Kaamya Karthikeyan, an 18‑year‑old mountaineer from Mumbai, has become the youngest Indian and the second‑youngest woman in the world to ski to the South Pole, creating a historic global record. Kaamya completed a demanding 115‑kilometre ski‑and‑trek journey from 89° South to the Geographic South Pole on 27 December 2025. She travelled on foot, pulling a sled carrying all her expedition gear through temperatures near –30°C and strong Antarctic winds.
The Indian Navy announced her success in an official post, calling her a “mountaineering prodigy” and highlighting that she is the daughter of a serving naval officer and an alumna of Navy Children School in Mumbai. This achievement brings her closer to completing the prestigious Explorers Grand Slam, which includes climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents and skiing to both the North and South Poles.
Skiing to the South Pole is considered one of the toughest endurance challenges because of whiteout conditions, crevasses, and the risk of frostbite in extreme cold. Kaamya’s success shows the growing presence of young Indians in high‑risk adventure sports and polar exploration, an area once dominated by Western explorers.
Her journey follows earlier milestones, including completing the Seven Summits Challenge and climbing Mount Everest from the Nepal side as one of the youngest Indian women. Adventure experts say her story will motivate more Indian students, especially girls, to take up mountaineering and outdoor leadership with proper training and safety.
FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions]
1. Who is Kaamya Karthikeyan?
Kaamya Karthikeyan is an 18‑year‑old Indian mountaineer from Mumbai and daughter of an Indian Navy officer. She has already completed the Seven Summits Challenge and now holds a South Pole skiing record.
2. What exactly did she achieve at the South Pole?
She became the youngest Indian and second‑youngest woman globally to ski to the Geographic South Pole. Kaamya skied and trekked about 115 km from 89° South, pulling a fully loaded sled in –30°C conditions.
3. How long and how difficult was her route?
Kaamya covered nearly 60 nautical miles, or about 115 kilometres, across the Antarctic ice plateau. She faced gale‑force winds, low visibility, and extreme cold while managing navigation, camp setup, and safety with her expedition team.
4. What is the Explorers Grand Slam she is attempting?
The Explorers Grand Slam involves climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents and skiing to both the North and South Poles. After her South Pole success, Kaamya now aims to complete the challenge by reaching the North Pole.