Rosie Stancer North Pole Solo quotes
“I would like to offer Rosie my congratulations on reaching as far north as she has and for enduring the worst conditions the Arctic could throw at her for over 80 days.
When I first endeavoured to reach the North Pole in 1979, conditions on the ice were very different to what Rosie has had to endure – I was lucky to experience vast tracts of solid ice and nothing like the number of open leads Rosie has had to face.
Rosie should be proud of her achievement and is a true inspiration.”
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
"What Rosie has achieved is tremendous. To even set foot on the frozen Arctic Ocean takes tremendous courage. To commit to a solo journey requires even more courage. To doggedly keep going in such appalling conditionds for 84 days sets Rosie apart from any other woman explorer I know.
As one of only 2 brits to succesfully achieve this trip unsupported (the other being Pen), I know what is physically and mentally involved. The fact that Rosie is half my size and took on this gruelling physical challenge sets her in a class of her own. Although obviously hugely dissapointed that her journey has been brought to an end to ensure the saftey of the pilots, she should hopefully feel incredibly proud of her self."
Conrad Dickinson
“The journey Rosie undertook may well be the most difficult on earth. No matter how much she tells us about it, no one but Rosie herself will ever fully understand all she has gone through during these past 84 days.
Rosie Stancer is a courageous woman who gave 100% of herself to this expedition. Rosie can now legitimately claim the farthest north solo by a woman. We are all proud of her achievement and inspired by her remarkable courage.”
Pam Flowers
"Rosie, only foolishness exceeds courage, and it takes courage to know the difference. Your incredible example of human spirit in meeting such adversity draws few parallels in our age. Walk tall and be proud - because failure is not beginning.
- TRULY AWESOME EXPEDITION...!"
Fiona Thornewill & Mike Thornewill
“I can imagine how disappointed Rosie must be feeling at the moment, but I hope she is also proud of her phenomenal achievement on the ice. She has endured terrible conditions and unimaginable hardships and still battled continually on what I believe is one of the hardest journeys in the world, to reach the North Pole from land. Rosie is an inspiration to us all and my admiration for her is colossal. A brave and courageous lady who understands what it means to reach for ones dreams. She has travelled farther than any other woman on her own on the ice, a colossal feat. She really has gone the 'furthest North'”
Ann Daniels
“I know of no one who would have pushed themselves to the edge of extinction alone on the Arctic Ocean as Rosie has done – and then so gracefully subjugate their personal ambition, with only a few days travel remaining to the Pole, with thought only for the safety of their air support team. Such scale of character is a shining example in a dim world, and I, for one, am proud to salute her courage in the most extreme circumstances. ‘Our greatest glory consists not of never falling, but in rising every time we fall.’ (Oliver Goldsmith)”
Pen Hadow
“Rosie has demonstrated weeks upon weeks of great heart and spirit meeting the challenges of the Arctic Ocean. What she has accomplished for women is immense! And with such great spirit. AS you know, Liv and I are very familiar with disappointment and can feel Rosies heart break almost physically.“
Ann Bancroft
Press Statement – 29 May 2007
FURTHEST NORTH SOLO BY A WOMAN
– BUT NORTH POLE HOPES DASHED FOR ROSIE STANCER
After 84 extremely gruelling days and 326 miles on the ice, British woman Rosie Stancer has been forced to end her attempt to become the first woman to reach the North Pole solo. Rosie was picked up from the ice yesterday evening only 89 miles from the North Pole. (Her position at pick up was 88 3157N 48 47 37W.)
Pilots who had flown in from Eureka Weather Station in Northern Canada on a planned re-supply made the decision that a future pick-up would be too dangerous due to the deteriorating ice conditions between her current position and the North Pole. Not willing to compromise the safety of the pilots, Rosie agreed to be picked up, abandoning a lifelong dream.
Fellow explorer Pen Hadow, “I know of no one who would have pushed themselves as Rosie has done – and then so gracefully subjugate their personal ambition, with only a few days travel remaining to the Pole, with thought only for the safety of their air support team. Such scale of character is a shining example in a dim world, and I, for one, am proud to salute her courage in the most extreme circumstances.”
Having battled against what has been described by many as the worst conditions in recent history, Rosie has firmly established herself in the record books having reached further North than any other woman solo. During the expedition she has experienced temperatures from as low as -55C to dangerously warm levels of -2C, repeated storms and shifting ice. Rosie found herself encountering miles of never ending ice rubble and more dangerously, larger and more frequent open water leads.
Overcoming these difficulties on her own makes Rosie’s journey even more significant and an achievement of epic proportions. Members of the polar community have stepped out in support of Rosie including Norwegian Liv Arnesen and fellow Brit Ann Daniels who said this morning, “I can imagine how disappointed Rosie must be feeling at the moment, but I hope she is also proud of her phenomenal achievement on the ice. She has endured terrible conditions and unimaginable hardships and still battled continually on, in what I believe is one of the hardest journeys in the world. Rosie is an inspiration to us all and my admiration for her is colossal.”
Liv Arnesen said, “ If she had to come off the ice, by experience, I know it is a painful decision to take. Rosie has faced unusually tough conditions on the Arctic Ocean, but still gone far further than any solo female before her. I congratulate her on a great expedition!"
Rosie is due in the UK on Saturday 2nd June. Her return is highly anticipated by family and especially her 5 year old son Jock. HRH The Prince of Wales is Patron to the Expedition.
For further information please contact the team at KTB PR: Tel: 020 79247214
Kate Bosomworth : kate@ktbor.com / 07771 987415
Kitty Henry : kitty@ktbpr.com / 07974 155673
Josh Greenberg : josh@ktbpr.com / 07812 054452
