Kaamya Karthikeyan, an 18-year-old from Mumbai and daughter of an Indian Navy officer, has etched her name in history as the youngest Indian and second-youngest woman globally to ski to the South Pole, reaching her destination on 27 December 2025 after covering 115 km from 89° South amid -30°C temperatures and gale-force winds while pulling a sled.
The Indian Navy congratulated her on social media as an alumna of Navy Children School, praising her completion of the Seven Summits and her pursuit of the Explorers Grand Slam; her family and mentors expressed unbridled pride with no reported challenges from stakeholders. This marks her latest milestone following the summit of Mount Vinson on 24 December 2024, underscoring a prodigious journey of resilience and ambition.​
Polar Perseverance Amid Antarctic Fury
Kaamya’s South Pole expedition, known as the Last Degree challenge, demanded she ski approximately 60 nautical miles (115 km) on foot, hauling her full expedition load through Antarctica’s unforgiving terrain of sastrugi wind-sculpted ice ridges and unpredictable whiteouts.
Temperatures plunged to -30°C, compounded by gale-force winds that tested her endurance over 10 grueling days, yet she emerged triumphant, embodying the unyielding spirit of exploration.
The Indian Navy’s official statement captured national admiration: “Kaamya braved harsh weather of -30℃, gale force winds… The Nation salutes her indomitable spirit. Indian Navy wishes her fair winds and clear skies on the final milestone of conquering the #NorthPole.”
As an alumna of Navy Children School in Mumbai, she credits her naval family father a serving officer, mother a dedicated teacher for instilling the discipline and values that propelled her from classroom dreams to polar reality. ​
From Himalayan Peaks to Polar Extremes
Kaamya’s path to the South Pole is a tapestry woven from a series of breathtaking accomplishments that began in her early teens, transforming her into one of India’s most celebrated young adventurers. At just 17 in 2024, she became the youngest Indian and second-youngest female to summit Mount Everest via the Nepal side on 20 May, navigating the treacherous Khumbu Icefall and Hillary Step amid thin air and avalanches.
This Everest triumph was merely a stepping stone; she swiftly completed the Seven Summits the highest peaks on each continent including Aconcagua in 2020 as the youngest girl ever, a ski-descent of Europe’s Elbrus in 2018, and a historic non-American ascent of North America’s Denali in 2022.
Her most recent pre-polar feat was scaling Antarctica’s Mount Vinson on 24 December 2024, rounding out the summits in record time. Now, with the South Pole ski under her belt, Kaamya is laser-focused on the Explorers Grand Slam an elite challenge requiring the Seven Summits plus full ski traverses to both the North and South Poles.
Raised in a disciplined naval household that moved across bases, she discovered mountaineering at 13, drawing inspiration from trailblazers like Felicity Aston, the youngest woman to ski solo across Antarctica.
These milestones reflect not just physical prowess but a strategic progression, where each expedition builds skills for the next, from high-altitude acclimatisation to polar survival techniques honed through rigorous training in the Himalayas and beyond.​
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Kaamya Karthikeyan’s extraordinary odyssey from the snow-capped sentinels of the world’s highest mountains to the desolate expanses of Antarctica serves as a luminous beacon of human potential, harmoniously blending personal grit, familial encouragement, and a profound respect for nature’s raw power.
In an era where climate change imperils polar ice caps and youthful aspirations often clash with societal barriers, her story champions empathy, coexistence, and the kindness inherent in pursuing dreams that unite rather than divide.
At The Logical Indian, we wholeheartedly celebrate such narratives that foster positive social change, urging India to invest in adventure education, equitable access to training facilities, and mentorship programmes that empower more young prodigies, especially from diverse backgrounds, to explore without limits.
