Monday, December 27, 2004
Nunavut woman reaches South Pole
Nunavut woman reaches South Pole
Last Updated Fri, 24 Dec 2004
SOUTH POLE - A Nunavut woman and her two grown-up children reached the South Pole on Thursday after a trek of nearly 1,100 kilometres, setting a new record along the way.
Matty McNair, a U.S. citizen who makes Iqaluit her home, became the first female resident of Canada to reach the South Pole on foot without help when her team reached the bottom of the world at about 3 p.m. EST on Thursday.
"I feel exhilarated and exhausted both," said McNair.
McNair made the 1,085 km trek from Hercules Inlet on the edge of Antarctica to the Pole with her children Eric and Sarah Landry, 20 and 18 respectively.
The group, which also included British couple Conrad and Hilary Dickinson, set out on skis Nov. 1, dragging their supplies on sleds and received no help along the way.
"I cannot believe we're here. It still amazes me and it's been such an incredible journey to do this with my kids," said McNair, who in 1997 led the first women's expedition to the North Pole.
From the South Pole, the team plans to set another record in their return to Hercules Inlet, making their expedition the longest foot journey on the southern continent.
They hope to make the return trip in 25 days by using kites to pull them across the ice.
Last Updated Fri, 24 Dec 2004
SOUTH POLE - A Nunavut woman and her two grown-up children reached the South Pole on Thursday after a trek of nearly 1,100 kilometres, setting a new record along the way.
Matty McNair, a U.S. citizen who makes Iqaluit her home, became the first female resident of Canada to reach the South Pole on foot without help when her team reached the bottom of the world at about 3 p.m. EST on Thursday.
"I feel exhilarated and exhausted both," said McNair.
McNair made the 1,085 km trek from Hercules Inlet on the edge of Antarctica to the Pole with her children Eric and Sarah Landry, 20 and 18 respectively.
The group, which also included British couple Conrad and Hilary Dickinson, set out on skis Nov. 1, dragging their supplies on sleds and received no help along the way.
"I cannot believe we're here. It still amazes me and it's been such an incredible journey to do this with my kids," said McNair, who in 1997 led the first women's expedition to the North Pole.
From the South Pole, the team plans to set another record in their return to Hercules Inlet, making their expedition the longest foot journey on the southern continent.
They hope to make the return trip in 25 days by using kites to pull them across the ice.
