Sudbury adventurer reaches South Pole

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Meagan McGrath reached the South Pole at 3:58 p.m. on Jan. 15, after a 40-day solo trek which included a fall down a crevasse, phone problems, and a lung infection. Image from McGrath's Everest expedition. File photo.

Meagan McGrath reached the South Pole at 3:58 p.m. on Jan. 15, after a 40-day solo trek which included a fall down a crevasse, phone problems, and a lung infection. Image from McGrath's Everest expedition. File photo.

Jan 18, 2010- 10:06 AM

By: Sudbury Northern Life Staff

Meagan McGrath arrived at the geographic South Pole Jan. 15 at 3:58 p.m. eastern standard time.

The former Sudbury woman reached her goal after a  40 day solo journey which spanned a total of 1,045 kilometres.  In doing so, she has become Canada’s first person to ski solo, unassisted and unsupported, to the South Pole.

McGrath skied approximately 28 kilometres (14.97 nautical miles) on Jan. 15, to reach her goal destination.  She has been greeted, as a guest, by the group at Amundsen Scott Station.  Due to antenna problems, McGrath has not yet been able to make contact with the media, but is working to rectify the problem.

Science North sponsored McGrath's trek to the South Pole.

“I am extremely proud of Meagan McGrath and everything she has overcome to achieve this extraordinary feat,” said Jim Marchbank, Science North CEO, in a press release.

“Meagan is a real scientist doing real science when she embarks on these expeditions, and Science North is honoured to have the opportunity to follow her and share her discoveries and achievements with members of the public, including youth.  I look forward to congratulating her on such an outstanding personal success.”

In early December, McGrath was forced to reassess the eventual success of her Antarctic Odyssey.  On Dec. 2, 2009 - the second day of her expedition which originally started from the coast of Antarctica at Hercules Inlet - she suffered minor injuries after falling into a crevasse.  A team from Patriot Hills (a commercially operated base camp in Antarctica), successfully retrieved Meagan and all of her expedition gear.

On Dec. 7, 2009, after much thought, consultation with several experts in Polar travel, and some modifications to her skis, McGrath started her Antarctic Odyssey again, this time departing from Patriot Hills, Antarctica.  She began her journey pulling sleds that weighed an estimated 91 kilograms (200 pounds) and carrying about 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of fuel and supplies on her back.

Throughout the next 40 days, McGrath skied approximately 10 to 12 hours per day and experienced several challenges. She travelled through many white-outs, and often had difficulty recharging her battery-powered devices, including an Iridium satellite phone, due to lack of sunlight.

As a result she was often forced to keep her batteries on conservation mode, limiting contact with Science North and her expedition communications manager.  Despite this, McGrath maintained daily contact with the South Pole expedition agency Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions (ALE) to report her status.

Last week, as McGrath crossed the 89th degree, making her final push for the geographic South Pole (which is located at 90 degrees), she announced that she was fighting a chest infection, which was slowing her progress slightly.  

Now that McGrath has reached the South Pole, she will camp out for a few days awaiting her pick-up flight back to Patriot Hills.  At this point, McGrath plans to depart Punta Arenas, Chile on Jan. 28 to fly back to Canada.  

Tickets to Meagan McGrath’s public presentation about the Antarctic Odyssey, which will be held in the Science North IMAX® Theatre in Sudbury on February 3, 2010 at 7:30 p.m., are now on sale.  Tickets can be purchased on-line by visiting http://sciencenorth.ca/meagan.  

You can also buy tickets in person at Science North or by calling 523-IMAX (4629) (1-800-461-4898 outside Greater Sudbury), to charge by phone.

