Andrew Lock is the first, and still the only, Australian to have successfully ascended all of the world’s 8000 metre peaks. But as Australia’s least-known high-altitude mountaineer, his broader quest for adventure is even less well known.

From sled-hauling expeditions in the frozen darkness of the Arctic winter, sailing to Antarctica to climb virgin peaks, motorbiking through the Wakhan corridor, exploring the most remote regions of outback Australia, packrafting Tassie’s wildest rivers, living in a water tank on Heard Island for five months, seeing bats at 8500 metres, and pulling beers at the pub in Betoota (population 0).

For Andrew, the completion of one challenge has always just been the starting point for the next one – another step on the ladder.