At the end of November 2011, Felicity set off from the coast of Antarctica on the Ross Ice Shelf to cross the entire continent on skis by herself. Ahead of her was a 1744km (1084 mile) journey through the Transantarctic mountains, across the Polar Plateau to the South Pole then on to the far coast of Antarctica. The physical challenges of the 59-day journey are astonishing but it is the mental hardships that Felicity describes that are the most memorable. The crushing solitude and emotional turmoil that she experienced on a daily basis resulted in an appreciation of the details of the environment around her and a rather strange relationship with the sun!

Felicity Aston MBE is a Polar Explorer and Scientist.

Her first journey to Antarctica was as a meteorologist with the British Antarctic Survey to monitor climate and ozone. Felicity spent three years (without a break) at Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula, including two consecutive winters. She went on to complete numerous journeys in Antarctica and other cold regions of the world.

Felicity has written three books; ‘Call of the white: Taking the world to the South Pole’ is an account of the international women’s expedition in 2009 and was a finalist in the Banff Mountain Festival Book Competition. ‘Alone in Antarctica’ was published in 2013 and describes her solo crossing of the continent. Her most recent book, ‘Chasing Winter: A Journey to the Pole of Cold’, is a collection of images and stories from the 2014 Pole of Cold Expedition.

Felicity regularly speaks to a variety of audiences around the world about her expedition experiences as well as more generally about Polar Science, Antarctica and Meteorology. She has appeared on shows ranging from BBC Breakfast and Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch to the Today Show in the US. Felicity was the expedition leader and co-presenter of ‘Cloud Lab: Science of the Skies’ a two-part BBC Science film broadcast on BBC Two in July 2014.

Felicity was appointed MBE in 2015 for services to Polar Exploration and in the same year was awarded the Queen’s Polar Medal – one of only 9 women ever to have been recognised in this way. Outside Magazine in the US made her one of their 2012 ‘Adventurers of the Year’ and in 2014 she was given the Women of Discovery Courage Award. Felicity has been elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in London and of The Explorers Club in New York

Arrival at the South Pole

Lonely Tent and Sastrugi

A Sunny Evening

Frozen Breath

PR photo © Manu Palomeque/LNP