Bonita Norris: 'mental challenge'

The woman who was the youngest female Briton to summit Everest has spoken of her latest venture: a trek to the North Pole.

The 23-year-old said the relentless cold and frozen terrain provided a bigger mental challenge than her Everest climb.

The Berkshire woman reached the pole on 13 April with an expedition led by Alan Chambers, the first Briton to reach the North Pole unsupported, in 2000.

Ms Norris said: “Although trekking to the North Pole was not as physically challenging as climbing Everest, it was far more of a mental challenge than I could ever have anticipated.

“The cold is so relentless; you never get a moment away from it. During the Everest expedition we had new challenges every day, but in the North Pole it’s simply a case of looking at your feet for eight hours a day in the freezing conditions – making it hard to stay focused, although you know you have to because you are creeping through unforgiving territory by the skin of your teeth.”

She got a taste of the arctic conditions when she stepped off her plane and took the first breaths of air at –23C. “It was like swallowing a thousand knives; the bitter air was a deadly comparison from the warm aircraft; I choked at the shock. Within seconds of stepping off the plane I felt I was in the coldest environment I had been in my life. Everest didn’t seem to compare.

“All I can remember thinking was ‘what on earth am I doing here?’ The thought of heading even further north onto the barren sea ice seemed ridiculous, impossible even.

“But, it is testament to the human body – within a day my team of intrepid skiers and I were walking around town in little more than thermals and Karrimor windproofs. We even began taking our gloves off!

“And yes, Everest reaches far lower temperatures but when heading into the death zone one is often more prepared for the cold than when stepping off a plane.”

The explorer described how, at one point crossing a frozen-over lead – a channel of open water – a sickening crunch broke the polar silence. “We froze in fear but the ice had begun to move,” she said.  “Water suddenly appeared, bubbling menacingly around my team-mate’s skis. He was half way across the lead and the solid ice he has stepped onto was now morphing before our eyes to liquid.

“We retreated as fast as we could on skis with heavy sledges. Looking back to where we had tried to cross, the landscape has completely changed.

“This happened twice that last day to the Pole. We really were on thin ice as we covered those last few miles. The spring melt was on its way and where we stood would soon be ocean. It was time to reach the pole and get out of there!”

A short time later they reached the pole. She said: “Alan got the exact reading on his GPS – this was it! We hugged; we cheered and I think some even got teary eyed.

“A toast was made and as the shot of cognac hit the back of my throat it burnt like fire. The liquor had almost congealed to syrup in the cold. I felt sick for a good half an hour.”

Ms Norris was supported on her expedition by gear company Karrimor. “Karrimor provide me with kit that is essential for my adventures and it was great to have their support and equipment on this trip,” she said.

Bonita plans to carry on climbing through the summer

She added: “I have been overwhelmed by the support I have got from this challenge and have managed to raise £16,000 for the Forces Children charity which does fantastic work for children whose parents have died or been seriously injured whilst serving as a member of the British armed forces.

“It means so much to me to be raising money for such a fantastic charity.”

Pete Gostling, marketing manager for Karrimor said: “We are delighted to be working with Bonita as one of our sponsored athletes.

“Bonita has a fantastic attitude to life and an ambition that is reflected in the Karrimor brand. It is great to be working with such an enthusiastic adventurer and we look forward to supporting her through the future challenges that lie ahead.”

She now plans to mount an expedition to the South Pole, hopefully in January next year, and in the meantime is filling her time rockclimbing in the UK and tackling routes in the Alps.

The North Pole expedition was sponsored by Vocalink alongside Mobile Phone Top-UP at an ATM and Your Cash.