Photo taken by Martin Hartley
Polar explorer Ann Daniels is a world record holder and one of Britain’s leading female explorers. Here, she tells us about the technology that makes life easier in the wilderness, and shares her Australian travel ambitions.
In 2002, Ann became the first woman in history to ski to the North and South Poles as part of all women teams. Experiencing temperatures as low as -50C and dealing with various encounters with polar bears, she has sledge-hauled over 3000 miles, in the most inhospitable environments in the world, completing over 10 polar expeditions and surviving over 400 days on the ice.
You can find more about her here and follow her on Twitter @AnnDanielsGB.
Do you love technology, loathe it or feel excited by the possibilities it presents?
I love technology when travelling. Every explorer in every age has used what is available at them at the time of their endeavour and I think it’s madness not to keep up to date with the inventions of our time. It can be used for safety or to allow the world and those not able to be physically present to experience the expedition with you.
Do you use technology when you head off on an adventure, or is it merely a useful tool when planning?
Travelling to the extremes of the world can still make using technology difficult but with care it is possible. Batteries in particular need to be kept dry and warm.
What items of technology do you use?
I use a sat nav phone for safety reasons, to inform the world what is happening in real time and to report to base.
When using the sun to navigate a reliable and accurate watch is essential for navigational purposes and I always have one on each wrist. One set to local time for navigating and one set at GMT so I can work out what time it is in various time zones when doing media interviews and speaking to my base camp.
In Antarctica I also use a bespoke solar panel charger to recharge batteries. They are less reliable in the high Arctic, especially on the Arctic Ocean which is a marine environment.
Not exactly technical but contact lenses have made a world of difference to adventure.
Photo taken by Martin Hartley
What are the drawbacks of technology when travelling?
The drawbacks are their reliability in extreme environments and keeping them safe and free from damage. Protective cases add extra weight and solar panels can be less effective in certain environments. In extreme cold batteries drain much quicker and again the weight is a big drawback.
Is there a piece of tech on your wish list that manufacturers haven’t created yet?
A battery that is lightweight and bomb proof in the cold.
If you could create an Australian bucket list, what places/experiences would be on it?
Canyoning and generally losing myself in the Blue Mountains and Karijini National Park, snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. Hiking through one of Australia’s canyons – and on a more civilised note a visit to the Sydney Opera House.
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