British woman sets record for solo Antarctic trek.

(From Guardian Unlimited)

A 34-year old explorer from Kent has become the first woman to cross Antarctica alone. Felicity Aston made it to Hercules Inlet on the Ronne ice shelf on Monday after pulling two sledges for 1,084 miles (1,744km).

The meteorologist also became the first human to ski solo across Antarctica using only her own muscle power -- without the aid of kites or machines -- in a journey that took 59 days.

"Sitting in my tent in the middle of Hercules Inlet waiting for a plane to come and pick me up," she wrote on Twitter early on Monday. "I've been promised red wine and a hot shower. Woken to the wonderful realisation that I don't have to …