The Why
“I'm constantly trying to prove myself to myself that I'm not afraid or that I'm fit enough or whatever. You have to keep going until you can't go anymore. So, why not try and do something like Seven Summits?" - Wendy Searle
Antarctica is a place of extremes. During the winter, coastal temperatures plummet to minus 30°F.
The Russian research station, The Vostok station, holds the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded at minus 128°F.
Within the Antarctic Circle, the continent experiences 24 hours of daylight during the summer solstice and 24 hours of night during the winter solstice.
It's also the driest and windiest place on earth. The Antarctic Polar Desert is the largest desert on the planet. Winds in Antarctica exceed 100mph. And it's the only continent with no permanent inhabitants.
These extremes have lured adventurers throughout history. And will continue to do so for as long as humans possess the will to conquer.
"You're always thinking about the next adventure," says Wendy Searle, laughing. "You have these ideas and concepts and seeds. And then you start discussing them, and the next thing you know, this thing is now an idea; it becomes a juggernaut - and you can't get off.
Wendy is a polar explorer. And the seventh woman ever to ski solo from Hercules Inlet on the Antarctic coast to the South Pole, a distance of 715 miles.
Men have been exploring Antarctica since 1895 when a Norwegian whaling ship landed on the continent. It would be another 42 years before a woman set foot on Antarctica’s icy shores.
Ingrid Christensen made four trips to Antarctica with her husband in the 1930s. She was the first woman to fly over the continent and became the first woman to land on the mainland in 1937.
Women are in the minority when it comes to polar exploration, though. Antarctica was believed to be too harsh a climate for females. So, they were barred for fear that they couldn’t handle crisis situations or carry heavy equipment.
The U.S. Navy didn't lift its ban on transporting women to the continent until 1969. However, since then, women have set the standard for polar exploration.
In 1993, Ann Bancroft led the first all-female team to reach the South Pole on skis. In 2011, Barbara Hillary became the first Black woman to stand on the South Pole.
In 2012, Felicity Aston bagged two Antarctica firsts. She became the first person to ski solo across Antarctica completely self-powered. Then, she crossed the entire Antarctic land mass alone.
"When I skied solo to the South Pole unsupported and unassisted in January 2020, I became the seventh woman in history to make that journey," says Wendy proudly. "More men have walked on the moon."
Becoming a polar explorer wasn't a long-held dream for Wendy. She's a mom of four. And comes from a PR and journalism background. In fact, Wendy didn't know how to ski before her expedition. Her only skiing experience was a dreadful trip in college.
But in 2016, Wendy was working for a military charity promoting the stories of people fundraising. There, she met a team prepping for a polar expedition. She also met Louis Rudd’s SPEAR 17 team.
Rudd’s group was preparing to embark on their coast-to-coast crossing of Antarctica. They needed an expedition manager. So, they asked Wendy if she was interested, and she agreed.
"I had never been around people like that," says Wendy. "But the more you surround yourself with those people, the more you slip into their mindset. I became obsessed with going to Antarctica. I wondered if someone like me - no money, no spare time, four kids, office job, couldn't ski - could train for and complete something like that."
The great lie in life is that everything you want resides in some distant future. This perspective creates a negative feedback loop. Your ambitions seem out of reach. So, you make excuses for why you can’t work toward them.
And there’s the rub. All it takes is one step, and you’re on a new path. Wendy’s first step was breaking down her expedition into manageable chunks. She then identified areas where she needed more experience. Afterward, she built a support network to fill in the gaps.
On the surface, becoming a polar explorer seems like it would take a lifetime. All-in, Wendy spent five years training for her expedition.
Wendy completed her expedition in 42 days, four days slower than the record time. "I only had to ski 7% faster to break the record," says Wendy. "So, I decided to go for it. I had the financial backing. Everything was lining up."
Wendy returned to Antarctica for her record-setting attempt two years after her first expedition. But environments built on maximums can have a will of their own.
Wendy's second attempt at traversing the frozen continent did not go as planned. "There was nothing right about the whole experience," remembers Wendy. "I got really sick at the base camp. I couldn't eat. The wind-blown ice was really bad that year. And my skis broke, which was the final straw."
Pushing forward became less about willpower and more about safety. So, after 14 days, Wendy called it. Her choice to step off the expedition was the correct one. But that knowledge offers little reprieve in the moment.
"I thought failing was the worst thing that could happen. But when it happened, it didn't feel like the worst thing," says Wendy, smiling.
"It felt like I could only go up from there. There was this outpouring of support from sponsors, friends, family, and total strangers. Everyone was glad I was okay, which made me realize what was important. But those lessons don't reveal themselves to you unless you go through something like that."
While in Antarctica, Wendy climbed Mount Vinson, Antarctica's tallest peak at 16,049ft. Mount Vinson is typically the last peak of the Seven Summits. The logistical and financial hurdles associated with getting to Antarctica make it challenging to complete this climb.
Wendy met several climbers who were wrapping up their Seven Summits bids. And a new idea began to take root. Climbing the seven tallest peaks on every continent is a life's work.
