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.
Duncan Chessell is an Australian mountaineer who specialises in exploratory style expeditions, and who enjoys the stimulation of sharing the challenge almost as much as the challenge itself.

Amongst Duncan’s other adventures have been the first guided remote high altitude traversing 6800m passes from Everest Rongbuk to Kanshung face Base Camp’s and climbing the 7,045m high Lhakpa La; multiple guided yacht-based mountaineering adventures to the Antarctic Peninsula; pre-acclimatising amongst unnamed unclimbed peaks into his Cho Oyu expeditions; and of course Mount Vinson – the first sea to summit, and in 2008 a new route on its unfrequented eastern side.
He’s a most accomplished climber, an expert in remote and high altitude terrain and an exceptional leader.

Among Duncan’s achievements are:

• The Seven Summits
  • Mount Everest, Asia (2001; 2007 – expedition leader & guide)
  • Mount Vinson, Antarctica (2007 & 2008- expedition leader & guide)
  • Cerro Aconcagua, South America (2003 & 2005 – expedition leader & guide)
  • Denali / Mount McKinley in USA (2004 – expedition leader)
  • Mount Elbrus, Europe (2004 – expedition leader & guide)
  • Kilimanjaro, Africa (2004, 2006 Canteen expedition leader & guide)
  • Kosciusko, Australia (1985)
• First ever sea to summit ascent of Antarctica’s highest peak, Mount Vinson 2007 (expedition leader and mountain guide)
• New route on Antarctica’s highest peak, Mount Vinson 2008 (expedition leader and mountain guide)
• First Australian winter ascent of Ama Dablam (1998) and subsequent ascents (1999, 2001 expedition leader)
• New Route and first Australian ascent of the north face of Kusum Kanguru (Nepal)