59 Days: Walking Solo Across Antarctica

Last week Felicity Aston successfully crossed 1,084 miles of Antarctica. She started out from the Leveratt Glacier on November 25 2011, and arrived at Hercules Inlet on January 23rd. 

This included the laborious task of walking the distance in skis, dragging two sledges of food and fuel and navigating crevasses and uneven terrain. Not only did Felicity accomplish this three days before she was expecting to finish, but she did this alone. 59 days of solitude was Felicity's a major challenge. Although support was nearby and she received two supply drops during her journey, her only company was the sun and the featureless landscape that laid a head of her. 

But Felicity stayed focused, even when she thought she wouldn't make it. 

'It's quite stressful. It was just a matter of every single day, looking at my kit, and thinking what could go wrong here and that can I do to prevent it?'

'All these days I thought there was no chance I was going to make it in time to make that last flight off Antarctica, and yet here I am with three days to spare'

In the face of adversity, she showed courage. 

'If you can just find a way to keep going, either metaphorically or literally, whether you're running a marathon or facing financial problems or have bad news to deliver or it's tough at work or whatever, if you can just find a way to keep going, then you will discover that you have potential within yourself tat you never never realised'

In the harsh conditions of Antarctica, perseverance is absolutely necessary. Felicity kept going and reached her destination three days early, becoming the first woman to travel solo across Antarctica.

'I think we all have within us this ability to keep going. No matter what it takes, just keep going. Even if it means crying. If you can just manage that perseverance, it's amazing what we can achieve'

This is the story of The Wild Geese. They shared this unique ability to keep going. 

Felicity made the flight out of Antarctica with time to spare, and will be returning to her home in the UK this week. While it may take some time to adjust to normal life again, we're sure she'll enjoy her time reflecting on this remarkable feat.