Felicity Aston

Felicity Aston is one tough lady.

In this expedition she undertook another Antarctic challenge, going solo across the entire continent, a feat that had only been completed by two other men previously. Antarctica is one of the driest, harshest and most unforgiving of places on this planet, and any lapse or mishap will be fatal.

On this trip she used all her polar experience and discipline. What she prepared for, but found the hardest was the mental effort. Several time she is at the point of no return, because of loneliness, fear and despair, but in the end she managed to be mentally strong enough to claw her way back.

I though that the writing was a lot better than her previous book, you felt the rawness of her emotions, both positive and negative. The descriptions of the polar landscape were captivating too. It is a place that you think wouldn't change, but it can change in an hour because of the storms and the storms and the unique weather system there. Brilliant book, can highly recommend it.… (más)

Aston has a vision to take a small team of women from Commonwealth countries around the world on an Antarctic expedition, and after being promised support from The Winston Churchill Support Trust sets about selecting members.

She posts advert for candidates and goes to Ghana, India, Cyprus, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei and New Zealand. Having whittled down around 800 applicants to 15 for a weeks training and selection in Norway. For some of the ladies this was a baptism by ice as they had never seen snow or experienced cold weather. She describes the emotion dilemma of selecting the final team, and telling those who would not be going.

With her team selected, she has the stress of trying to manage the team , the fundraising and the logistics of getting all to New Zealand for further training. She drops the New Zealand Candidate, after this as she feels that she wold be battling her throughout the expedition.

And so to the frozen continent. She finally makes it with her team, and they have several days acclimatising to the harsh environment. One member has t drop out, and following approval from the authorities they set off. The journey to the pole is mostly straightforward, there is the odd mishap, and flared temper, but these women are here for a purpose, and there are determined to make it.

It is a heartwarming book, Antarctica is harsh unforgiving environment, that the smallest of errors can be fatal, or cause serious injury. These women from diverse backgrounds became the first from some nations ever to get to the South Pole, and the first to ski there as well. Aston says at the end, if anyone says that you can't do something, remember this moment and know that you can.… (más)