Braving temperatures of minus 35 degrees, polar winds and crevasses, a Kiwi adventurer has returned home after the trip of a lifetime in Antarctica.
The team kite-skiied some of the way to the summit Photo: Supplied / Mark Sedon
Landing on the ice on 15 November, British team leader Leo Houlding, Frenchman Jean Burgun and New Zealander Mark Sedon embarked on a 1700km journey to reach the summit of Mount Spectre.
To get there they had to both kite-ski and climb.
Mark Sedon said the beauty of Antarctica was "phenomenal" Photo: Supplied / Mark Sedon
Mr Sedon, who was the expedition's chief photographer, told Morning Report it was a really special opportunity and a "bit cool".
"You had to be really careful - it was full on. You had to make sure no skin was exposed - your skin will freeze in sort of 30 to 40 seconds... And then kiting 300km to the mountain. It was pretty tough - there's really strong winds and difficult conditions," he said.
But he was struck by the sheer size and beauty of the place.
"It was the most amazing place... The vastness and the beauty of the Antarctic plateau was just phenomenal."
The team embarked on a 1700 kilometre journey to reach the summit of Mount Spectre. Photo: Supplied / Mark Sedon
Most things went to plan apart from a few "hairy" moments.
"One of those [sleds] fell down a crevasse at one stage and that just hauled [Mr Houlding] back about five metres and threw him on the ground. The knot in the rope caught in the lip of the crevasse - it stopped him [from] pulling him right in."
The team then had to abseil into the crevasse to retrieve their gear.
"That could have been fatal. It could have been a nasty accident."
