For the past two years, Eliastam has been preparing for what she calls “the greatest adventure of my career,” training across some of the world’s harshest terrains to ready herself for the ultimate challenge: Antarctica. Her route will begin at the edge of the Ronne Ice Shelf and stretch to the geographic South Pole, following the famed Hercules Inlet Route. Over the course of approximately 45 days, Eliastam will pull a 200-pound sled—known as a pulk—on cross-country skis, carrying all the supplies she needs to survive. No resupplies. No companions. Just her and the ice.
The idea was born after Eliastam read about Preet Chandi, the first woman of color to complete the same feat. “Reading about her achievement sparked something deep inside my brain,” she recalls. Despite the fear and the daunting nature of the challenge, Eliastam couldn’t shake the thought: What if I did this too?
Her preparation has been intense and multifaceted. It began with a polar expedition training course in Svalbard, where she spent three days skiing through Arctic backcountry. Since then, she’s undergone glacier skills training, solo wilderness expeditions, and a 30-day ski crossing of Greenland - required by Antarctica Logistics & Expeditions (ALE) before attempting the South Pole. Her training includes:
- Mastering gear repair and usage
- Glacier navigation and crevasse rescue
- First aid and emergency response
- Physical conditioning to endure 12-hour ski days - including a lot of tyrepulling
- Mental resilience for solitude and whiteout conditions
- Advanced navigation in zero visibility
The Timeline
- Jan 2024: Glacier Skills Course
- Feb 2024: Solo training in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters
- May 2024: Greenland Ice Cap Crossing
- Feb 2025: 2-week solo expedition in Norway
- Nov–Dec 2025: Solo South Pole Expedition
The entire Brynje team wishes Monet all the best and good luck on the journey to the South Pole!
