Rescued from Antarctic crevasse

Meagan McGrath's icy 8-hour ordeal

Meagan McGrath’s icy ordeal lasted for eight hours. She tumbled into a crevasse on the December 2nd, a day after embarking on her Antarctic Odyssey – a gruelling 45-day solo unassisted journey from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. After realising that she was not going to be able to escape on her own, McGrath telephoned Patriot Hills (a commercially operated base camp), for assistance. A team of four was rapidly dispatched and they successfully hauled a very tired and wet McGrath from the crevasse. She suffered broken ribs but was otherwise unhurt.

The experience bought the future of McGrath’s expedition into doubt. She spent days contemplating her physical health, mental wellbeing and the state of her equipment. But on December 6th, she announced  she was planning to continue with the journey. “The decision was made very soundly,” she said. “I didn't call the outside world very much because I wanted to focus on what was the right thing to do.”

Readying herself for departure again, on December 7th, McGrath joked: “if you ever wanted an expedition with no guarantees then this is one for sure, I go in with open spirits and an open mind.” She spent much time improving her skis before heading off again into the frozen wilderness.

McGrath, a former Sudburian and Major in the Canadian Air force, has already completed some impressive adventuring feats. In May 2007, she reached the summit of Mount Everest, making her the youngest Canadian woman to scale the Seven Summits. In April 2008, she finished the Marathon des Sables; an extreme seven-day race through the Sahara desert. And in April 2009, as part of her training for the Antarctic Odyssey, McGrath skied to the North Pole.

McGrath’s Antarctic Odyssey is her most ambitious adventure to date. She will cover over 680 miles on foot during her trip from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole. The journey will be totally unsupported and she will not stop to re-supply. She left hauling 91kg on her sled and 18kg on her back. McGrath plans to travel for a minimum of seven to eight hours a day to achieve her dream of becoming the first Canadian to make the solo ski to the pole.