Reena Kaushal becomes the first Indian woman to skii to South Pole

Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu a mountaineer from Delhi, ended the year 2009 on a high note as she became the first Indian woman to ski to the bottom of planet i.e. South Pole. She was part of an all-women expedition that skied for eight to ten hours a days for 40 days straight,traversing a 915km path, braving chilly winds, sub-zero temperatures, the vast emptiness of Antarctica and carried 80 kg of load on their backs through one of the coldest and most desolate regions of the world. Close to midnight of 30th December , Reena reached the trademark mirror ball in the middle of nowhere of white continent that marks the geographic South Pole.

Reena Kaushal

Not only her family and friends but whole India too become proud of her achievement.For 38 year old Reena this achieving this feet was no simple. There were several barricades on her mission like first she has to arrange huge loan to fund her and then she `has to compete with all top mountaineers of world as by the time she was finally selected she had edged out 116 compatriots to get the right to represent India in the eight-women Commonwealth team expedition. Similarly getting sponsors was no simple as everyone including goverment & private companies has shown no interest. Finally her family has to take loan from bank . This has now marked her achievement more unique.Her husband who is also a classic mountaineer himself has incidently climbed Mt everest thrice and has congratulated her on successfuly completing such a arduous journey.Reena a daughter of an Armyman did her mountaineering training from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling and has been on IMF expeditions to Gangotri 1, the first ascent of Argan Kangri, Fluted Peak, Stock Kangri, Phawararang, Mt Nun and others. She is currently a freelance instructor with the US-headquartered National Outdoor Leadership Schools (NOLS) that teaches outdoor skills to people.Reena has always said that she want to encourage more Indian women to take up careers in the outdoor industry having battled for the right to do so herself.