The paper by Paxman et al. presents a topographic analysis of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains underneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. The authors analyse longitudinal valley profiles and apply concepts of fluvial landscape evolution to show that the subglacial landscape has a fluvial origin with a local glacial overprint. Based on channel steepness patterns, they determine the position of geological boundaries and assess the likely timing of tectonic uplift. Their analysis reveals that the South Pole Basin may contain sediment that could contain an archive of the formation and glaciation of the Gamburtsev Mountains.