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14 Comments

  • Phillip Morris 1/22/2010 11:08:43 AM - Report Abuse

    Modern technology and a well travelled trail has made the once dangerous treks commonplace now.
    There are dozens of Everest and Antarctic expeditions every year now. Hardly a feat.
    Look at the attached article link below.
    Now entire families are walking up Everest.
    Sudbury is so starved for any hero or attention, they'll pump up McGrath. Her self-serving ego trips a yawn for the rest of the world.
    http://www.simcoe.com/article/154332

  • rightofcentre 1/20/2010 4:01:32 PM - Report Abuse

    This is only getting media attention because its a woman. Just like that British woman who sailed accross the atlantic.

    All these things were done by men hundreds of years ago and now women are repeating these impressive feats but with the assistance of technology, hi tech communications and launchn and rescue services.

    They're probably making more money than the original pioneers ever did. Fair play to them I guess - it must be nice not to have to work and prance around the world on "adventures"

  • Phillip Morris 1/20/2010 5:36:51 AM - Report Abuse

    Complain?
    Hardly. More like telling it like it is.

  • ju1ce 1/19/2010 11:11:09 AM - Report Abuse

    Congratulations!

    Don't listen to these naysayers. They only wish they could achieve it instead all they can do is complain on a public forum.

  • Grumpy Ole Man_75 1/19/2010 8:17:47 AM - Report Abuse

    Unassisted - me thinks not (edited for thienna)

    - expedition communications manager
    - Patriot Hills folks
    - ALE
    - Sat Phone
    - Battery power Devises

    How did she get out of the crevasse earlier - no assistance would mean she would still be in it - playing pacman on her DS.

  • thienna 1/19/2010 12:50:10 AM - Report Abuse

    L2R Grumpy. It says right in the image text that the image is from her Everest expedition.

  • MikeK 1/18/2010 11:56:59 PM - Report Abuse

    Wasnt on foot, she skied. Not easy, but a hell of a lot better than walking on foot. Not to belittle her accomplishment, but what was the point? Why not, as you say, walk to Toronto and back on foot, it would accomplish the same result, only difference is people may not buy tickets afterwards.

  • Grumpy Ole Man_75 1/18/2010 9:29:42 PM - Report Abuse

    Unassisted - me thinks not

    - expedition communications manager
    - Patriot Hills folks
    - ALE
    - The three people in the background of the picture and the photographer
    - Sat Phone
    - Battery power Devises

  • Clarica 1/18/2010 8:54:35 PM - Report Abuse

    Congrats Meg...takes a lot of courage and strength to do what you did...even if the media was watching.

  • second_account 1/18/2010 8:25:14 PM - Report Abuse

    You guys don't get it. If you think this won't translate into a contract with some outdoor adventure clothing line/store/show, you're kidding yourselves. Most likely this will allow her to do what she loves for a living.
    Personally, i wouldn't attempt this but congratulations to her for the accomplishment. First Canadian, unassisted & unsupported.
    I'd love to see 'grumpy ole man' try walking across Ramsey lake through drifts, never mind the Antarctic shelf.

    1000 Kilometres people. That's like Toronto and back -on foot-, through snow drifts, blizzards, no trail, solitude and whatever other challenges i couldn't even imagine standing in the way.

  • Grumpy Ole Man_75 1/18/2010 4:14:06 PM - Report Abuse

    Considering the fellows that reached the south pole more than one hundred years ago (with what looks like much less gear) - not sure why this is news.

  • Phillip Morris 1/18/2010 3:05:13 PM - Report Abuse

    Considering the strife and suffering in the world today, it's tough to get excited about this.
    McGrath is nothing short of a media attention getter. A trek thats nothing but an exercise in "look at me!"
    She's milked this 15 minutes of fame way too long.
    15 minutes of humility would go much farther in her gaining some respect.

  • Pork&Beans 1/18/2010 1:23:35 PM - Report Abuse

    Congratulations Meagan on such an accomplishment.
    You've surely inspired youths of all ages.
    Good to hear you made it safe and sound.

  • whiteswan69_1 1/18/2010 12:43:49 PM - Report Abuse

    The money spent on McGrath is a waste of money.That money could have been given to poor people who really needs it.I wouldn't buy any ticket to see McGrath.
    .
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