Cas and Jonesy Set Record for Longest Unassisted Antarctic Journey

Cas and Jonesy Set Record for Longest Unassisted Antarctic Journey

Australian adventurers Cas (James Castrission, 29) and Jonesy (Justin Jones, 28) have created history by becoming the first men to travel over 1800km unsupported through the Antarctic wilderness.

Over the past 80 days Cas and Jonesy have endured one of the harshest and most unpredictable environments on the planet in their quest to ski unsupported from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back. If they are successful, they will set another world first in being the first team to complete the arduous journey unassisted. It is expected that the expedition will be completed in time for the last flight out of Antarctica for the season on 27th January.

To date, Cas and Jonesy have travelled over 1,884kms in 80 days. Trekking through the heaviest snowfall Antarctica has experienced in years, with almost two weeks of white-out days and winds up to 70kph, the pair has taken only four rest days - mainly due to injuries - as they push on to reach their goal and raise money for the youth cancer campaign, You Can. The pair has each lost a staggering 15-20 kg each and, with a little under 400km to go, the boys are now down to half-rations and quickly running out of supplies.

'This expedition has been both physically and mentally gruelling but we've reached a great milestone overnight," explained Cas. 'We are now down to half rations and are being pushed to our very limit, but reaching the record overnight has given us a boost and we can't wait to punch out the last few hundred kilometres and finish the job."

Jonesy said: 'It's certainly a nice feeling to have got this far and set a new world record but our mission is by no means complete. We've still got a lot of kilometres to cover to make it in time for that last flight out of Antarctica and only when we step foot onto that flight will we feel like we have achieved something special."

The Crossing the Ice expedition endeavours to raise funds for the Sony Foundation charitable campaign You Can, which supports young people in Australia with cancer. Young Australians with cancer do not receive specialist treatment and are placed in either paediatric or adult wards.

Supporters of Cas and Jonesy can 'Sponsor a Step" of their Antarctic adventure with all funds raised going towards the creation of specialist youth cancer centres.
To follow this record-breaking adventure and to Sponsor a Step, visit www.casandjonesy.com.au