the 1930, 60-day first crossing from Salalah to Doha.

Mr Evans, from Mary Webb Close, Pontesbury, lived in the Middle East for 20 years, working as director of Outward Bound Oman, and said although it will be a challenge, he isn't too worried about the trek.

He said: "Our problem will be the camels, as the camels of today are quite soft compared to the camels of 1930. They don't work all day and we're not sure how they'll cope with trekking all day for 50 days.

"If we get tired we can jump on the camels, but if the camels give up then we'll have a problem."

The trek is just the latest in a string of adventures the 54-year-old has undertaken, dating back to when he was at school in Shrewsbury and visited the Arctic.

"I started my exploring days at Priory School in Shrewsbury and had the opportunity when I was 17 to go to the Arctic. That was incredible and I haven't stopped since then," he said.

"There are still so many places I haven't been – I'd have to live to 180 to go everywhere, I think. Most of my walks have been in the Arctic and Canada and Norway."

Although the desert may appear at first glance to be quite a different prospect, Mr Evans said in many ways the two climates are similar.

He said: "The people groups who live in those two climates, the Inuit and the Bedouin, are both living on the edges of society. They're both very friendly peoples, and they're very friendly places.

"When you're walking through sand it's very much like walking through virgin snow. The patterns are the same, the way the landscape looks."

By the time Mr Evans starts his trek on December 10, the weather in the desert will be peaking at a comfortable 25C to 30C, while at night the mercury will drop to freezing point. He plans on carrying all of his food rations – flour to bake bread in the hot sand with, and dates – but he will also be supported by two vehicles carrying enough water for the camels for the journey.

"In 1930 they could stop at wells along the way that the Bedouin maintained, but all the Bedouin have moved to the edges of the desert now and the wells are full of sand," Mr Evans explained.

• To follow his journey visit www.crossingtheemptyquarter.com