Have you ever dreamed of a doing a challenge to get you out of your comfort zone… read on..
In 2015, Amelia had a young family, a full-time job, no spare cash, and had never skied.
Through her job, Amelia met a military team that was doing a bold expedition in Antarctica and became fascinated with Antarctica, and the stories of the golden age of polar exploration.
She began her polar journey – literally and figuratively – in the snowy wilderness of Finse.
She fell in love with Norway – its landscape and its people. The Norwegians love the outdoor life; they even have a government department dedicated to it. Their shy pride in their country, and their quiet competence in the environment, continues to impress. You are as likely to find two retired women, or a group of young female students out skiing and camping, as a bunch of men.
After crossing Greenland in 2018, a journey of 570km in 27 days, Amelia completed a 42-day solo, unsupported and unassisted expedition to the South Pole in 2020, becoming only the seventh woman in history to do so.
She is still the only mother to have done that journey, and wants to explore the conversation around motherhood and the barriers to adventures, and the narrative around motherhood and risk.
She has four children (26, 23, 20 and 17), who have grown up to be equally passionate about their own interests.
Amelia is now a full-time guide for Shackleton, taking clients to the Greenland ice sheet, the South Pole, Norway and the deserts of Oman.
She is passionate about sharing her love of the great outdoors. A keen mountain biker, hiker, trail runner and climber, Amelia loves the UK mountains and countryside as much as more extreme environments. She is a qualified Mountain Leader, aspirant Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI), and qualified skydiver and motorbiker.
Keen to share her journey, especially with women in mid-life, who might feel like they need to regain a sense of who they are, Amelia is passionate about giving people a positive approach to long-term dreams, and encouraging women and girls to be ambitious in their goals. In 2023, Amelia was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Winchester University, for her work in this area, which she has described as ‘activism through adventure’.
Get in touch if you would like to join us March 2027 – live courageously..
Pic credit: Martin Hartley for Shackleton
