Polar Preet spends second Christmas in a row alone in a tent on the ice
British Army Officer Captain Preet Chandi – known as Polar Preet – continues her race against the clock in Antarctica to set a new world record.
Formally backed by the Princess of Wales, 33-year-old physio and polar explorer Captain Chandi continues her quest to be the first woman to cross Antarctica on her own and unsupported.
In her most recent update, Polar Preet wished her followers on "Phase 2 – day 42" of her journey a "Merry Christmas from Antarctica!"
"I can't afford to rush it. Consistency is vital."
"This is my second Christmas in a row alone in my tent on the ice. I'm making my way through the sastrugi and getting closer to the pole", the polar explorer said in her update.
Her latest expedition is expected to take up to 75 days and if she does not finish by then she will run out of food and she will have to abandon the attempt.
Captain Chandi explained: "Seventy-five days is the maximum time I have in which to complete the journey but it's important to be smart. I can't afford to rush it. Consistency is vital.
"I need to hit the South Pole by a certain point to give me enough time to go down and navigate Reedy Glacier.
"Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions [which supervises all Antarctic expeditions] leaves at the end of January, and I would run out of food and fuel if I'm not finished by then.
"If I haven't made it by then, I'd have to abandon the attempt."
From the South Pole to the base of the Reedy Glacier is roughly 354 nautical miles (655km).
Of this, about 75 nautical miles (140km) are on the glacier, which climbs from about 763m to 2,931m.
Descending Reedy Glacier will be a first for Captain Chandi who is eating 5,000 calories a day to keep her going during the expedition.
This is not her first Antarctic mission, in January she became the first woman of colour to cross Antarctica unsupported, which she completed in 40 days, just short of the female world record.
She battled bouts of sickness as well as the harsh conditions of Antarctica, which meant temperatures of -50°C and wind speeds of up to 60mph.
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
