Inside the First Solo Trek Across Antarctica

The outdoor adventurer became the first person ever to cross the continent alone and unaided. [ view in browser.   add esquire@newsletter.esquire.com to your address book ]             FOLLOW US       Inside Colin O'Brady's History-Making Solo Trek Across Antarctica   Colin O'Brady woke up on Christmas morning totally alone, with a frozen beard, in the middle of desolate Antarctica. He boiled some snow to drink, scarfed down a 1,150-calorie nutritional bar to sustain his calorically depleting body, and set off on the final leg of his 921-mile trek through the world's harshest climate. A sleepless 32 hours later, the 33-year-old endurance athlete from Portland, Oregon reached the edge of Ross Ice Shelf, the world's largest body of floating ice, achieving one of the greatest polar achievements in modern history: O'Brady became the first person ever to traverse the continent coast-to-coast completely alone, unaided and unsupported. "I tapped into this deep flow state of high performance, athletes might call it, 'the zone,' and pushed through to the end," O'Brady told Esquire just days after returning from his nearly two-month journey. "Time and space sort of faded away a little bit, and I was able to get it done." O'Brady never doubted himself—he's always pushed the limits of what's possible. When he suffered severe burns in an accident 10 years ago, doctors said he'd never walk normally again. Not only did the buoyant O'Brady make a full recovery, he went on to become a champion marathoner, triathlete, and full-time outdoor adventurer. Six years later, he joined an elite group of less than 50 endurance athletes who've completed the Explorers Grand Slam by climbing the tallest peak on each of the seven continents. But crossing Antarctica alone and with no outside help, a feat he aptly dubbed, "The Impossible First," would be his crowning glory. No human had done it before. In fact, one of the last people to attempt it, British polar explorer Henry Worsley, died in the hospital after he called for a rescue just 30 miles from the finish line. "There's a reason that no one had ever achieved this, despite many very strong attempts to do it," O'Brady said. "It's incredibly challenging." READ MORE       'My Name Is Ted Bundy. I've Never Spoken to Anybody About This.'   Stephen Michaud was 31 years old when he told Florida State Prison he was an investigator working on Ted Bundy's appeals case. He was, in fact, a journalist working on a book about the serial killer. Bundy had promised to tell him the real story of what happened, to reveal details that would prove he didn't brutally murder dozens of women. "I didn't really believe it. I didn't disbelieve it," Michaud, now 70, says. "But I knew it'd be a hell of a story either way, so I went into the prison with my tape recorder." 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In the interest of serving you, the reader, the staff of Esquire.com shared their go-to hangover cures—food, drink, and everything else—for when the previous night out overstays its welcome. Read On         No Matter How Bad Things Get, This Album Will Bring You Pure Joy   Juan Wauters has proved himself to be something of an unrelenting force of joy. His songs are simple little sing-alongs that bask in a youthful naivety. Kind of like a South American Rafi, if you will. On his new album, La Onda de Juan Pablo, breezy tracks like "Guapa," "El Senor," and "A Volar" are perfect escapism for a tumultuous January here in the States. Take a listen, have some piece of mind, and let Wauters take you to a better place. Read On         Football Legend Joe Montana Is Putting Major Money into the Weed Industry   Joe Montana, football legend and four-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, is getting into the weed game. 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