But that's the price you pay for putting yourself in new, challenging situations. The more you learn about yourself, the more you wonder what else is lying dormant.
Wendy freely admits: “I'm constantly trying to prove myself to myself that I'm not afraid or that I'm fit enough or whatever. You have to keep going until you can't go anymore. So, why not try and do something like Seven Summits?"
"When I skied solo to the South Pole unsupported and unassisted in January 2020, I became the seventh woman in history to make that journey. More men have walked on the moon." - Wendy Searle
The Community
The McMurdo Station is the United States's Antarctic research hub. The National Science Foundation funds and manages the complex.
Many countries have research stations in Antarctica, but the McMurdo Station is the largest, capable of hosting over 1,200 people.
Outside of nationally affiliated camps, there's a privately operated base called Union Glacier. The center only operates during the Antarctic summer (November through January). During the winter, the camp is deconstructed and stored in shipping containers underground.
Union Glacier is the home base for guided experiences and private expeditions. It also serves as a support function for the National Antarctic Program.
For Wendy's expedition, she stayed at Union Glacier. "It's a melting pot," explains Wendy. "You'll meet celebrities, filmmakers, people conducting independent science projects or looking for Emperor Penguins."
Anyone who chooses to visit a place as unforgiving as Antarctica shares one thing in common. They're pursuing something. For some, it could be to complete the world's southernmost marathon. For others, it's an opportunity to test themselves.
"Everyone's reason is valid," asserts Wendy. "People are pushing their limits in their own regard. And it gives you an incredible bond that extends beyond climbing or whatever you do. You're part of something bigger.
The Training
Wendy was religious about training. To prepare her body for the rigors of Antarctica, Wendy would train six days a week.
Much of her training mimicked pulling her sled, which was 189 pounds at the beginning. To create the feeling of hauling the equivalent of a wild boar, Wendy dragged 4x4 all-terrain tires.
But there’s a tipping point. Once your physical limits are reached, it becomes a mental game. Her mental training became just as important as her physical regime. “It’s a mental game,” says Wendy. “But it makes you more grateful for the little things in life.”
Wendy worked with a sports psychologist to develop coping strategies. For instance, every morning, she’d do a power pose toward the sun. Psychologist Amy Cuddy argues that standing in a posture of confidence, even if we don’t feel confident, can impact our chances of success.
Wendy also wrote inspiring quotes or notes from friends inside her tent. At night, Wendy would read these and use them as fuel. Her favorite quote was one she wrote to herself; “Stop crying and start skiing.”
The Food
Antarctica’s temperatures put a lot of stress on the body. The body puts in overtime to ensure it stays at a proper temperature. And this constant strain means you’re burning more calories.
It’s so cold in Antarctica that the average person must consume between 3,200 and 5,000 calories daily. These numbers are suggestions for the folks working at McMurdo Station.
It’s estimated that polar explorers must consume 6,500 calories a day when they’re in the middle of an expedition.
Wendy was open to doing whatever she needed to prepare for her adventure. She experimented with different nutritionists and regimes. But the main focus was putting on weight and fat to deter weight loss during the expedition.
Even after all her preparation, on Wendy’s first expedition, she lost 26 pounds in 42 days. Afterward, her appetite was insatiable. “All I wanted to do was drink fizzy pop and eat bread and butter until my stomach hurt,” asserts Wendy, laughing.
The Gear
Light is the name of the game on polar expeditions. “You need to make your sled as light as possible but also comprehensive,” explains Wendy.
Even the most minuscule things add up. Wendy cut her hair before she left. She took the zips off the tents and replaced them with cord. She examined every piece of gear for anything that could be removed.
“The number one thing is food and a cooker for rations and hot drinks,” says Wendy. “You also need a robust comms kit and extra skis. Spare socks and clothing become luxury items. You start asking yourself, ‘What can I get away with? What am I willing to risk breaking, and what spares do I need?’”
Going to such depths to get your gear kit right provides a psychological benefit. On the bad days, Wendy knew she had done everything in her power to set herself up for success.
“I had a full-time job and four kids while trying to make my expedition happen. It‘s okay to prioritize something you’re chasing. If it’s something big, you need to set everything else aside to make it happen.” - Wendy Searle
The Advice
Wendy on adventurers:
“Adventurers aren’t superhuman. They make mistakes and have setbacks. You have to make a plan. I had this chasm of nothing between the South Pole and where I was nine years ago. But if you take enough small steps, you can make a big difference.”
Wendy on when the time is right:
“I had a full-time job and four kids while trying to make my expedition happen. It‘s okay to prioritize something you’re chasing. If it’s something big, you need to set everything else aside to make it happen.”
My $0.02
There are lies, and then there are lies. The world is full of both. The former is harmless, like saying, “You’re on the way,” when you’re just getting out of the shower.
But the latter are more insidious. These lies are the ones we tell ourselves. They include things like I’ll do it tomorrow. Or, one day, I’ll make it happen.
Wendy likes to say, “There’s one big adventure in every heart.” Her adventure was in Antarctica. Yours could be starting a business or doing a solo backpacking trip.
The nature of the adventure isn’t important. Committing to it and making it happen is what matters.