CHEPSTOW’S Major Natalie Taylor of the Royal Army Medical Corps has begun her historic journey ac-ross Antarctica.

She is one of the leaders of the British Army’s ‘Ice Maiden’ expedition which crossed the start line on the Ross Ice Shelf on Monday 20th November.

The six female soldiers will now use muscle power alone to ski the 1700km, whilst pulling a sledge weighing up to 80kg, battling 60mph winds and temperatures as low as -40°C. 

Lance Sergeant So-phie Montagne said: “The weather was perfect and hovered at around -10C with a gentle headwind.

“We were dropped off on the Ross Ice Shelf and, after waving goodbye to the plane, we skied onto "solid land" to begin our epic traverse.”

The team left London Heathrow on the 25th October for Chile, where they conducted their final preparations before heading to Antarctica on Friday 3rd November.

They had originally hoped to cross the start line on Monday 6th November but due to poor weather conditions had to wait at the Union Glacier camp until it cleared.

The group has already experienced one special moment, at 11am GMT on the 11th November, the quietest continent on earth observed two minutes of silence in memory of all those who have given their lives in the act of war.

The sound of the last post heading out across the absolute silence on Union Glacier was particularly moving.

In front of a cross made of skis, the team read from a Remembrance Service that had been prepared for them prior to their departure for Antarctica by Padre Catherine Gillham.

Major Taylor and her fellow expedition leader Major Nicola Wetherill, both Army doctors, wanted as many women as possible to get involved. Aiming to inspire women of all ages and abilities to get active, the only conditions for applicants were that they were serving in the Army, Regular or Reserve, and female.

250 applicants were tested to the limit both in the UK and in freezing conditions in Norway with six making it through the final selection to take part in the biggest adventure of their lives.

In order to prepare themselves for this gruelling challenge, team members have over the last few months spent countless hours dragging tyres in order to simulate the 80kg pulks (sledges) they’ll take with them.

Lieutenant Jenni Stephenson said: “I feel incredibly lucky to be part of a team of confident, aspirational and positive women. We’ve all sacrificed various parts of our lives to focus on the expedition but the most important part lies in its aim to inspire and encourage other people to find their own Antarctica. I hope we can go some way to achieving this.”

The expedition is expected to take between 75 and 90 days and team will be on the ice for both Christmas and New Year. Photos courtesy of the British Army.