A NORWEGIAN WITH TIES TO STARBUCK IS YOUNGEST PERSON TO EVER REACH THE SOUTH POLE SOLO AND UNSUPPORTED

A 21-year-old Norwegian woman with ties to the Starbuck and Lowry area recently became the youngest person to reach the South Pole on skis, solo and without assistance.

Karen Kyllesø accomplished the feat in January, 114 years after fellow Norwegian and polar explorer Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the South Pole.

Kyllesø, born on May 9, 2003, covered the 702 miles in just under 54 days.

“It’s a page written in polar history,” her mentor, Norwegian adventurer Lars Ebbesen, told AFP, one of the world’s three major news agencies, and the only European one. 

Kyllesø posted images on Instagram of her reaching the South Pole.

The young Scandinavian thereby dethroned Pierre Hedan of France, who, according to Guinness World Records, held the record for being the youngest person to reach the South Pole, solo and unassisted, at the age of 26.   

Kyllesø, who is just 5 feet tall and weighs 106 pounds, pulled a sled weighing 100 kilos, (about 220 pounds) or twice her weight, in her bid to reach the pole.

In a November interview with adventure company Shackleton, Kyllesø said that “gaining weight has been one of the hardest parts.”

“Since I’m smaller than the average male doing this, I need extra weight and strength to pull the same load,” she said, adding that she built up her body weight by 10% before the expedition.

Kyllesø arrived at the South Pole in temperatures of around -25 degrees Celsius or (-13 degrees Fahrenheit).

“It was wonderful to arrive after such a long trip. At the same time, I felt a bit empty, so it was a bit of a strange feeling to finally be at the finish line. But it was very nice, and I felt a great sense of accomplishment,” Karen Kyllesø told Stavanger Aftenblad newspaper on the phone from the South Pole.

Because of a lot of clouds, she couldn’t see the pole from afar, but when she could finally see it, it was a nice feeling, she said.

Sid Stivland told the Tribune & Times that  Karen’s trek took 54 days and covered 1133.65 km (704.5 miles).  This was a solo, unsupported trek on cross country skis, which means she towed two sleds containing all food, tent, sleeping bag, navigation instruments, and emergency supplies.  The sleds together weighed twice as much as her body weight. She received no external support in the form of drop-offs or pre-staged supplies.  Temperatures were in the -25 to -30 degree C range with wind chill temps in the -35 C range (or -30 Fahrenheit).

Karen Kyllesø’s connection 

to Pope County

Karen Malena Kyllesø, the granddaughter of Kristian Vik Kyllesø, has deep ties to both Norway and the United States, with her ancestry tracing back through generations of family history. Kristian, born in Norway, is the second cousin of Sid Stivland, who provided this information to the Pope County Tribune & Times. His grandfather, Ommund Gramstad, was the brother of Sid Stivland’s grandmother, Inga Ommunda Jorgensdatter Gramstad.

Inga was born in Norway in 1882 and, in 1902, left her homeland and immigrated to Dane County, Wisconsin. Two years later, she married Carl Svendsen Norland, later known simply as Carl Norland. The couple first lived in Wisconsin and Iowa before moving to Pope County, where they settled on a farm just north of Starbuck. They raised eight children, one of whom was the Sid Stivland’s mother, Gudrun.

In 1940, Gudrun married Ralph Stivland, and the couple operated a farm near Lowry. Carl and Inga’s sons, Ralph and Norman Norland, attended Starbuck High School. Norman later managed the Farmers Union Oil in Starbuck for many years. Carl and Inga were lifelong members of Indherred Lutheran Church and all of their children were confirmed by Rev. Gerhard Forde.  Sid recalls many Saturday nights in Starbuck with Grandpa Carl, listening to the mostly Norwegian conversation punctuated with periodic interruptions from Arnold Dullum patrolling the streets of Starbuck on horseback.  

