Felicity Aston Life Beyond Her Antarctic Record

Introduction

Felicity Aston is a British polar explorer, author, speaker and research scientist. She is best known as the first woman to ski alone across Antarctica, completing a 1,744-kilometre journey in 59 days.

That record tells only part of her story.

Aston first went to Antarctica as a meteorologist in her early twenties. Years later, she returned as an expedition leader and solo skier. Today, her work has moved strongly toward polar science, conservation and environmental research.

Quick Facts About Felicity Aston

Fact	Details
Full Name	Felicity Ann Dawn Aston
Date of Birth	7 October 1977
Nationality	British
Profession	Polar explorer, author, speaker and research scientist
Known For	First woman to ski alone across Antarctica
Antarctic Solo Journey	1,744 km
Journey Duration	59 days
Major Honour	MBE for services to Polar Exploration
Academic Qualification	MSc Meteorology, University of Reading
Current Research	Microplastics in Arctic ice and snow
Current Base	Splits her time between Iceland and the UK

Her full name is confirmed in the UK government’s 2015 honours record, while Guinness World Records gives her date of birth as 7 October 1977.

From Meteorology to Antarctica

Science came first.

Aston studied meteorology at the University of Reading, graduating with an MSc in 2000. The university later named her its 2017 Alumnus of the Year.

Then Antarctica called.

At 23, Aston travelled south with the British Antarctic Survey to work as a meteorologist. She spent two and a half continuous years at Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula.

That included two winters.

Her job involved monitoring climate and ozone. Living for so long in such an isolated environment also gave her direct experience of polar conditions long before she became known for major expeditions.

It was a serious start.

She wasn’t entering Antarctica simply for a record attempt. She had already lived and worked there as a scientist.

Building a Career in Polar Expeditions

After her work with the British Antarctic Survey, Aston began organising and leading expeditions in remote regions.

Her trips have covered both polar regions.

One early milestone came with the first British women’s crossing of Greenland. She later organised international teams, travelled thousands of kilometres through cold regions and led women on ski expeditions toward both the North and South Poles.

Her projects grew bigger.

Some mixed science with travel. Others focused on bringing people from very different countries and backgrounds into the same expedition team.

Then came the journey that made her name known far beyond polar circles.

Felicity Aston’s Solo Antarctica Record

In late 2011, Aston began skiing alone across Antarctica.

No teammate beside her.

She travelled from the Ross Ice Shelf toward Hercules Inlet, passing through the Transantarctic Mountains and the South Pole along the way.

The journey covered 1,744 kilometres, or 1,084 miles.

It took 59 days.

Aston reached Hercules Inlet on 23 January 2012, becoming the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica.

She used Nordic cross-country skis and pulled sledges carrying her equipment and supplies. At the start, the load was around 85 kilograms.

Temperatures dropped to roughly −40°C.

She reached the South Pole on 20 December 2011, then kept moving.

There is one technical detail worth making clear.

The expedition did not use kites or another form of powered propulsion, but Aston received resupplies and used part of the marked South Pole Overland Traverse. Under the Polar Expeditions Classification Scheme, this means the journey is classified as supported.

That distinction matters when discussing polar records accurately.

Awards and Recognition

Aston’s work brought formal recognition in Britain and abroad.

In the 2015 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Polar Exploration. The official government listing names her as Felicity Ann Dawn Aston and describes her as an Antarctic Explorer.

She has also received the Polar Medal.

Her other publicly confirmed recognition includes a Churchill Fellowship, the WINGS WorldQuest Women of Discovery Award and an honorary doctorate from Canterbury Christ Church University.

The University of Reading honoured her as its Alumnus of the Year in 2017.

Another award arrived in 2026.

The Royal Geographical Society gave Aston its Geographical Award for inspiration and support of learning through scientific expeditions. The Society also recognised her expedition leadership, conservation work and mentoring of younger explorers.

Her Work as an Author

Aston has turned many of her expedition experiences into books.

Her published work includes Alone in Antarctica, which tells the story of her solo Antarctic journey.

