Canadian Adventurer Meagan McGrath Set to begin 45 Day Solo Journey from the Coast of Antarctica to the South Pole
SUDBURY, ON – Canadian adventurer, Meagan McGrath (32) will begin her Antarctic Odyssey this weekend! The Antarctic Odyssey is a 45 day solo journey, over 1100 km on foot, unassisted and unsupported, from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole.В Since 1992, 71 adventurers (male and female) from around the world have journeyed from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. Some have skied, some have kited, but no Canadians (male or female) have skied solo to the South Pole, let alone unassisted and unsupported. Meagan McGrath aims to become the first Canadian to achieve this goal.
McGrath who is currently finalizing expedition plans in Punta Arenas, Chile will fly to Patriot Hills in Antarctica on November 27th. McGrath will begin her Antarctic Odyssey at Patriot Hills – a commercially operated base camp where polar adventurers typically begin their South Pole quests. Government agencies maintain emergency fuel supplies buried in the ice at Patriot Hills. It is a small, makeshift base of a dozen or so tents that appears in the summer, and has no permanent buildings.
On November 29th a Twin Otter flight to Hercules Inlet, the starting point of the expedition, is planned but is highly dependent on weather conditions. The plane will depart, leaving McGrath alone on the ice with only a couple of safety beacons and two satellite phones to keep her in contact with the outside world.
McGrath must be self-sufficient given the isolation and the route planned across the huge glaciers, steep slopes and high altitudes. Every piece of material, every food ration and every piece of clothing is carefully weighed and measured for volume. Throughout the Antarctic Odyssey, McGrath will prepare her own meals (oatmeal, butter, nuts, crackers, cheese, dehydrated meals, chocolates, etc.), conduct her own navigation, repair her own equipment, and establish her own camps every day.
Fans of Meagan McGrath are encouraged to visit http://sciencenorth.ca/meagan regularly to learn more about the Antarctic Odyssey. Visitors to the website can also post comments for McGrath, or ask her a question about the expedition. McGrath will also be phoning Science North often to provide audio updates which will be posted to the website.
Science North, Northern Ontario’s most popular tourist attraction, is proud to inspire Meagan McGrath’s Antarctic Odyssey
“On behalf of everyone here at Science North I would like to wish Meagan the best of luck in this latest endeavour,” said Jim Marchbank, Science North CEO. “We are very proud of Meagan and our association with her as she continues to explore and discover through her incredible journeys. I am confident she will achieve her goal of becoming Canada’s first person to ski solo the vast distance from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, and I look forward to congratulating her in person, upon her return.”
ABOUT MEAGAN MCGRATH
McGrath (32), a former Sudburian and Major in the Canadian Air Force, has been granted leave without pay for one year, which began November 1st. During her one-year sabbatical, McGrath will embark on the Antarctic Odyssey and later pursue other interests, including climbing five of the world’s tallest mountains.
As a child, McGrath regularly visited Science North and was a regular participant in Science North’s summer camps and programs, and that inspired her to pursue a career in science.
Science North, a Science Centre located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, has been a proud supporter of McGrath during many of her greatest achievements.
In 2008, she became the only Canadian female, and the first Canadian Forces Member to achieve both versions of the Seven Summits – the highest peak of each continent. She has raced in the grueling Marathon des Sables in Morocco, reached the geographic North Pole, and received a commendation from the Governor General of Canada for her involvement in the rescue of a Nepalese climber on Mount Everest. McGrath is passionate about adventure and about exploring the limits of what the human body can achieve.
November 25, 2009
Posted in: Canada