On New Years Day 2007 Duncan Chessell was atop Mount Vinson, the highest mountain in Antarctica.  With him was a small group of fellow Australians. They were thrilled to be the first people ever to climb from sea level to the top of the world’s most remote and inhospitable continent – Antarctica.

It’s occasions like these that energise Duncan. In some wilderness seldom visited. Pristine. So special as to be … holy. He’s there with a team of close colleagues. They have worked together to overcome an array of serious obstacles. They have succeeded, through good planning, solidarity, physical exertion, good management and a measure of good luck. Just one more major goal to go – getting everyone down, and home safely.

The first ever sea to summit climb of Vinson was especially significant for Duncan as he was guiding the seventh of his “Seven Summits”, and in company with three good friends – good blokes who’d honed many of their skills and experience under his influence over the last five years.

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