Her other books include:

• Call of the White
• Chasing Winter
• Life Lessons From Explorers
• Polar Exposure

Her official profile states that she has written five books and contributed to several others.

She has worked in television too.

In 2013, Aston co-presented the BBC science programme Operation Cloud Lab: Secrets of the Skies, travelling across North America in an airship.

In 2016, she helped retrace the route of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush for another BBC production.

Arctic Science and the B.I.G. Project

Aston didn’t leave science behind after becoming known as an explorer.

Actually, science now sits right in the middle of much of her work.

Her B.I.G. — Before It’s Gone — project involved a series of Arctic ski expeditions collecting scientific information about Arctic Ocean sea ice. Trips ran across several years, including expeditions in Svalbard, Iceland and the Arctic Ocean.

The work feeds into her current research.

As of September 2026, Aston is studying airborne microplastics deposited on Arctic Ocean sea ice through research based at the National Oceanography Centre and University of Southampton.

The National Oceanography Centre lists Before It’s Gone as her PhD project focused on microplastics in Arctic ice and snow.

So, yes, she still travels.

But collecting scientific evidence has become a major part of what those journeys are for.

Life and Conservation Work in Iceland

Aston also has a strong connection with Iceland.

She and fellow polar explorer Gísli Jónsson purchased Vigur Island in 2019 with conservation as a major aim. The island lies in Iceland’s Westfjords and is home to large numbers of seabirds.

The official Vigur Island website identifies Gísli as Aston’s husband.

It also publicly identifies their son, Þráinn Freyr. The family looks after the island while supporting research, wildlife monitoring and conservation work.

The pair established Vigur as a private nature reserve and later helped create the Vigur Island Foundation.

The foundation was established in 2025 as an Icelandic registered non-profit organisation. Its work covers nature conservation, historical preservation, wildlife study and research around the island.

Aston’s official profile says she divides her time between Vigur Island and the UK.

What Is Felicity Aston Doing Now?

As of September 2026, Aston remains active across science, expeditions and conservation.

Her research focuses on microplastic pollution in Arctic ice and snow. She is also involved in conservation work on Vigur Island.

Her expedition work hasn’t disappeared either.

In 2026, Aston joined a journey through the Sinai, travelling from Mount Sinai toward the Red Sea as part of an International Women’s Month expedition.

That same year, she received the Royal Geographical Society’s Geographical Award.

Her career has changed shape several times.

Meteorologist. Expedition leader. Solo skier. Author. Researcher.

The connection is easy to see: cold places, fieldwork and a long-running interest in understanding what happens at the edges of the inhabited world.

Final Thought

Felicity Aston became widely known because of one remarkable Antarctic journey.

But her career didn’t stop there.

She spent years working in polar science before the record, then kept building expeditions around research, education and environmental work afterward. Her current Arctic microplastics research brings that story back toward where it started — science.

The 2012 crossing remains her best-known achievement.

Her work today is broader.

And still very cold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Felicity Aston?

Felicity Aston is a British polar explorer, author, speaker and research scientist. She is best known for becoming the first woman to ski alone across Antarctica.

When was Felicity Aston born?

She was born on 7 October 1977. Guinness World Records confirms her date of birth.

What record does Felicity Aston hold?

She became the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica, completing a 1,744-kilometre journey in 59 days and reaching Hercules Inlet on 23 January 2012.

Did Felicity Aston travel completely unsupported across Antarctica?

No. She skied without kites or powered propulsion, but she received resupplies and used part of the marked South Pole Overland Traverse. Guinness classifies the journey as supported under polar expedition classification rules.

What did Felicity Aston study?

She studied Meteorology at the University of Reading and graduated with an MSc in 2000.

Is Felicity Aston an MBE?

Yes. Aston was appointed MBE in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to Polar Exploration.

Who is Felicity Aston’s husband?

The official Vigur Island website identifies polar explorer Gísli Jónsson as her husband. They manage conservation work on Vigur Island in Iceland.

What is Felicity Aston doing now?

As of September 2026, she is carrying out research into airborne microplastics deposited on Arctic Ocean sea ice, based at the National Oceanography Centre and University of Southampton. She is also active in conservation work on Vigur Island.