Jade Hameister might soon become the youngest person to travel to the ends of the Earth. The 14-year-old from Melbourne, Australia, is about to embark on a three-week trek to the North Pole that will see her skiing 140 miles across sea ice while pulling a sled that weighs as much as she does. Think that's impressive? It's only her first stop on a quest to complete the "polar hat trick"—crossings of the North Pole, South Pole, and Greenland, totaling 1,243 miles, reports Mashable. Jade plans to attempt the Greenland crossing in April 2017 and the South Pole later that year, and she'll be accompanied by her dad, a polar guide, and a cinematographer who will document the adventure for National Geographic. The goal is to "inspire and empower young women around the world to be more active and chase their dreams,” says Jade, per the BBC.
She got the idea after meeting a woman at Everest Base Camp—Jade's father has climbed Everest—who had crossed the South Pole alone. Training included a five-day camp in New Zealand, where she learned survival skills and how to ski. She's also been doing CrossFit, dragging a sled around on the beach, and training in a special altitude facility. There are plenty of risks— hypothermia, polar bears, and falling through sea ice are just a few—but Jade says she's ready. "She has always been very independent, driven, active, and passionate about health and fitness," her dad tells the Herald Sun. "I have no doubt she can do this." The group flies to Norway this week before starting the trek on Monday. (North Pole expeditions may soon be impossible.)
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