Ann Bancroft-Explorer and Pioneer
Today I am grateful for a pleasing run in the fading daylight yesterday, and also for the opportunity to hear polar explorer Ann Bancroft speak.
I appreciate the accomplishments of Ann Bancroft and also her efforts to help young women pursue their dreams through her Ann Bancroft Foundation. In 1986, she became the first known woman to reach the North Pole. In 1993 she reached the South Pole, becoming the first known woman to reach both poles. In 2001, her and Norwegian Liv Arneson became the first women to cross Antarctica. They covered over 1700 miles in 94 days.
She bravely went where very few have ever gone, and even fewer women. She is a role model, and not just for girls. She chose to take on these challenges. Think about how the preparation and the journeys themselves shaped her and helped her become the person she is. We are all like that. Shaped by our challenges. Some of which we choose, some of which we don't.
Read more about Ann Bancroft here. She was an effective and pleasant speaker to a good-sized group of students and adults at my school. She ran out of time well before she ran out of material.
I think about some of the interesting things she shared. Like starting at sea level on their Antarctica trek and reaching the South Pole which is at over 9,000 feet in altitude. Like needing to consume 7,000 calories a day when pulling sleds for up to 14 hours a day. Like making progress one day, sleeping, getting up and realizing the ice flow and winds had pushed them back the 10 miles they had just covered the previous day.
Listening to her, seeing some of the pictures of the beautiful and icy isolation of the polar regions, helped me walk away with a reminder. A reminder about our small part in the larger whole. A reminder about frontiers being both outside of ourselves, as well as in our hearts and souls.
I appreciate the accomplishments of Ann Bancroft and also her efforts to help young women pursue their dreams through her Ann Bancroft Foundation. In 1986, she became the first known woman to reach the North Pole. In 1993 she reached the South Pole, becoming the first known woman to reach both poles. In 2001, her and Norwegian Liv Arneson became the first women to cross Antarctica. They covered over 1700 miles in 94 days.
She bravely went where very few have ever gone, and even fewer women. She is a role model, and not just for girls. She chose to take on these challenges. Think about how the preparation and the journeys themselves shaped her and helped her become the person she is. We are all like that. Shaped by our challenges. Some of which we choose, some of which we don't.
Read more about Ann Bancroft here. She was an effective and pleasant speaker to a good-sized group of students and adults at my school. She ran out of time well before she ran out of material.
I think about some of the interesting things she shared. Like starting at sea level on their Antarctica trek and reaching the South Pole which is at over 9,000 feet in altitude. Like needing to consume 7,000 calories a day when pulling sleds for up to 14 hours a day. Like making progress one day, sleeping, getting up and realizing the ice flow and winds had pushed them back the 10 miles they had just covered the previous day.
Listening to her, seeing some of the pictures of the beautiful and icy isolation of the polar regions, helped me walk away with a reminder. A reminder about our small part in the larger whole. A reminder about frontiers being both outside of ourselves, as well as in our hearts and souls.
Comments
Post a Comment