British skier Felicity Aston has crossed Antarctica, becoming the first woman in the world to traverse the icy continent alone.
The 33-year-old explorer also set another world record — she became the first person to ski across Antarctica using only her own muscle power. She also became the first British woman to traverse Antarctica.
Aston, who is from Kent in southeast England, covered 1,744 km from her stating point of the Leverett Glacier on Ross Ice Shelf till Hercules Inlet on the Ronne Ice Shelf. Aston did it in 59 days as she singlehandedly also pulled two sledges along.
Aston had in 2009 led an-women Commonwealth Antarctic expedition team to the Geographic South Pole. Indian mountaineer Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu was part of the expedition and she had become the first Indian woman to ski to Geographic South Pole.
“After 1,744 km and 59 days I arrived at Hercules Inlet on the Ronne Ice Shelf and completed my crossing of Antarctica,” she tweeted early on Monday morning after completing her journey.
Aston, who is still alone in a tent, is waiting for a small plane to pick her up and take her to a base camp, from where she will fly to South America on her way home to Britain.
“Reporting the weather every hour so that the plane will hopefully come and get me later today. Luckily it’s a lovely day,” she said.
“As much as I love Fuizion expedition meals, the thought of Thai Green Curry or Chicken Dhansak for breakfast (only options left) isn’t ideal,” she said on Twitter, adding that she was longing for a hot shower and a glass of red wine.