Polar Dream: The First Solo Expedition by a Woman and Her Dog to the Magnetic North Pole
by Helen Thayer
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Description
Helen Thayer walked and skied for 27 days in the Arctic, pulling a 160-pound sled for 364 miles in order to become the first woman--and the oldest person at age 50--to travel on foot, unresupplied, to the magnetic North Pole. Her only companion was a 94-pound dog, Charlie, who was trained by the Inuit to warn of approaching bears. Thayer faced and survived seven confrontations with polar bears thanks to her own quick wits and the keen senses of Charlie. Polar Dream is as much the story of a show more unique bonding between dog and human as it is the saga of Thayer's heroic trek through the Arctic wasteland. In this updated edition, Thayer adds fascinating new information about her expedition as well as offering reflections on how this journey in 1988 changed her life. This updated edition also includes exciting new photographs taken by the author during her solo trek. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Read this while planning a polar trip. I was suprised at how well written it was for someone who was not a writer - and it didn't seem to be ghostwritten. Lots of drama, emotion. It lacked some sappy emotional overdose after the ending - which I won't spoil - so that was a relief. Also a relief was a third of the book being written about all the prep. So it get's moving quickly, the right mix of technical, emotional, factual, etc - very engrossing. You will read this more quickly than you might think due to the excitement in it.
Great! In her 50th year, Helen decides to go by foot to the North Pole.....solo. (except the Eskimos up there won't let her go without at least a dog... good polar bear alarm...) I met the author years later and walked up to her, asking "Can I see your fingers?". She laughed.
thayer is a great writer. always positive. tells you all the details. sorry to finish her arctic story.
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Adventure Travel & Exploration In The Polar Regions
8 works; 6 members
Author Information
3 Works 297 Members
Helen Thayer, born and raised in New Zealand, became the first woman to walk and ski to the magnetic North Pole -- a feat accomplished at age 50 and recounted in the book Polar Dream. Helen has received numerous awards and accolades for her adventures, including being named by the National Geographic Society/National Public Radio as one of the show more great explorers of the 20th century. She and her husband Bill live in the foothills of Washington's North Cascades show less
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Helen Thayer; Charlie
- Important places
- North Pole; Arctic
Classifications
- Genres
- Travel, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, Science & Nature
- DDC/MDS
- 910.91432 — History & geography Geography & travel modified standard subdivisions of Geography and travel Explorers & Travelers Geography of and travel in areas, regions, places in general Land, Landforms
- LCC
- G635 .T44 .A3 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Geography (General) Arctic and Antarctic regions
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 138
- Popularity
- 237,146
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.78)
- Languages
- Dutch, English, German, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 10
- ASINs
- 2
