Omani in all-female team has arrived at North Pole

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Just eight days after starting out on their expedition to reach the North Pole, the mainly novice team of female explorers, including Oman’s Anisa Al Raissi, has arrived on top at the world.

The 11-member Euro-Arabian Polar Expedition, also including Lamees Nijem (Kuwait), Mariam Hamidaddin (Saudi Arabia) and Asma Al Thani (Qatar), reached the North Pole after travelling over 80km on the moving pack ice of the Arctic Ocean.

They faced freezing temperatures, open patches of water in the sea ice, as well as the constant threat of polar bears during their adventure which started on April 15 when the team departed the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

From there they flew to the floating ice station known as ‘Barneo’ and started their ski journey across the Arctic pack ice. Preparations for the expedition have been ongoing for nearly two years including training expeditions in Iceland and Oman.

Led by Felicity Aston MBE, the Euro-Arabian team had an experienced polar guide. In 2012 Aston became the first person in the world to ski across Antarctica alone and without the aid of kites, machines or dogs – a journey of 1,744km that took her 59 days to complete.

She commented at the North Pole: “The team have endured the extreme environment and restricted living spaces with great humour and tremendous sense of adventure.”

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