AT an age when many begin to slow down, Wong Su Chung has pushed human endurance to one of its furthest limits.
The 61-year-old Sarawakian became the first Malaysian to complete a rare dual expedition in Antarctica, combining a climb to the summit of Mount Vinson Massif and a ski journey to the South Pole in a single trip.
The Miri-born adventurer achieved the milestone during an expedition that ran from November 26 to December 18 last year.
The expedition began in Punta Arenas, Chile, before heading deep into the frozen interior of Antarctica which is one of the most remote and unforgiving environments on Earth.
Wong began his ascent of Mount Vinson Massif (4,892 metres) on November 27.
Battling extreme cold, high winds and the thin air of Antarctica’s highest peak, he spent six days navigating steep ice slopes and glacier systems before successfully reaching the summit on December 1 at 6.13 pm.
For many mountaineers, standing atop Vinson would have marked the end of a once-in-a-lifetime expedition.
For Wong, it was only the beginning. After a short recovery period, he transitioned into the second and more punishing phase of the mission.
From December 9, Wong set off on skis to complete the “last degree” – a 111-kilometre journey from latitude 89° to 90° South, entirely across featureless polar terrain, hauling supplies in sub-zero temperatures with no natural shelter along the way.
Seven days later, on December 15 at 11:55 am, he reached the South Pole, completing the rare Antarctic combo expedition in a single continuous journey.
The achievement places Wong in an exceptionally small global group – and makes him the only Malaysian to have accomplished both the Vinson summit and the South Pole ski in one trip.
Built on discipline and preparation
Wong stressed that such an expedition was never driven by impulse or bravado, but by meticulous planning and years of targeted training.
“Understand the expedition in detail first. Then, train according to what is required for that specific expedition. Each challenge demands a different physical and mental approach,” he said.
Wong’s journey into extreme mountaineering did not begin with polar ambitions.
He initially took up hiking, but his trajectory changed after a serious injury to his left knee that later required surgery, resulting in the removal of one-third of his meniscus.
“I normally hike. After I injured my left knee, I switched to mountaineering and went to higher altitude,” he said.
That decision reshaped his life.
Harder than Everest
In May 2024, Wong became the only Sarawakian to have summited Everest, reaching the world’s highest peak. That achievement, he said, was not an endpoint, but a foundation.
“I spent three years to prepare and finally summited Mount Everest in 2024,” he added.
Despite Everest’s reputation as the ultimate mountaineering challenge, Wong described the Antarctica expedition as even more demanding.
“To me, the combo expeditions to Vinson and the South Pole this time were more difficult than Everest,” he said.
Unlike Everest, where climbers can rely on fixed ropes, established camps and teams moving in waves, Antarctica demands sustained self-sufficiency.
Prolonged exposure to extreme cold, heavy load bearing, isolation and the cumulative fatigue of back-to-back expeditions had placed constant strain on both body and mind.
“Weight loading and the coldness were a big challenge for me,” he said.
A deeply personal journey
Beyond the physical challenge, Wong described the expedition as a deeply personal and spiritual journey, undertaken during a difficult chapter in his life.
“God led me through my difficult time in life and brought me close to Him,” he said, adding that years of struggle strengthened his resolve and sense of purpose.
In a quiet but meaningful moment, Wong celebrated his 61st birthday at Union Glacier, the main base for Antarctic expeditions, surrounded by climbers from around the world.
He said this served as a reminder of how far his journey had taken him, both geographically and personally.
While the achievement places his name in the record books, Wong hopes its impact reaches far beyond mountaineering circles.
“No matter what difficult situation you are in and no matter how bad the scenario, there is always a way out. Trust in God and believe in His words. Do your part and submit the rest to God in prayers,” he added.
Wong on top of Mount Vinson Massif.
