Polar Dream: The Heroic Saga of the First Solo Journey by a Woman and Her Dog to the Pole Book

Seldom has there been a story as enthralling or inspiring as Polar Dream - the real life adventure of Helen Thayer's courageous journey to the magnetic North Pole. In 1988 - at the age of 50 - Helen Thayer became the first woman to ski solo to the Pole, her only companion a big, black husky she'd named Charlie. Polar Dream is the vivid first-person account of this grueling 27-day odyssey, during which Helen and Charlie trekked 345 miles through the desolation and dangers of the Arctic. There they braved brutal subzero temperatures, gale-force storms, treacherous ice floes and, toward the end of the journey, near starvation as well as the greatest danger of all - marauding polar bears. But Polar Dream is more than a tale of heroic determination in a hostile world of ice. It is also a testament to the intense bond of love and trust that developed between Helen and Charlie, a dog wise in the ways of Arctic survival. Several times, Charlie risked his own life to protect Helen from huge, hungry bears. And he learned to become just as skillful at begging for Helen's food and, eventually, winning his way into her tent - and her heart. Helen writes of the incredible beauty of the Arctic and of her hopes, fears, and deep feelings of isolation. Her book is an amazing account of courage and endurance in the face of unrelenting hardship, and a touching tale of loyalty and love between human and animal that will not soon be forgotten.

This first-person account of a woman's grueling 27-day odyssey, trekking 345 miles across the Northern ice cap with her dog, is a both a remarkable adventure story and a testament to the intense bond of love and trust that developed between Thayer and Charlie, her beloved husky. 8-page photo insert.