British Adventurer Prepares for First Successful Solo Crossing of Antarctica
Felicity Aston, a 33-year old British adventurer, is attempting to become the first woman to do a successful solo crossing of Antarctica.
"Being out there and effectively having Antarctica to myself... appeals to me," Aston told The Associated Press.
The journey will cover 1700 kilometers and will take Aston seventy days to cover using skis and her muscles and willpower alone.
"I'm looking forward to finding out what it will be like to go that length of time without seeing anyone... There's a definite appeal to just getting going and how simple life becomes when all you have to worry about is eating, sleeping and skiing," she added.
Since the grueling expedition can take a physical as well as mental toll, Aston has also worked with sports and exercise psychologist Dr. Stephen Pack to prepare herself for the challenge.
The starting point of her expedition will be at the Ross Ice Shelf at Leverett Glacier, where she will be skiing up until she reaches the Polar Plateau. From there, she will head to the South Pole and cross the Antarctic coast until she reaches the Ronne Ice Shelf.
Once she reaches the Hercules Inlet, she will have crossed the whole Antarctic solo, according to her expedition site.
"....Just the completeness of it, you know, to ski from one side of Antarctica to the other and to find out what it's like to be out there on my own," she concluded.
Aston first flew into Antarctica from Punta Arenas in Chile. Afterwards, she headed to her base camp in Union Glacier. She is currently waiting at her base camp for the weather to clear, reported The Associated Press.
This isn't Aston's first journey across Antarctica. On December 29, 2009, she successfully led a team of eight women during the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition where they crossed 911 kilometers over thirty-eight days.
Her previous exploits included the 24th Marathon Des Sables in Morocco which covered 200 kilometers in five days, and an award-winning 700 kilometer winter expedition across Lake Baikal in Siberia.