By Trendsetter Tribune 
Monet Eliastam has made history as the first American woman to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole, completing a grueling 700-mile journey over 57 days. The 36-year-old Massachusetts native hauled a 250-pound sled across Antarctica, battling temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero while skiing 10 to 15 hours a day.
Eliastam shared her expedition in real time on Instagram, giving followers an unfiltered look at the highs and lows of her journey. “I wanted people to see the struggles, not just the finish line,” she said. Motivational messages written on her tent helped her push through exhausting days, and she burned around 7,000 calories daily while eating only 5,000.
Her journey was inspired by a mix of family history and role models. A decade ago, a message about her great uncle’s missing WWII plane sparked her interest in exploration, and the accomplishments of Preet Chandi, the first woman of color to ski solo to the South Pole, convinced her the goal was attainable.
Eliastam’s preparation was intense: three years of cardio, strength training, and tire-pulling exercises to simulate sled weight, plus cold-weather training in Greenland, Norway, and Minnesota.
Reflecting on her achievement, she said, “We all have that strength within us. Pushing out of our comfort zones is how we learn the depth within us.”
Eliastam’s historic feat is more than an endurance accomplishment—it’s an inspiration for anyone willing to chase the seemingly impossible.