Arctic explorer Camilla Hempleman-Adams is attempting to become the first solo woman to cross Canada’s Baffin Island in temperatures as low as -40°, saying she hopes it will inspire women to break boundaries.
Camilla, 32, from Wiltshire – whose father is decorated British explorer Sir David Hempleman-Adams – will be using a sledge on the 150-mile route, which she expects to complete within 14 days. The expedition will also seek to highlight the impact felt by the local Inuit communities as a result of climate change, witnessed over generations of travel to the region, that has negatively changed the local way of life.
Camilla, who became the youngest British female to ski to the North Pole when just 15, flies out with her father from Heathrow on Thursday, 13 March, and hopes to start the 14-day challenge a couple of days later.
She’ll be traversing Baffin Island solo, from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung, through the wild and unforgiving landscape of Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island, Canada’s largest island.
Figures for Camilla’s Baffin Solo attempt supported by whisky distillery Torabhaig:
📍 66.6660° N, 65.1346° W
⏳ Estimated Duration: 14 days
📏 Distance: 241 km (150 miles)
🌬 Wind Speeds: 20 to 109 km/h (12 to 68mph)
❄️ Average Temp: -20°C to -40°C (-4 to -40°F)
She said: ‘I have two sisters and growing up in a family of explorers our dad would always encourage us to take on challenges regardless of our gender – it’s a nightmare when we get together to play games at Christmas.
‘I was part of a similar trek group across Baffin Island two years ago and I thought, I can do this solo. I want to show other women out there that boundaries can be broken and I hope this expedition inspires more women to take on adventures and challenges of their own.’
Camilla, who lives in South London and works in TV production, will be taking a satellite phone and will update a daily online blog.
In the meantime, she’s continuing her preparation for the gruelling challenge, including weight training, cardio and dragging heavy tyres.
Emma Sprackling, of Torabhaig Distillery which is supporting the attempt, said: ‘Camilla has an incredible explorer family pedigree, and we’ve loved supporting her father’s expeditions over the years, but this solo arctic adventure is all about inspiring younger women to follow in her footsteps.’
Torabhaig Distillery has a long-standing relationship with the Hempleman-Adams family through supporting Sir David Hempleman-Adams on previous expeditions. Sir David will be waiting at the finish line for Camilla this time round, where they intend to raise a dram of Torabhaig together in celebration.
- https://baffinsolo.com/
- Camilla Hempleman-Adams: Baffin Island Solo Expedition Diary | Substack
- https://www.instagram.com/camillahempleman/
- https://torabhaig.com/