Meanwhile, Ommund Gramstad, who stayed in Norway, married and had two sons, Haakon and Trygve. Haakon, in turn, married Solveig Vik and had five sons, one of whom was Kristian. Kristian later married and had two children, Helene and Haakon. Haakon is Karen Kyllesø’s father, linking her directly to this rich family history that spans both sides of the Atlantic.

The following story was written by Amelia Steele for Shackleton.com and was written just before she accomplished her history-making ski trip to the South Pole.

Karen Kyllesø’s journey to become the youngest to ski solo to the South Pole

Karen Kyllesø, 21, is setting out to make history by becoming the youngest person to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole, a record she hopes to break by an impressive six years. This extraordinary goal stems from her deep-rooted passion for exploration, adventure, and personal growth. Amelia Steele sat down to interview her ahead of her departure to Antarctica.

“For me, the biggest inspiration is dreams – working towards them,” Karen reflects. She credits polar explorers like Liv Arneson, the first woman to ski solo to the South Pole, as inspirational figures who fuel her ambition. “There are so many inspiring explorers out there, it’s hard to pick just a few.” Beyond the influence of other adventurers, it’s her drive to push her own limits that keeps her moving forward. “That sense of accomplishment when you complete something hard—it’s a big motivator.”

GEARING UP FOR THE SOUTH POLE

Karen’s rigorous training has involved a series of expeditions, including an early journey to Greenland in 2018. “That was a while ago,” she says, “but it’s still relevant experience.” Her longest solo expedition so far was a challenging three-week trek in northern Norway, with additional week-long trips this year to maintain her readiness.

“It was on that three-week solo expedition that I learned the most,” she recalls. “It was my first time being alone for that long. There were a lot of things I had to handle on my own – just the feeling of being far from home for that amount of time.”

Back home, Karen has broken her training down into phases. “Winter was focused on expedition training, spring and summer were for endurance training—running and tire pulling—and I did some altitude training in the Alps,” she explains. Now, as her departure draws closer, her attention is on strength training, a critical component for the demands of skiing across Antarctica.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES ON THE JOURNEY

Gearing up for such an intense expedition hasn’t been without its challenges. “Actually, gaining weight has been one of the hardest parts,” Karen notes. “Since I’m smaller than the average male doing this, I need extra weight and strength to pull the same load.” She’s spent time building up her body weight by 10%, bringing her closer to the level of physical preparedness necessary for such a task.

She has also developed specialized equipment, including a unique pulk system (sled) designed with low-friction materials, and she helped design a lightweight, durable tent for shelter in the extreme Antarctic conditions.

Another element Karen has prepared for is the solitude she’ll experience. “I try to focus on my inner motivation when times get hard,” she shares. “It’s important to remember why I’m doing this, rather than being motivated by external things, like trying to impress others.”

THE ROAD AHEAD

With her departure approaching, Karen is remarkably calm, although she acknowledges there will be difficult moments. “I feel prepared to handle those times,” she says, though she does have some nerves about logistics and avoiding injuries during her journey. She’s most excited to experience the mental and physical impact of such an expedition. “My past expeditions have boosted my confidence, and I think this one will have the biggest impact.”

Karen believes this journey will be transformative. “It will give me more confidence and show me that every problem has a solution. I hope it inspires others to take steps toward their own big goals,” she says. Her advice to others? Start small. “Build confidence gradually instead of jumping straight to something as big as the South Pole. Take small steps.”

Aiming to break the current record would be a notable achievement for any explorer, but for Karen, it’s about much more than just that. “The record itself isn’t what motivates me, but it’s cool that I’d be breaking both the overall and female record,” she says. “It’s great to have a woman up there on that list.”

ONLINE INFORMATION

Websites with information about Karen Kyllesø

www.shackleton.com/Youngest to Pole | Karen Kylleso

www.asnes.com/ambassador/karen-marlena-kylleso/  (This Website is in the Norwegian language.)

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