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UK woman crosses Antarctica solo UK woman crosses Antarctica solo
(40 minutes later)
British explorer Felicity Aston has tweeted that she has reached Hercules Inlet, becoming the first woman to cross Antarctica alone. British explorer Felicity Aston has reached Antarctica's Hercules Inlet, becoming the first woman to cross the continent alone.
"Congratulations to the 1st female to traverse Antarctica SOLO.V proud," she tweeted late on Sunday night UK time."Congratulations to the 1st female to traverse Antarctica SOLO.V proud," she tweeted late on Sunday night UK time.
AP news agency reported that Ms Aston was also the first person to make the crossing using only her own strength to ski the 1,084 miles (1,744km). AP news agency reported Ms Aston, 33, was also the first person to make the crossing using only her own strength to ski the 1,084 miles (1,744km).
The 33-year-old said it took her 59 days, beginning at Leverett Glacier. An expedition spokeswoman confirmed she had crossed Antarctica.
Tweeting from her href="http://twitter.com/felicity_aston" >@felicity_aston account, Ms Aston said that she was sitting in her tent waiting for a plane to pick her up. It took Ms Aston 59 days, beginning at Leverett Glacier.
Tweeting from her @felicity_aston account, Ms Aston, from Kent, said she was sitting in her tent waiting for a plane to pick her up.
"I've been promised red wine and a hot shower," she wrote. Later she added: "Foiled by bad weather yet again! No plane tonight but I have my last Beef and Ale Stew to enjoy for my final evening alone - yum!""I've been promised red wine and a hot shower," she wrote. Later she added: "Foiled by bad weather yet again! No plane tonight but I have my last Beef and Ale Stew to enjoy for my final evening alone - yum!"
In a podcast, Ms Aston said her last day had been "amazing", with an icy eight miles to cross.
"It's all a little bit overwhelming after days and days of counting the time and the distance to get here. I seem to have got here all of a rush all of a sudden and I don't really feel prepared for it. I mean it feels amazing to be finished and yet overwhelmingly sad that it's over at the same time," she said.
Ms Aston said her journey had been "an amazing privilege".