Woman Spent 6 Hours a Day Dragging Tires to Train for Solo Ski Trip. 3 Years Later, She Set a Record at the South Pole (Exclusive)
By David Chiu
Published on May 4, 2026.
Monet Eliastam, a 36-year-old woman from South Hamilton, Mass., set a record for the first American woman to reach the South Pole without support and without assistance. She spent 6 hours a day pulling tires in Kathmandu, Sicily, Vermont and Massachusetts to simulate the 250-lb. gear she would have to haul for the adventure, which she spent most of her training sessions. She followed in the footsteps of Preet Chandi, a British Army officer and the first woman of color to achieve this feat. Eliastams, who leads group trips around the world, began her journey on Nov. 23, 2025, from Punta Arenas, Chile to Union Glacier, a camp run by Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions (ALE). Over the next 57 days, she gradually increased the amount of time she skied per day, spending her days in a 700-mile journey. Her daily meals consisted of oatmeal, candy bars, ramen, almonds and cashews.
Related Articles
Zambia is the world's walking safari capital
Despite being the world's leading walking safari destination, Zambia's reputation for high risk and unpredictable nature, is well-known for its high risk, especially with its near-complete lack of visibility.
JetBlue, Frontier shares rise as Spirit shutdown makes room for growth
JetBlue and Frontier shares rose as Spirit's exit from a no-frills model allows rivals to gain market share and enhance margins across airlines.
Spirit Airlines Says Customer Refunds Almost Complete After Winding Down Business
Spirit Airlines is nearly complete with refunds for customers who were stranded after its abrupt shutdown, following a series of setbacks.