Ann answered an advert seeking "ordinary women" for an all-women relay to the North Pole and has become a truly indomitable polar explorer and motivational speaker, with many expeditions to her name, including three years with the Catlin Arctic Survey and record-breaking journeys to both poles.
Ann is currently planning her next awe-inspiring expedition. Here she takes some time out of her busy schedule to give us an insight into the world of a polar explorer.
1. Tell us about yourself before you discovered polar exploration.
I was a true city girl before discovering the world of polar exploration. Born in the great city of Bradford I chose a career in banking and it wasn't until the birth of my triplets that I left that safe environment, where a job was considered to be for life. You could say that the arrival of my children helped me live life more fully and enabled me to choose a new and more exciting career path. For certain I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing without them.
2. What made you take that first leap into exploring some of the most inaccessible places on the planet?
Sometimes opportunities present themselves at the most unlikely times in your life and you either take them or make an excuse not to. Certainly having very young children (they were 18 months old) would have made the best of excuses not to answer the original advert. That, plus having no experience, no kit for Dartmoor and no time would have added to the many reasons not to have a go. But with encouragement from my now ex-husband I chose to make the leap, give it my best shot, even though at the outset I was probably the worst candidate who applied and I haven't looked back since.
3. Your first expedition in 1997 obviously motivated you to change the course of your life radically. How did it inspire you and how do you think it has changed you as a person?
The Arctic itself and expedition life blew me away. It was true nature at its most powerful and I found I could cope with the immense hardships faced on extreme expeditions. The raw shifting ice made me feel alive and strong but also humble and tiny in the great scheme of things. Before that expedition I didn't think someone like me could do something so amazing as a polar expedition and it taught me that we can all achieve so much more than we imagine and we shouldn't let our own prejudices stop us reaching our potential.
4. How do you think you weathered the dramatic change from working within the banking industry to coping with the Arctic's extremely low temperatures and harsh conditions?
Strangely I think I was able to draw on being brought up in a tough urban environment where you don't give in, if you want to get anywhere at all, to deal with the extreme low temperatures and harsh conditions. Also the banking industry may be an office environment but the corporate world can be hard, especially for women and you have to be strong and resilient if you want to move away from the traditional roles. When I joined the bank most women were cashiers and most managers were men. The triplets also had their place in the transition process. Looking after three babies without outside help was the perfect training to coping with no sleep and complete mayhem.
5. What in particular did you take away from this initial adventure?
That there is no glass ceiling and it's a big world out there. Adventure is all around us. It doesn't have to be a huge expedition. I've experienced great adventures in the British Isles and on smaller trips. Just get out there and enjoy what the world has to offer.
6. With numerous expeditions now under your belt and one in the pipeline, what is it that spurs you to ever greater heights?
I love the challenge of pushing myself to newer limits. It's the hardest challenges in life that live with us the longest and what we get the most out of, whether its bring up children well or walking to the ends of the earth. It's the easy path that's forgettable and makes for a less interesting life.
7. What has been your most memorable moment from all the expeditions you have done and why?
My most memorable moment was in 2005 when attempting to walk to the North Pole solo from Russia. During that expedition I had five encounters with polar bears. One male bear circled my tent for a very long time before we came face to face. He took a lot of persuading to leave me alone and then proceeded to stalk me for three days. After that I didn't see him again and whilst enormously relieved I also missed the thing that frightened me the most. During those three days I was in a state of heightened awareness and that bear touched me deep inside. I will never forget that experience and in some small way I will always be a part of that bear's history. It was a special moment in my life and one I will always cherish.
Unfortunately the expedition wasn't successful for two reasons. I couldn't leave from land because of the rushing water around Cape Arktichevsky and the expedition had to end after 21 days when the Russian authorities removed all major expedition permits that year. But I can't complain, I had 21 days alone in the most inhospitable but moving environment on earth and experienced a great adventure.
8. Talk us through some of the practicalities of going on a polar expedition - for example, how do you go about training?
The preparations of going on a polar expedition are exhausting and all consuming. There is the onerous and very difficult task of raising the finance, training and preparing yourself physically and mentally and sourcing the best kit available. Most of the equipment is bespoke and needs to be meticulously planned.
Training consists of hauling tyres (yes we do do that), gym work to build upper body strength and stamina, time on the hills and some other type of endurance training. Long steady runs are my preferred choice.
All the kit has to be sourced, modified and shipped to remote regions and all excess weight trimmed down. Wrappers removed from everything. Food has to be chopped to bite size pieces because it freezes on the ice, cameras placed in waterproof bags and every piece of kit protected against failure in the extreme cold.
It's also important to sort your personal admin out before leaving. Make sure bills are paid in your absence, buy children's birthday presents, easter eggs etc and make sure your loved ones feel as much as part of the expedition as you are.
9. In 2012, you're planning another adventure. Can you tell us more about this and what you'll be doing?
I am currently looking for the right sponsor to attempt to become the first woman in the world to walk solo to the North Pole from Canada. No woman has ever walked on her own from land to the true North Pole. It's one of the last big 'firsts' and I'm very excited about the challenge.
The expedition will also be about raising awareness of the fragile Arctic and the link this unique place at the top of the 'earth ball' has on the rest of the world.
10. Finally, how do you juggle a demanding expedition schedule with your other commitments of motivational/leadership speaking and raising four children (including triplets)?
Organisation is the key and remembering what is the most important thing in my life, which is my children. They have to come first and unless I'm on the ice I work during school hours or when they are in bed as much as I can. I have to go away for my speaking work but I am selective with how much work I take on and most importantly of all I have a great partner, Tom O'Connor, who supports me fully and fantastic parents who move into my house when I have to go away and help Tom with the children.
ANN'S TIMELINE
1997 - The Mcvities Polar Penguin all-woman relay expedition to the North Pole
2000 - M&G South Pole 700 mile expedition from Antarctica to the South Pole with Caroline Hamilton, Zoë Hudson, Pom Oliver and Rosie Stancer
2001 - Ann became the first British female North Pole guide
2002 - M&G North Pole return expedition to the North Pole with Caroline Hamilton and Pom Oliver. This was the first female team in the world to ski to both poles
2004 - Guided a North Pole expedition with 15 captains of industry across 60 miles of sea ice
2005 - Solo expedition across the Arctic sea ice from Russian pack ice. Ann completed a 124 mile journey across the moving Arctic Ocean
2009 - First year with the Catlin Arctic Survey as Navigator, Path Finder and Head of Ice Operations
2010 and 2011 - Second and third years with the Catlin Arctic Survey as Team Leader of the Explorer Team
2012 - New polar expedition
Find out more about Ann here or follow her on Twitter (@AnnDanielsGB).Main photograph by Martin Hartley.
