Pole of inaccessibility to reach this false northern pole of inaccessibility was made by Sir Hubert Wilkins, who flew by aircraft in 1927. In 1941, the first Soviet expedition using an airplane landed 350 kilometers north of the false northern pole, thus actually becoming the first expedition to reach the real pole. Ignoring Soviet results, Sir Wally Herbert claimed to be the first to reach what was then considered to be the northern pole of inaccessibility on foot, arriving by dogsled in 1968. Explorer Jim McNeill claimed in 2006 that Herbert did not quite make the pole, and launched his own unsuccessful attempt
Steve Smith (pole vaulter) ranked during his professional career in the intervening years if the rankings had allowed this. In 2012, Smith was inducted into the United States National Pole Vault Hall of Fame. Men's pole vault indoor world record progression Steve Smith (pole vaulter) Stephen Norwood "Steve" Smith (born November 24, 1951) is a retired American Olympic pole vaulter. He was the first person to clear the 18 foot barrier indoors. He was the number one ranked pole vaulter in the world in 1973. Smith was United States indoor pole vault champion in 1972–73. He was also the first vaulter to break the