Felicity Aston Sets Record, Becomes First Woman to Ski Across Antarctica Solo

Fox News is reporting that British skier Felicity Aston completed her crossing of Antarctica on Monday, becoming the first woman to trek across the icy continent alone.

After skiing more than 1,000 miles across the ice in 59 days, the 33-year-old explorer’s amazing achievement was announced via Twitter.

“!!!Felicity has reached her destination – Hercules Inlet – after 59 days !!!Congratulations to the 1st female to traverse Antarctica SOLO. V proud,” Aston’s UK support team tweeted.

Aston confirmed the news with a Tweet of her own, adding that she was waiting to be picked up and brought back to civilization.

“Sitting in my tent in the middle of Hercules Inlet waiting for a plane to come and pick me up. I’ve been promised red wine and a hot shower.”

According to the Daily Mail, Felicity, who spent three years living and working in the Antarctic as a meteorologist with the British Antarctic Survey, kicked off her most recent trek on Nov. 25, outfitted with a kit of top-of-the-line winter gear.

Her journey took her from the Ross Ice Shelf, up the Leverett Glacier and across the Transantarctic Mountains to the continent’s vast central plateau, where she had to fight headwinds most of the way to the South Pole.

She collected a resupply of food and fuel at the South Pole during her voyage.

Prior to her solo crossing of Antarctica, Felicity Aston had already reached the South Pole, in December 2009, as part of a team of women from Commonwealth countries.

via Daily Mail