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American Woman Makes Antarctic History on Skis
4 May
Summary
- Monet Eliastam is the first American woman to ski solo to the South Pole.
- Her 700-mile journey took 57 arduous days with extreme conditions.
- Eliastam trained for years, simulating sled pulls by dragging tires.
Monet Eliastam, an American solo adventurer, has made history as the first woman from the U.S. to reach the South Pole solely by ski and without support. Her challenging 700-mile trek commenced on November 23, 2025, from Hercules Inlet. Eliastam successfully navigated extreme Antarctic conditions for 57 days before reaching her destination on January 18, 2026.
Her preparation involved intense training, including simulating the arduous task of pulling a 250-lb sled by dragging tires for up to six hours daily in various locations. Eliastam's journey began after inspiration from British Army officer Preet Chandi. Despite initial inexperience with skiing and Antarctica, Eliastam was determined to undertake the expedition.
Eliastam’s 57-day expedition involved daily skiing, enduring whiteout conditions, and subsisting on simple meals like oatmeal and ramen. She maintained contact with support via a Garmin device for tracking and medical checkups. Upon arrival at the South Pole, she described the landscape as looking like a construction site before seeing the ceremonial pole surrounded by flags.
She celebrated her monumental achievement by declaring she had "just gotten married" to Antarctica, dedicating the expedition to her family. Eliastam, who splits her time between Massachusetts and Nepal, is now planning to write a book about her groundbreaking solo journey.
