65-day. 1400km/870 miles. Solo. Unsupported.
Many people hesitate to pursue bold dreams because they don’t see “someone like them” go first. We inherit quiet assumptions about who is strong enough, brave enough, or meant for extraordinary paths. Everyone has their own idea of what an explorer looks like, but we don’t need to fit a certain mold to take on an extraordinary journey. I think it’s fun not to be molded into a stereotype.
This journey is my way of showing that strength is universal. It isn’t defined by our background, whether that’s gender, age, or ethnicity. I truly believe bold dreams are for anyone with the commitment and patience to keep putting in the work.
The first Japanese person & the second woman in history
In the winter of 2027, I will set out for a 1400km/870 miles sled hauling cross-country ski journey from the Antarctic Coast, Gould Bay, to the South Pole alone, taking the historical Berkner Route.
The Berkner Route is the journey I’ve really wanted to take. It starts from the coast of Antarctica, where the ship could get to if not choked with sea ice. You are so close to the sea that emperor penguins form a colony nearby. It was also Ernest Shackleton’s intended starting point for the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Historically, legendary polar explorers like Borge Ousland, Ranulph Fiennes, and Erling Kagge have taken this route, as did my mentor, Lars Ebbesen.
To undertake this journey alone is a deliberate choice. It is an act of total self-reliance. Even to this day, only 8 men/women have successfully completed a sled-hauling skiing journey from the Berkner coast to the South Pole alone. How many of them are women? Just one.
The Expedition at a Glance
Date: November 2027 to January 2028
Distance: Approx. 1400km/870 miles
Duration: 60-65 days
Style:
• Solo: completely alone, no crew or support staff
• Unsupported: no resupplies; hauling all of the equipment, food, and fuel
• Human-Powered: cross-country skis and man-hauling a sled
Route: the Berkner Route
• Starting point: Gould Bay (Antarctic Coast). It’s located at the Northern end of Berkner Island, where the land meets the Weddell Sea.
• Finish point: The Geographic South Pole
Polar expedition journey to this day
I have spent more than 120 days on Arctic ski expeditions, including a 32-day crossing of Svalbard and a 29-day crossing of the Greenland Ice Sheet, and an 18-day traverse of Arctic Norway during the dark, bitterly cold winter months. Through these expeditions, I have also contributed to climate research and supported girls’ empowerment initiatives.
Over the past few years, I have worked with exceptional coaches and mentors based in Norway, especially those from the Ousland Explorers and Holmenkollen Treningslab.
One conversation I had with my mentor has stayed with me. We talked about approaching challenges not by focusing on why we can’t, but by finding out how we can, because there are solutions to everything.
This problem-solving mentality is probably the most crucial piece of equipment I will carry, and it is the same mindset that has prepared me for this expedition.
Past polar Expeditions
the Berkner Route
What excites me is the range of terrain along the Berkner Route.
It begins near the sea ice, crossing more than 300 km/180 miles of Berkner Island, where the snow is often slow and sticky. From there, the route continues across over 200 km/120 miles of the Filchner Ice Shelf, with sections of hard blue ice, the steep Wujek Ridge, and hills near the mountains, before finally climbing onto the Antarctic continent. Further inland, long stretches of sastrugi, which are wind-formed ridges of snow, can extend for 500 km/300 miles and make progress grueling.
It is also an extremely isolated route, with no nearby ALE flight paths, and few expeditions travel it in the same season. As a result, calling for help is only possible in the most critical situations. To me, this journey is not only about pushing the limits of physical and mental strength, but also about careful planning, problem-solving, and learning to operate in true isolation.
Training & Preparation
I have built my training and decision-making framework alongside some of the most experienced polar professionals in Norway since 2023. I’m especially grateful to Lars Ebbesen of Ousland Explorers and Ole Haldor Ensrud of Holmenkollen Treningslab in Oslo.
Athletic Training
Since 2024, I have worked with Ole Haldor Ensrud of Holmenkollen Treningslab in Oslo, Norway, as my exclusive athletic trainer.
Ole is a former professional cross-country skier from Norway and has coached elite cross-country skiers at the Olympic and World Championship level.
Our work focuses on endurance efficiency, load management, recovery, long-term performance under fatigue, and cross-country skiing technique.
How It All Started
I fell in love with the polar regions after visiting Greenland for the first time in 2018, trekking along the coast of Ilulissat, surrounded by icebergs as tall as skyscrapers.
I became so obsessed with learning about the wildlife, environmental issues, and the daring adventures of the explorers in the polar regions, which planted the seeds for my own polar expedition journey. It’s been my happy place ever since, getting myself involved with science, storytelling, and expeditions in the regions.
Seeking Sponsors & Partnerships
If you are interested in exploring partnership or sponsorship opportunities, I would love to hear from you.
I would be happy to share a detailed presentation covering sponsorship benefits, expedition logistics, and ways we could potentially work together.
contact@ayukakawakami.com