Ellen Piercy - After setting a challenge she had no idea she could achieve, crossing Svalbard on skis. Ellen has found a passion for cold adventures and a new version of herself.

2022-10-25

Ellen started to get into adventure in her late 30s. By day she work as an engineering, by night, she dream of adventure. In 2017 she wanted a new, big, scary challenge and decided on an arctic expedition - crossing Svalbard. Ellen has never been anywhere that cold before and she didn’t’ know how to ski! She didn’t know if the challenge that she had decided on would even be achievable. The Svalbard Expedition was meant to go ahead in 2020, when Ellen was 42. It was postponed from 2020 to 2021 and again to 2022.

Ellen started to get into adventure in her late 30s. By day she work as an engineering, by night, she dream of adventure.

In 2017 she wanted a new, big, scary challenge and decided on an arctic expedition - crossing Svalbard.

Ellen has never been anywhere that cold before and she didn’t’ know how to ski! She didn’t know if the challenge that she had decided on would even be achievable.

The Svalbard Expedition was meant to go ahead in 2020, when Ellen was 42. It was postponed from 2020 to 2021 and again to 2022.

To keep herself motivated, during the delays and wanting to focus on building her endurance, she set herself a more local project – the Cheshire Challenge to walk all 25 long distance paths in Cheshire totalling 1,500km.

In January 2022, Ellen had her sabbatical booked, and found out the Svalbard crossing would be going ahead in April.

During this podcast Ellen shares more about the challenge, the lessons learned and provides top tips and advice to help you with your next adventure.

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.

Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.

Show notes

Who is Ellen?
Age 45….
The concept of identity
Describing herself pre and post Svalbard
Calling herself a cold adventurer!
Who is Ellen pre-expedition?
Dealing with imposter syndrome
How adventure has changed her life
Not knowing if she would be able to do the challenge
“Maybe I can do this sort of stuff”
The mindset shift that has happened
Dealing with setback after setback
42 the second, 42 the third etc
Doing a polar training course in Norway
Covid Times and being able to work from home
What’s your plan B…..
The Svalbard Expedition April 2022
A 10 day crossing across the main island from the East to the most northerly town in the world
The route - 130km/100 miles
Being part of a team of 5, plus the guide
The pulks and the kit
Polar Bears, glaciers, mountain passes and an enormous ice cave
Structure of the day and the daily routine (melting water, packing up, ski and break time, tent life)
Thinking about doing her Mountain Leader Qualification
Working towards her Chartered Engineer Qualification
Tent mates, group dynamics and roles
Peeing and pooping outdoors
Fitness and training
Costs
Completing the challenge and what happened afterwards
Reflecting on the challenge and having time to process
Getting Covid and being knocked for 2 months
Plans for 2023
Newland Expeditions Guided polar ski expeditions to North/South Poles, Greenland, Svalbard and Norway.
How to connect with Ellen
Final words of advice for working women who want to have more adventures