i n e - l i l l

“Ine-Lill burst onto the Polar scene in 2007 with her and Rita’s extraordinary Mt Vinson / South Pole expedition. Their monster days towards the end were proof of both willpower and unique stamina.
Ine-Lill is her own master, has always gone her own way, and never sought fame! She has meticulously gone through all the grades to become what I would call the complete ‘outdoorer’. She genuinely loves being out there, and we are so happy she came on board!”

— Børge Ousland

INE-LILL HJELM GABRIELSEN

• NORWEGIAN • POLAR EXPLORER • SKI & POLAR COACH • GUIDE • GLACIER / SAFETY / CLIMBING / KAYAKING / LIFESAVER INSTRUCTOR •

Ine-Lill just laughs when asked where it all came from. Then she fires back: “Doesn’t every budding polar nerd devour stories from the Heroic Age?”

She certainly did. With a father in publishing, she lost count of how many adventure books she got her hands on as a kid. Maybe that’s why a stubborn seven-year-old once convinced her mother to let her sleep alone in a self-dug snow cave. She slept like a rock. Sure, it was only a few meters from their mountain cabin — but still, something was born that night. It might also explain why her favorite way to get to school was… by ski.

A passion for the untouched and an appetite for new challenges have always driven her. That’s probably why her and Rita’s 2006–2007 Antarctic expedition still ranks among the greats. They became the first to climb Mt Vinson and ski a brand-new route from base camp to the South Pole. Nobody thought it could be done within a single, short Antarctic season — but by pushing 40+ km days towards the end, they made it to the final plane heading out… with just three hours to spare. ALE, the anxiously awaiting logistics company, adored them ever since.

Yes, she can be brought anywhere for anything

And then there’s the 2023 epic: she and Rita (who else?) rowing a small, old wooden Nordlandsbåt (or ‘færing’ - a classic Northern Norway rowing boat) from Lindesnes lighthouse at Norway’s very southern tip, all the way to the North Cape — arriving on the last day of July that year. She concluded that exploring the length of Norway is fantastic, whether on skis, by bike, or by boat. She has done it all :-•

And that’s the essence of Ine-Lill — she’s done it all, and she can do it all. She’s guided and instructed in cross-country skiing, polar expeditions, climbing, kayaking, and glacier travel. Add to that a background as an outdoor high-school teacher, service in the army, and a stint with the United Nations, and you start to understand why we treasure having her among us. This girl bobbles and oses both love and knowledge for being out there.

Pray she’s coming your way

Ine-Lill's Secret:

Like to be on a trip :)

Sounds silly. But if you do trips for reasons other than liking all the elements of being on a trip, then the motivation can stop along the way.
External motivation can last for a while, but motivation from the root of the heart gives the most power.

Highlights

• New route from Mt. Vinson to the South Pole (1320km) – unsupported and unsupplied

• Five of seven summits

• Skiing Norway from end to end (2400 km)

• Rowing Norway from end to end (2250km)

• Cycling Norway from end to end (2800km)

• Climbed two-digits 4000m in Europe

• Climbed two-digits 2000m in Norway

Relevant background:

• 16 years as sports and outdoor activity teacher at high school

• Five years as sports officer, Norwegian Army and United Nations

•Glacier Guide