Polar Express

Whitman’s director of Outdoor Programs leads successful expedition to the South Pole

Brien Sheedy, world-class mountaineer and director of Whitman’s Outdoor Programs, has successfully led an expedition to ski the last degree of latitude at the South Pole.

After Sheedy’s group reached the bottom of the Earth, he then flew to Vinson Base Camp and led a seven-person team to the summit of Mount Vinson, the highest point in Antarctica.

“Leading an expedition to one of the harshest places on the planet while keeping people safe and helping them realize their goals was a big challenge and it feels good to have succeeded in helping them,” said Sheedy, who holds a master’s degree in geography.

Brien Sheedy and Sam Hennessey ’11

“The outdoors are an amazing place to explore leadership and group dynamics which are topics that I cover in several of my classes at Whitman. Completing a trip like this is valuable because it shows students that through goal setting, planning, organization and persistence it is possible to realize whatever goals they set for themselves.”

Sheedy’s students must be learning his lessons, because on this trip to the bottom of the world Sheedy ran into one of his former students.

“I bumped into my friend Sam Hennessey ’11. I had no idea he was down there,” Sheedy said. “He was working for another company as an assistant guide. It was a heck of a surprise.”

Sheedy guided the expeditions with Keith Heger for The Northwest Passage Polar Explorers, an adventure travel company.

Click hear to hear Sheedy's podcast of an interview with radio station KUJ.