Steve Plain: Adventurer of the Year 2018
In December 2014, Steve Plain suffered an almost fatal injury. He broke his neck bodysurfing at Perth’s Cottesloe Beach, which left him in a halo brace for four months with another month spent in a neck collar. But incredibly, the year after his accident, Steve began training for an attempt to climb the Seven Summits – Vinson, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Carstensz, Elbrus, Denali and of course, Everest.
Prior to his accident, Steve had spent some time researching the seven summits, but had always put it off to pursue goals in his professional career as an engineer instead. Steve’s passion for high-altitude mountaineering came from his time in scouts, most memorably, when he climbed to Everest Base Camp when he was sixteen years old. But he hadn’t attempted an ambitious climb since.
Steve officially kicked off Project 7in4 in January this year, beginning with Mt Vinson in Antarctica, then Aconcagua in Argentina, Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia, all completed by March.
2018 Adventurer of the Year Steve Plain receiving his medallion at the Australian Geographic Gala Awards in Sydney.
Read about all the winners of the 2018 Australian Geographic Society Awards.
Thank you to Coral Expeditions, sponsor of the 2018 Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year Award.
The Australian Geographic Society is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting adventure and conservation. You can make a direct donation or subscribe to Australian Geographic to support the AG Society.
