Hard‑wonGains

TherewerefivepeopleonJade’steam.Herfather,Paul,wasontheteam.Paulisanexplorer,too.EricPhilipswastheir guide.


Theroutestarteduphill.Jadestruggledtomovehersled.Thewindwassostrongandsoloudthatshehadtoscreamtobeheard.Shefeltlikeshewasstandingstill.Yet,Jadewaspullingwithallher might.


Thegroundwasslippery.Whentheyweren’tskiing,Jadeandherteamworespikesonthebottomsoftheirboots.Thespikesdugintothe ice.

Withateammatebehindher,Jadeslowlymadeherwayacross the ice.

Theyclimbedhigher.Theymovedthroughthemountains.Theyfoundridgesofice,likefrozenwaves.Thesehadbeenformedbywind.Crossingthemseemed impossible.

Wavesoficewerehardto cross.

Atlast,theyreachedthehighestpointintheirclimb.Jadeknewnoonehadbeentherebefore.Yet,theSouthPolewasstillfar away.

ManDown!

ThegreatestdangersforJade’steamweredeepcracksburiedbysnow.Theteamcarriedropes.Attimes,theyropedthemselvestogetherincasesomebodyfellintooneofthose cracks.


Oneday,Jadeheardayell.Whatwasthat?Ateammemberhadfallenintoacrack!Hewashangingontotheedgewithhisfingers.Jadeandtheteamcamerunning.Luckily,hewasabletopullhimself up.