Bottomlessicepitsbeneaththinlayersofsnow.Sharpiceridges,oneafteranother,likefrozenwavesacrosstheland.Howlingwindsandblowingice crystals.


JadeHameisterknewherSouth Polejourneywouldbehard.Butsheneverimagineditwouldbethisunforgiving.Shebentintothewindandstrainedtopulltheheavysupplysledstrappedtoherwaist.Allshecoulddowasputoneskiinfrontoftheother,onesmallstepata time.

Jadehauledherheavysledintostrong winds.

Jade'sbreathfrozeonherface mask.

Jadestruggledtodraghersledoverthe ice.

ForgingaPath

JadehadalreadycompletedtwopartsofthedemandingPolarHatTrick.ShehadskiedtotheNorthPoleandacrossGreenland.ThisSouthPoleadventurewouldbethefinalchallenge.HardlyanyonehadtriedtodowhatJadewasattemptingnow.Shewasonly16.Only140peoplehaveeverskiedwithoutassistancefromtheAntarcticcoasttotheSouthPole.Andonly20ofthesewere women.


Jade’steamwouldtravelundertheirownmusclepower,withoutsleddogsorvehicles.Nosupplieswouldbeairliftedtothem.Everythingtheyneededfortheestimated40dayshadtobeloadedontosledsandhauled.Withfood,campstovesandfuel,clothing,tents,andequipment,eachsledweighedmorethan80 kilograms (176 pounds).


Ifthiswasn’tenough,Jadeandherteamtookonanaddedchallenge.TheywantedtotakeanewroutetotheSouthPole.Theystudiedmapsandfoundacoast‑to-poleroutethatnoonehadevertaken.Thiswouldtakethemthroughsteep,challengingterrain.They’dskiacrosstheKansasGlacierandthroughtheTransantarcticMountainsthatdivideeastandwest Antarctica.

Theteamhadtocarryorpulleverythingthey needed. 

Go to article: PathfinderGo to article: In This IssueGo to article: Becoming JaneGo to article: Growing Up, Roughing It & Turning Point - Becoming JaneGo to article: Spreading the Word, Proof Positive and a Novel Approach - Becoming JaneGo to article: Jade Goodall's Research Revealed - Becoming JaneGo to article: Jane's DiscoveriesGo to article: Weaving WordsGo to article: Living the High Life - Weaving WordsGo to article: Fieldwork, Collecting Talk and Celebrating Life - Weaving WordsGo to article: Frozen... South Pole: The Final ChallengeGo to article: Forging a Path - Frozen... South Pole: The Final ChallengeGo to article: Jades -RouteGo to article: Hard-won Gains and Man Down! - Frozen... South Pole: The Final ChallengeGo to article: Hitting the Wall and Success!Go to article: Victory! - - Frozen... South Pole: The Final ChallengeGo to article: Explorer ClassroomGo to article: The End