Following his 1997 Mt. Everest Summit, Clarke set out to cross The Empty Quarter, by camel, a 1,126 km journey through Oman, Saudi Arabia, and ending at Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. Prior to embarking on the crossing of the desert, Clarke travelled to London to visit Sir Wilfred Thesiger KBE, DSO, FRAS, FRSL, FRGS. Clarke was accompanied by his brother Leigh, his friend Bruce, and three Bedouin guides. The expedition took 40 days. During the trek, Clarke and his brother ate one of the camels they had been riding.