The Odyssey begins

Former Greater Sudbury resident Meagan McGrath is flying off to Punta Arenas, Chile, bringing her one step closer to starting her Antarctic Odyssey.

The 32-year-old member of the Canadian Forces will trek across Antarctica, from the coast to the South Pole, while dragging 225 lbs. of food, fuel, and equipment in a sled. The estimated length of the journey is 45 days, and she will be making is solo.

This would make her Canada's first person to ski solo from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole.

The flight is departing from Ottawa today at noon, and will see her arrive first in Santiago, Chile, before heading to Punta Arenas.

After the last days of preparation in the seaport town, McGrath will be flown to Patriot Hills in Antarctica. Once her equipment has arrived safely, she will be flying in a Twin Otter to Hercules Inlet and from there, will begin her journey.

The expedition is slated to begin on Nov. 29, but is dependent on weather conditions.

"I've been spending the past few weeks taking care of the final planning details for this expedition," said McGrath in a press release from Science North.

"I have secured all the necessary gear required for an expedition of this calibre and have been speaking with people who are experts in polar travel, such as Ray Zahab. I am confident that I am ready to take on this extreme challenge," she said.

Zahab is one of three Canadians who broke the world speed record from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole in Jan. 2009.

Though McGrath is making the journey solo, she will be in contact with people all through her journey.

"I have a communications manager in place with whom I will check in with daily. I will also be phoning in regular updates to the Science North website," said McGrath.

McGrath first rose to fame when she became the first Canadian Forces member as well as the youngest Canadian female to climb to the top of Mount Everest, completing the "Seven Summits", a climb to the top of the highest peaks on seven continents, in 2007.

In 2008, she reached the top of Carstensz Pyramid, the highest mountain in Oceania, becoming the only Canadian female and the first Canadian Forces member to achieve both versions of the Seven Summits.

She also competed in the Marathon des Sables, a seven-day race through the Sahara desert that year, placing in the top 25 women in the race.

In preparation for her Antarctic Odyssey, she traveled to the North Pole in 2009.

Those interested in following Meagan McGrath's Antarctic Odyssey can visit www.sciencenorth.ca/meagan on a regular basis.