Polar explorer Harpreet Kaur Chandi, known as "Polar Preet," is set to embark on a groundbreaking solo and unsupported expedition to the North Pole in early March. This expedition aims to make history as she seeks to be the first woman of color to complete such a journey in this region, which presents vastly different challenges compared to her previous explorations in the South Pole.
Chandi, a former British Army officer and the first Punjabi woman to accomplish a solo journey to the South Pole, will initiate her expedition from Ellesmere Island in Canada. She highlights the unique challenges of this new venture, saying, “The North Pole is so different from the South Pole. Antarctica and the South Pole expedition were on land. I had 24 hours of daylight in the summer season, but the North Pole is in the middle of the sea.” This stark contrast underlines the dynamic nature of sea ice, which is continually shifting, making navigation and survival increasingly complex.
The adventurous trek is projected to last approximately 60 days, with temperatures potentially plunging to a frigid -50°C. Chandi plans to ski toward the northernmost point of the Earth while hauling two sledges that contain essential supplies, including food, fuel, and a tent. She faces the significant challenge of funding the chartering of a plane that will drop her off at the starting point, given that there is no logistics company in place for such undertakings.
A record-breaking endurance athlete, Chandi has previously set the fastest solo unsupported women’s time and completed the longest solo unsupported one-way polar ski journey. In her preparation for the Arctic environment, she has spent the past month training in Canada, specifically to adapt to the extreme conditions she will face. “You need strength,” she states, discussing her rigorous and innovative training methods, such as dragging large car tires. She traveled to Norway and Iceland to prepare, as England lacks suitable snow conditions for such preparation.
Recently, she also trained in Churchill, Manitoba, to practice on sea ice, which includes navigating blocks of ice while dragging her sleds. This training regimen provides her a realistic sense of the physical demands and techniques needed for her North Pole expedition, reinforcing her mental and physical conditioning needed for survival in extreme conditions.
Chandi’s expedition will require her to confront extreme isolation, hazardous weather conditions, and the threat of polar bears. Due to these dangers, she will carry a firearm for protection. Expressing the intensity and challenges she faces, she remarks, “It’s insanely hard. Nobody has been to the North Pole from Canada in 12 years.” However, her prior experiences at the South Pole—spending 70 days, then 40 days, and then another 30 days alone—have equipped her with invaluable mental fortitude. “If I could do it once, I can do it again,” she emphasizes, illustrating how pushing the boundaries of her comfort zone has contributed to her growing resilience.
Despite the daunting nature of this journey, Chandi aims to inspire others to step outside their comfort zones and pursue their dreams. She passionately believes that success is attainable for anyone, regardless of their background or the challenges they face. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you look like, even if you know absolutely nothing about something when you start. I started on a Google search. You can go and achieve anything,” she concludes, shedding light on her journey and the path she hopes others will take in embracing their challenges.
