Latest news with #CamillaHempleman-Adams
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Adventurer apologises over ‘first' Baffin Island claim after Inuit backlash
A British adventurer who claimed to be the first woman to solo traverse Canada's largest island has apologised after she was criticised for her 'ignorance'. Camilla Hempleman-Adams battled temperatures as low as minus 40C and winds of 47mph during the two-week expedition. The 32-year-old covered 150 miles on foot and by ski while pulling a sledge, and finished in 13 days – a day faster than expected. The solo trek across Canada's largest island took Ms Hempleman-Adams from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung, through the unforgiving landscape of Auyuittuq National Park. Members of the native Inuit population said her claim was incorrect and said people living there having travelled the same route for generations. Writing on Instagram, Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, an Inuit artist based in Ottawa, said: 'If you look deeper you'll see a larger problem: erasure of Inuit on our own lands. 'In news coverage, Baffin Island is said to be uninhabited, with not much life. 'There is no way in hell a British coloniser is coming to Inuit Nunaat in 2025 and claiming any firsts. 'My gramma walked hundreds of kilometres yearly, often pregnant, to spring fishing and winter caribou hunting grounds because that was life. 'Every inch of this continent has indigenous history and stories like this. Help me call out this ignorant and racist behaviour.' Following the criticism, Ms Hempleman-Adams said: 'I want to express my apologies for any offence caused by recent articles regarding my solo winter traverse from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung through the Akshayuk Pass. 'It was never my intention to misrepresent any historical achievements or cause distress to local communities. 'Before undertaking the expedition, I researched and verified the accuracy of my claim with Parks Canada and local outfitters in both towns who confirmed that there was no known female solo winter crossing from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung. 'However, if this information is incorrect, I apologise unreservedly for making an incorrect claim and for causing offence. 'I have deep respect for the land, its people, and their history. 'I have travelled in this region multiple times and hold immense admiration for its nature, culture and traditions. 'I am truly saddened that the coverage of my journey may have caused concern or upset, and I remain committed to learning from this experience and engaging with the community with the utmost respect.' Ms Hempleman-Adams, a producer living in London, previously became the youngest British female to ski to the North Pole at the age of just 15. She hoped the Baffin Island challenge would inspire women to break boundaries, as well as highlight the impact of climate change on the region and its Inuit communities. The attempt was supported by Torabhaig Distillery, a whisky maker on the Isle of Skye.
Telegraph
09-04-2025
- Telegraph
British adventurer triggers colonialism row over historic Canadian island trek
A British adventurer has been accused of having a 'dangerous colonial attitude' after she claimed to be the first woman to cross Canada's largest island solo. Camilla Hempleman-Adams, the daughter of explorer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, traversed the 150-mile width of Baffin Island on foot and by ski in 13 days last month. But the 32-year-old has been criticised by Inuits for displaying 'privilege and ignorance' because she claimed she is the first woman in history to do so. Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, an Inuit who lives in Ottawa, Ontario, said Canada's indigenous population had been criss-crossing the island for generations. 'If you want to come and enjoy the outdoors, please do so,' she said. 'The danger is going back with this colonial attitude and disseminating information like the Inuit don't have history there. 'Saying you're the 'first person' to do anything in an indigenous country is insulting. Show respect to the land and the people who have kept it pristine for your adventures.' Ms Kabloona added: 'This woman is coming here from such a place of privilege and ignorance that it seems dangerous. It was almost like she was bringing back news of a new continent to Europe and saying 'there's nobody here!' We were and still are.' Ms Hempleman-Adams, who is from Wiltshire but lives in London, had previously claimed that her expedition along the Akshayuk Pass from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung would be the first 'female solo attempt'. Following the backlash, her website has been changed to instead claim that she was attempting to become 'the first British woman' to traverse the route. Ms Hempleman-Adams said: 'I want to express my apologies for any offence caused by recent articles regarding my solo winter traverse from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung through the Akshayuk Pass. It was never my intention to misrepresent any historical achievements or cause distress to local communities. 'Before undertaking the expedition, I researched and verified the accuracy of my claim with Parks Canada and local outfitters in both towns who confirmed that there was no known female solo winter crossing from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung. However, if this information is incorrect, I apologise unreservedly for making an incorrect claim and for causing offence. 'I have deep respect for the land, its people, and their history. I have travelled in this region multiple times and hold immense admiration for its nature, culture and traditions. I am truly saddened that the coverage of my journey may have caused concern or upset, and I remain committed to learning from this experience and engaging with the community with the utmost respect.' Ms Hempleman-Adams battled temperatures as low as minus 104F (40C) and winds of up to 45mph on the expedition. After she finished the journey, she said: 'When you go in by yourself, you just have a mindset to keep going. You adapt, you have the mindset that you can't give up. There is no giving up in those conditions. I was firmly just, keep going, one step in front of the other.' Her father Sir David flew out to see her complete the expedition. He said: 'What she's achieved is quite extraordinary. I was really, really worried. She was right on the edge. It was wind speeds of 30 knots [34mph], and that's just dangerous in these temperatures. 'Being solo, you've got to be really on top of your game the whole time. If you just lose concentration for five minutes, it's a real problem. I'm immensely proud of her.' In 2008, Ms Hempleman-Adams became the youngest person to ski to the North Pole at the age of 15.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- BBC News
