An Australian explorer has become the first person to climb to the top of the Antarctic Plateau solo and unsupported.
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Polar explorer Geoff Wilson has made it to the summit, known as the Dome Argus, after 38 days of kite-skiing and hauling his pack over 2700 kilometres.
Dr Wilson made it to an empty Chinese research station near the summit on December 14 before travelling another 18km to the peak of the Dome Argus, which records temperatures ranging from -35C to -90C.
He had to battle through knee-high snow during the journey.
"It's been a brutal campaign getting here, but I had some miracle wind yesterday that got me the last 118km but it's just been a very, very tough journey to get here," Dr Wilson told his team in Australia.
"It's quite amazing to be here. It's close to minus 40C, really cold at 14,000 feet and the base is abandoned."
Wilson will now begin the journey back to Novo Station the Russian Base Camp, close to where his journey began in early November.
He plans to break the current record for the "longest solo unsupported polar journey" in history which stands at 5200km.
Australian Associated Press
