JADE HAMEISTER
TREKKING THE WAY FOR YOUNG AUSSIES
Sabrina Muysken talks with Australian Geographic’s 2016 Young Adventurer of the Year about the importance of tackling climate change, shifting the focus from appearances to bravery, and her incredible quest to become the youngest person in the world to complete the Polar Hat Trick.
On the outside Jade Hameister appears just your average year 10 student, who still has no idea what she wants to do when she finishes school. She cites spending time with family and friends, playing with her dog Ava and indulging in caramel slice as some of her favourite pastimes. But beneath the surface, Jade has a deep-rooted passion for exploring this world that has seen her gain experience and understanding far beyond her short years.
From being awarded the title of Australian Geographic’s 2016 Young Adventurer of the Year through her powerful activism in combating climate change to leading her very own TED talks on empowering young women, her journey so far has been nothing short of inspirational. Simply put, Jade is one remarkable Aussie teenager. Although, this deep-rooted zest for life is somewhat unsurprising. With a father, Paul Hameister, who was the 12th Australian to climb the Seven Summits (including Mount Everest), Jade’s adventurous enthusiasm is undoubtedly inherited.
“I was born into a very adventurous family. I grew up in a house where my dad climbed the seven summits, including to the top of Mt Everest when I was 11, and as a family we always did little adventures every year, like Mt Kosciusko…We have also travelled around the world a lot as I’ve been growing up – this is where my love for adventure really began,” reflects Jade.
When she was just 12 years of age, budding adventurer Jade followed in the footsteps of her father and completed the trek to Everest Base Camp. It was an experience that Jade says she’ll never forget.
“Everest Base Camp was amazing! It was so good to go back with the family in 2013 to see where dad had been a couple years prior. We were trekking as part of an expedition aiming to reach the summit with friends of dad’s, and there were some pretty amazing people travelling in that group.”
It was during this trip that Jade became inspired by the courage of two women she had befriended – one who had previously skied to the South Pole solo and the other who had been the first woman to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen.
“I got to know and spend a lot of time with an Icelandic lady called Villa who had skied to the South Pole solo the year before and she shared with me her stories from that expedition. Hearing how amazing the whole thing sounded inspired me to start thinking about my own polar journeys.”
This inspiration led Jade to undertake her very own pursuit, ‘Jade’s Polar Quest’. Otherwise known as the Polar Hat Trick, the quest consists of three difficult journeys around the globe. The first Jade completed in April 2016 – skiing 150km over 11 days to reach the North Pole. The second she accomplished just last month – skiing 550km over 27 days across Greenland. The third Jade will take on this coming December – a mammoth 40 day, 640km journey from the coast of Antartica to the South Pole. And in case her quest wasn’t difficult enough, during all of the expeditions Jade is required to pull a sled containing all of her food and gear that measures 60-100kg in weight. From sleeping in tents in remote locations to battling extreme weather conditions and environments, Jade continues to take it all in her stride, smashing world records and remaining extraordinarily modest as she goes.
“If successful, I will be the youngest person to both Poles and to complete the Polar Hat Trick, the youngest to the North Pole, youngest woman across Greenland and youngest person to the South Pole. I will also be the first Australian woman ever from coast to Pole unsupported and unassisted,” Jade acknowledges.
“But these records were not the reason I wanted to do the trips. In fact, I only found out about some of them recently!”
Beyond the demanding physical journey, the expeditions have so far exposed Jade to a rare, first-hand insight into the alarming reality of the world’s currently dilapidated environment. Ever since, using her new-found public platform, the enlightened youth has been active in raising awareness of the severe impacts of climate change.
“I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to be probably the only representative of my generation to have first-hand experience of earth’s three key polar regions. But I also feel a responsibility to raise awareness of the impacts of global warming on these beautiful and fragile parts of our planet.”
In late 2016 and early 2017, she delivered a series of TED Talks to a combined live audience of over 12 000 students at ImagiNATION in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. She covered not only the topic of climate change but advocated for the empowerment of young women. This can be achievement, she believes, by shifting the focus for young women from how they appear to the possibilities of what they can do.
“I think it’s really important to try and shift the focus for young women from how we appear to the possibilities of what we can do. If by doing something that I love – adventure, I can inspire other young women to do what they love and chase their dream that would be awesome.
“I am conscious with my social media accounts not to focus on posting pretty pictures of me. I hope the theme of my posts is more about me actually doing things, regardless of how I appear.”
In the presentation Jade also discussed her concept of #BraveNotPerfect that encourages young people to choose bravery over perfection. She enthuses that by being courageous we acknowledge that we are imperfect and that we will make mistakes, but we try anyway.
“My message for all young people would be to focus on being brave, not on trying to be perfect. When we try and be perfect, we worry about looking silly and it stops us from trying. When we are brave, we know we may fail but we try anyway. I had only ever skied once before attempting the North Pole!”
Despite her eventful journey so far, the sixteen year old is still uncertain of what her future holds. So long as she is actively working towards positive change in the world, she says she’ll be happy.
“I don’t know exactly what I want to do when I finish school. But I want to keep traveling, doing adventures and hopefully making a positive difference for the empowerment of young women and for the future of our planet.”
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