In 2019 Mollie set off on her most ambitious expedition to date, skiing solo from the coast of Antarctica to the Geographic South Pole. 29-year-old adventurer and motivational speaker, who was born in Devon and lives in Edinburgh, started her world record attempt at 1.40 pm (Chilean time / 4.40 pm UK time) on Wednesday 13 November. After 58.5 days and 650 hours of skiing alone in whiteouts, storm-force winds and temperatures hitting minus 45C, Mollie reached the Geographic South Pole on the 10th January 2020 at 8.50 am (Chilean time / 11.50 am UK time) – achieving her second world record by becoming the youngest woman in the world to ski solo from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. Listen to Mollie as she shares more about her polar challenge, discussing sponsorship, learning how to ski, coping in a whiteout, and the power of positive affirmations. Show notes

What Mollie has done before
Her desire to go to Antarctica
The starting point with the plan
Figuring out the sponsorship
Creating a “war room” - in the living room
Being a visual learner
Being £15k short before the start of the trip
Getting the final sponsor on board
Learning how to cross country ski
Training in Norway
Learning how to cope being solo
Her fears and concerns before the trip
Feeling happy and excited
Having a degree in psychology
The importance of having a routine
Flying over to Chile
Taking advantage of the small weather window
The first couple of days on the ice
Entering an horrendous weather front for 2 weeks!
Letting her emotions out
What it’s like skiing in a whiteout
Getting into the rhythm of skiing big miles every day
Not being able to get the negative thoughts out of her head
The power of positive affirmations
Figuring out priorities and making better decisions
Supported or unsupported
Mini challenge for the tribe
Breaking the record
The lessons learned
Heading home and returning to normal
Quick Fire Questions
The power of getting started

Mollie Hughes - 29, Youngest woman to ski from Hercules Inlet in Western Antarctica to the South Pole.