Camera IconCredit: Supplied

Political tension between Russia and Ukraine delays super athlete Katie Sarah’s North Pole bid

Penelope DebelleThe Advertiser

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Adelaide adventurer Katie Sarah is grounded at a remote Norwegian outpost unable to begin her bid to ski to the North Pole because of international tensions between Russia and the Ukraine.

Speaking from Longyearbyen in Norway, a settlement so isolated no one can venture outside without a rifle because of polar bears, Ms Sarah said the window for flying to the starting point for her record-breaking trek could close early next week.

Katie Sarah climbed Antarctica's highest volcanic summit — 4285m Mount Sidley.
Camera IconKatie Sarah climbed Antarctica's highest volcanic summit — 4285m Mount Sidley. Credit: Supplied

While a decision to fly could come as soon as today, she was feeling frustrated and pessimistic.

“It’s 50:50 we won’t get there and I’m not sure which way it is leaning,” she said. “Thinking it’s not going to happen is not a good state to be in when you’re preparing for something like this. It’s now feeling very pessimistic and negative.”

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She said a political delay was much harder to handle than problems with the weather.

“I am so frustrated, it’s really messing with our minds,” she said. “You can deal with the weather mentally but this is people needing to talk to people and resolve issues.”

She and husband Tim must fly to the last degree of latitude before the North Pole, to the Barneo Ice Camp which exists each year for a short window in April, subject to ice conditions. They will then trek from there to the Pole, pulling a sled with their provisions. Tension between Russia and Ukraine — which worsened late last year after Russia attacked a Ukrainian gunboat and took prisoners — appear to be behind the issue stopping the Ukrainian crew from flying a Russian plane to the camp.

Katie Sarah trekking to the South Pole last year.
Camera IconKatie Sarah trekking to the South Pole last year. Credit: Supplied

“I’m not in a position to comment on what the problem is, we are getting conflicting reports and reasons,” Ms Sarah said by phone from Longyearbyen.

A successful expedition to the North Pole would catapult Ms Sarah into an elite international class of super-athletes who have achieved the Adventurers’ Seven-Seven Grand Slam which involves climbing the seven tallest mountains, the seven tallest volcanoes plus trekking to the North and South Poles. Only three men have done it and Ms Sarah, 50, would be the first woman.

Now, after a year of training and a successful trek late last year to the South Pole, Ms Sarah said she had passed the point of being fired up and ready to go. She is maintaining fitness at a hotel gym and yesterday and went for a ski with an armed guide and hopes to go again but even a run was difficult because of the risk of a fall on ice.

No one is sure how much of a window is left before she must abandon her attempt.

“It’s a really short season in this area, shorter than Antarctica,” she said. “This is half that time or less. The latest we could leave would be the beginning of next week.” If they are cleared to go in time, Ms Sarah faces a gruelling eight to ten day trek to the Pole which will be much more difficult than the South Pole which is across land and ice.

The North Pole trek is on ice over water which is more hazardous and unpredictable.