Dr Nat Taylor of the historic Ice Maidens expedition joins us as faculty for WEMski
This time last year, Nat Taylor had just completed an incredible 1,700-mile expedition, as she formed part of the badass all-female group ‘The Ice Maidens’, who skied coast-to-coast across Antarctica using muscle power alone (and broke a record or two along the way). This year sees Nat pull her ski boots on for a slightly different challenge, as she joins us as faculty for WEMski, our mini-conference with a difference.
Nat will be talking about the incredible ‘Ice Maidens’ mission, the brainchild of Nat and her colleague Major Nics Wetherill, where they wanted to take on a formidable challenge that would inspire women of all ages and abilities to take part and do something they wouldn’t normally be doing, or even think was possible. They would be able to collect data on female endurance in extreme environments and show that women have the mental strength and physical endurance to operate in the most hostile environment on earth.
The only conditions to participating in this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity would be that applicants were serving in the Army (regular or reserve) and were female. In total 250 people came forward and were put through rigorous tests in the UK and in freezing conditions in Norway on a winter survival skills course that would simulate the Antarctica environment before the final six were selected.
The ‘Ice Maidens’ set off on 21st November 2017 for an incredible feat that would see the soldiers led by Nat and Nics endure 62 days on the ice, navigating crevasse fields while pulling sledges weighing up to 80kg and travelling up to 43km a day, all whilst battling temperatures as low as -50 degrees. This expedition was to be one of the biggest adventures of their lives and where for some, lifelong dreams were made!
Using her experience as an explorer and renowned endurance adventure racer, Nat has pushed her body to its limits on many an occasion, and fully understands what it takes, both physically and mentally to take control, carry on and push through in extreme and stressful situations. This is even more prevalent in Nat’s ‘day job’ as a Regimental Medical Officer and General Practitioner serving with the First Battalion the Rifles, based in Wales; having previously served in Germany and Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
With WEMski content centred around real-world experiences of extreme physical and psychological challenges, excellence in leadership, expedition medicine in the extremes, plus much more, we couldn’t think of a better placed person to join WEM faculty than Nat. She’ll be inspiring and educating our attendees with her own experiences of working in dangerous and stressful environments, as well as sharing her incredible ‘Ice Maiden’ story.
Be part of something amazing, book your place today!
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