Captain Kim Young-mi Completes Solo 1,700km Crossing of Antarctic Continent in 69 Days

Kim Young-mi (44, The North Face Athlete Team) has successfully completed a solo crossing of the Antarctic continent.

The North Face, a brand of Youngone Outdoor, announced on the 18th that Korean mountaineer and explorer Kim Young-mi completed the 1,700 km solo crossing of the Antarctic continent at 12:13 AM local time on January 17.

This marks a successful crossing after 69 days, 8 hours, and 31 minutes since departure.

Previously, Captain Kim was the first Asian woman to reach the South Pole solo without resupply, the youngest Korean to summit the highest peaks on all seven continents (at age 28), achieved the first ascent of Ampu 1 Peak (6,840 m) in the Himalayas, and completed a solo crossing of Lake Baikal (724 km) in Siberia.

Kim departed from Hercules Inlet (80°S), the Antarctic coastline, on November 8 last year local time. She then pulled a sled weighing about 100 kg alone for 1,141 km from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, reaching the South Pole at 6:44 PM on December 27 last year, after 49 days and 3 hours.

Captain Kim Young-mi [Image source provided by The North Face]

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This was the earliest arrival at the South Pole among explorers worldwide this season and marked Kim’s second solo, unsupported arrival at the South Pole.

After receiving food supplies at the South Pole, she headed toward Leverett Glacier (85°S, approximately 80 m altitude) and completed the solo crossing of the Antarctic continent covering about 1,700 km in 69 days.

Kim prepared for this expedition through a three-phase project. Based on data obtained from the 2017 Lake Baikal crossing, she succeeded in the 2023 solo, unsupported arrival at the South Pole, and now has completed the solo crossing of the Antarctic continent.

The North Face announced that it will hold a celebratory event for Kim Young-mi’s achievement until the 31st.

By following The North Face’s official social media accounts and leaving a comment with hashtags, 17 participants will be selected to receive prizes such as the ‘Himalayan Light Padding’ and ‘Kantega Gore-Tex Jacket’ worn by Kim during her Antarctic crossing.

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