The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
‘I did it!’: US man in polar trek first
EXPLORATION: Athlete first person to trek solo unassisted across Antarctica
An American man has become the first person to trek across Antarctica alone without any assistance, in an epic 54-day journey that was previously deemed impossible.
Colin O’Brady, from Portland, Oregon, finished the bone-chilling, 930-mile journey as friends, family and fans tracked the endurance athlete’s progress in real time online.
“I did it!”, a tearful Mr O’Brady said in a call to his family gathered in Portland for the holidays, according to his wife, Jenna Besaw. “It was an emotional call,” she said. “He seemed overwhelmed by love and gratitude and he really wanted to say ‘Thank you’ to all of us.”
Mr O’Brady, 33, documented his journey – which he called The Impossible First – on his Instagram page.
On Wednesday he wrote that he had covered the last stretch – roughly 80 miles – in one big, impromptu, final push to the finish line that took well over a day.
“While the last 32 hours were some of the most challenging hours of my life, they have quite honestly been some of the best moments I have ever experienced,” he said.
The day before, he posted that he was “in the zone” and thought he could make it to the end in one go. “I’m listening to my body and taking care of the details to keep myself safe,” he wrote.
Though others have traversed Antarctica, they either had assistance with supplies or kites that helped propel them forward.
In 2016 British explorer Henry Worsley died attempting an unassisted solo trip across Antarctica, collapsing from exhaustion towards the end of the trek.
Mr Worsley’s friend and fellow English adventurer, Louis Rudd, is currently attempting an unaided solo venture in Mr Worsley’s honour and was competing against Mr O’Brady to be the first to do it.
Ms Besaw said Mr O’Brady planned to stay on Antarctica until Mr Rudd finishes his trek, hopefully in the next few days. “It’s a small club,” she joked. “His intention is to wait for Louis and have kind of a celebratory moment with the only other person on the planet to have accomplished this same thing.”
Mr O’Brady described in detail the ups and downs along the way since he began the trek on November 3. He had to haul 170 kilograms of gear largely uphill and over sastrugi – wave-like ridges created by wind.
As for what is next for Mr O’Brady, who also has climbed Mount Everest, Ms Besaw said she is not entirely sure. “We are just so in the moment celebrating this right now,” she said. “Then we’ll see what’s next on the horizon.”