Camilla Hempleman-Adams first woman to traverse Baffin island solo
Would you like to be an explorer? Where would you travel and how? Somewhere warm, or cold?How about on foot and ski's across Canada's largest island? Well 32-year-old Camilla Hempleman-Adams from Wiltshire has done just that, travelling across Canada's Baffin Island - the first woman to do so solo. Her hope was to finish the snowy challenge in 14 days, but she managed to complete it one day sooner than she'd planned. Camilla covered 150 miles by walking and skiing across the island where very few people live - all whilst pulling a the way she had to battle temperatures as low as minus 40C and winds of up to 75kmph! COLD!This is far from her first achievement as an epic explorer - she previously became the youngest British female to ski to the North Pole at the age of completing her mission, Camilla said: "It's been a really tough two weeks, but an incredible two weeks."Although it wasn't an easy task, she said her mindset helped her to get through tough moments, adding: "There is no giving up in those conditions. I was firmly just, keep going, one step in front of the other." She was also able to be reunited with her dad, fellow explorer Sir David Hempleman-Adams who flew out to Canada to meet her at the finish line. He said: "What she's achieved is quite extraordinary..."I'm immensely proud of her."Well done Camilla!
Sky News
31-03-2025
- Sky News
British explorer Camilla Hempleman-Adams becomes first woman to complete solo traverse of Baffin Island
A British explorer has become the first woman to complete a solo traverse of Canada's Baffin Island. Camilla Hempleman-Adams, 32, pulled a sledge 150 miles in temperatures as low as -40C and winds as high as 47mph. She finished the trek from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung in 13 days - a day ahead of schedule. The largely uninhabited Arctic island is the fifth largest in the world and is in far northwest Canada - between the mainland and Greenland. Speaking from the Inuit hamlet of Pangnirtung, Ms Hempleman-Adams said: "I'm feeling pretty exhausted, I have very sore feet, but it's nice to be back in civilisation, just slowly settling back in. "It's been a really tough two weeks, but an incredible two weeks." "When you go in by yourself, you just have a mindset to keep going," she said. "You adapt, you have the mindset that you can't give up. There is no giving up in those conditions." She admitted she had been looking forward to a hot shower. Her father, adventurer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, flew out to meet her at the finish line. He said he'd been "really, really worried" due to the strong winds - which increase the chance of frostbite. "Being solo, you've got to be really on top of your game the whole time. If you just lose concentration for five minutes, it's a real problem," he said. Sir David added: "It's a fantastic advertisement for females. I mean, we are big, ugly and strong, but she's half my weight and did it twice as fast as I did." Ms Hempleman-Adams also became the youngest British female to ski to the North Pole when she was just 15.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
Woman, 32, completes solo Canadian island traverse
An explorer has completed her attempt to become the first woman to solo traverse across Canada's largest island. Covering 150 miles (241km) on foot and by ski while pulling a sledge across Baffin Island, Camilla Hempleman-Adams battled temperatures as low as minus 40C and winds of 75kmph. The 32-year-old from Wiltshire had hoped to complete the challenge in 14 days, but finished a day faster than anticipated. She said: "It's been a really tough two weeks, but an incredible two weeks." "I'm feeling pretty exhausted, I have very sore feet, but it's nice to be back in civilisation," she added. The solo trek across Baffin Island - Canada's largest island - took Ms Hempleman-Adams from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung, through Auyuittuq National Park. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire Her father, explorer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, flew out to Canada to meet her at the finish line. "What she's achieved is quite extraordinary," he said. "I was really, really worried. She was right on the edge. It was wind speeds of 30 knots [34mph], and that's just dangerous in these temperatures. "Being solo, you've got to be really on top of your game the whole time. If you just lose concentration for five minutes, it's a real problem. "I'm immensely proud of her." On completing her challenge, Ms Hempleman-Adams, who now lives in London, said: "When you go in by yourself, you just have a mindset to keep going. "You adapt, you have the mindset that you can't give up. There is no giving up in those conditions. "I was firmly just, keep going, one step in front of the other," she added. Ms Hempleman-Adams previously became the youngest British female to ski to the North Pole at the age of 15. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Woman aims to be first to complete solo Canadian trek Attempt to fly open basket-balloon across Atlantic abandoned
