Adventure On SI

Queensland Man Planning to Attempt a Massive Expedition in Antarctica

An avid adventure athlete is gearing up to become the first person to complete a sea-to-summit expedition in Antarctica.

Maria Aldrich

Mountains in Antarctica
Mountains in Antarctica / Unsplash

James McAlloon, a Queensland resident, has been training for his upcoming Antarctica journey. In December, he will be attempting to become the first person to complete a six week sea-to-summit expedition in the unforgiving environment of Antarctica.

To complete this challenge, McAlloon will travel 600km by ski through the Ellsworth Mountain Range, followed by a nearly 5,000m climb up the continent's highest peak, Mount Vinson.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), he will be attempting this colossal feat without any external support, but will be climbing alongside a partner, Rob Smith. The pair is expecting to carry all of their own gear, including food and camp equipment.

In a recent video McAlloon posted to his Instagram account, he stated, "The idea is to try and do it as a sea-to-summit and be as unsupported as possible, with no resupplies, and really [complete it] under our own power from bottom to top."

"No matter how much food we bring, it won't be enough, so I've gained weight (about 10kg) to give me a healthy buffer to lose and maintain my energy and strength levels," McAlloon told ABC.

The decision to attempt this challenge was not made on a whim. McAlloon has been training all over the world, even completing a sea-to-summit expedition to Aconcagua (6,961m).

"The experience of preparing this expedition has been similar to getting a university degree and starting a business from scratch," McAlloon said.

The sled that the pair will be pulling along on their journey weighs between 90 and 100kg, equating to a maximum load of approximately 220 pounds. ABC explained that when McAlloon reaches the base of Mount Vinson, he will remove his skis and put on his crampons to begin the daunting climb to the summit.

The pair will be leaving from Constellation Inlet in Antarctica, which hasn't been done before, as he explained in his social media video. This expedition is McAlloon's most intense adventure yet and will be a world-first.

In the weeks before his expedition, more preparation and training will be required. When his trip officially begins, you can stay updated on his journey by using the tracking map, which can be found on his Sea2Summit website.

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Maria Aldrich
MARIA ALDRICH

Maria Aldrich graduated from SUNY Potsdam with a degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Wilderness Education. While earning her degrees, she learned the fundamentals of climbing, wilderness travel, and leadership in the backcountry. These skills built upon Maria's lifelong passion for the outdoors. Following graduation, she began working in the outdoor recreation field, serving individuals with disabilities to help them access outdoor pursuits including hiking, paddling, horseback riding, and snowshoeing. The following year, Maria moved to the Adirondack Mountains in New York State to continue working towards a life of adventure and writing. She has continued rock and ice climbing, hiking in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks, and paddling through various rivers while documenting her experiences through writing. When Maria isn’t adventuring in the mountains, she can be found reading a book, fishing on a shoreline, or spending time with family.

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