Bottomless,blackicepitsbeneaththinlayersofsnow.Sharpiceridges,oneafteranother,likefrozenwavesacrosstheland.Howlingwindsandblowingice crystals.

JadeHameisterknewher SouthPolejourneywouldbehard.Butsheneverimagineditwouldbethisunforgiving.Shebentintothewindandstrainedtopulltheheavysupplysledstrappedtoherwaist.Allshecoulddowasputoneskiinfrontoftheother,onesmallstepata time.

JadehadalreadycompletedtwopartsofthedemandingPolarHatTrick.ShehadskiedtotheNorthPoleandacrossGreenland.ThisSouthPoleadventurewouldbethefinalchallenge.Itwaseasytoseewhyhardlyanyone—letalonea 16‑year‑oldwoman—hadtriedtodowhatshewasattempting now.

Only140peopleinhistoryhaveskiedunsupportedandunassistedfromthecoastofAntarcticatotheSouthPole.Andonly20 ofthesewerewomen.ThesearesmallnumberswhenyoucompareittoallwhohaveclimbedMountEverest—5,000 or more!

UnsupportedandunassistedmeantthatJade’steamwouldtravelundertheirownmusclepower,withoutsleddogsorvehicles.Nosupplieswouldbeairliftedtothemalongtheway.Everysinglethingtheyneededfortheestimated40 dayshadtobeloadedontosledsandhauledalong.Bythetimethosesledswereheapedwithfood,campstovesandfuel,clothing,tents,andequipment,eachoneweighedmorethan80 kilograms(176 pounds).

Asifthiswasn’tenough,Jadeandherteamdecidedtotakeonanaddedchallenge.TheywantedtocreateanewroutetotheSouth Pole.

Theystudiedmapsandidentifieda coast‑to-poleroutethatnoonehadevertaken.TheywouldstartfromtheRossIceShelfontheAmundsenCoast.Mostotherexpeditionsfollowedroutesthatwerelongerbutflatter.Thisroutewouldtakethemthroughsteep,challengingterrain.They’dskiacrosstheKansasGlacierthroughtheTransantarcticMountainsthatdividethiscoldest continent.