IQALUIT - Iqaluit's Sarah McNair-Landry could be the youngest person to lead a trek to the North Pole.

Sarah McNair-Landry is leading Australian couple Rob Rigato and Linda Beilhaiz on a 60-day trek to the North Pole. - submitted photo

The 23-year-old is guiding Australian couple Rob Rigato and Linda Beilhaiz on a 60-day trek to the pole.

"I am looking forward to the experience," said McNair-Landry.

The group was slated to start their trip last Thursday Feb. 25 by first flying to Resolute, then to Northern Ellesmere Island and starting off from the northernmost land point.

McNair-Landry has plenty of experience guiding expeditions. Her parents, Matty McNair and Paul Landry are outdoor polar adventurers and she grew up skiing and taking out dog sled teams. McNair-Landry now works a guide with her mother's expedition company NorthWinds.

McNair-Landry has already skied Antartica, been out on the Greenland ice cap, gone to the South Pole and has kite-skied across the Gobi desert in Mongolia.

"I went for something a little warmer on that trip," said McNair-Landry.

For the last two weeks, McNair-Landry has been prepping Rigato and Beilhaiz for their journey by going out on four-day treks across Frobisher Bay with their sleds loaded with gear and showing the couple how to use flare guns in case they encounter polar bears.

Rigato and Beilhaiz have both been on these types of expeditions before. The pair has been to Greenland and in 2004 Beilhaiz went to the South Pole with NorthWinds. The couple from Bendigo, Australia said they have confidence in McNair-Landry's abilities despite her young age.

"Both of us are twice as old as Sarah and she has the common sense when it comes to this," said Rigato. He added age isn't really relevant and how much experience you have venturing and leading groups in the outdoors is what matters.

One of the greatest dangers for the trio is if the sea ice cracks. McNair-Landry made sure the sleds will float by testing them at the local swimming pool. If the ice does crack she said that the group will tie all their sleds together and use them as boats. The second option to put on a wetsuit and get in the water. Ultimately McNair-Landry said the key is to cross the ice and stay dry.

While Rigato and Beilhaiz have been training in Australia, Beilhaiz said a big part of their preparation has been talking to McNair-Landry.

"You can do the training but unless you have the knowledge of people like Sarah and the experience you would miss a lot and part of our preparation is to tap into Sarah's knowledge," she said.

There are some celebrations to be had during the trip. Beilhaiz will turn 50 and Rigato will turn 59. If the group makes it to the North Pole, Beilhaiz will be the first Australian woman to journey to both poles.