In a remarkable feat of endurance and exploration, Neeraj Choudhary, an adventurer from Sikar, Rajasthan, has become the first Indian to successfully complete the unassisted horizontal ski crossing of the Greenland ice cap. Choudhary also conquered Mount Everest in 2021.
Choudhary, along with a small team of international explorers, embarked on the challenging 600-kilometer expedition on May 4, 2024, and completed the journey in just 29 days.
The team, which included Dylan Patrick loss (USA), Snider Otto (Norway), Ramanan Navakadadcham (UK), and Roy Love Hansen (Norway), faced numerous obstacles during the expedition. They encountered treacherous ice falls, extreme weather conditions, and even had to evacuate one team member due to medical reasons.
Despite these challenges, the team persevered and reached the east coast on June 1, 2024. The most significant challenge was the weather, with the team facing temperatures as low as -35 degrees Celsius and wind speeds of up to 120 km/hr.
Choudhary, speaking about the expedition, said, “The crossing was a clear success with great teamwork and no outside assistance. We carried our own equipment and supplies, which made the journey even more challenging.
The most difficult part for me was the fact that the fuel got mixed with my food, causing burning sensations in my body for the last nine days of the expedition.”
The expedition was a crucial step in Choudhary’s preparation for his ultimate goal of undertaking a solo and unassisted expedition to the South Pole, which he plans to attempt in the near future.
“This expedition was a practice run for my South Pole expedition, which I had planned for this year but couldn’t undertake due to a lack of funds,” Choudhary said.
“I am determined to make another attempt next year to complete this challenging feat. I belong to the soil of Rajasthan. Born and brought up in Sikar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, the Sun City and Delhi. Work and breathe here. My operational range is 100°C, from 50°C to -50°C,” Choudhary said, reflecting on his journey and his connection to his home state.