I didn’t care that I was the first woman on a solo expedition to reach the pole. The journey was so satisfying and the prize so priceless because of the lessons learned and the struggle to overcome obstacles.

Helen Thayer At the age of fifty, Helen Thayer became the first woman to ski solo to the North Pole. She traversed the terrain, temperatures, and danger posed by polar bears with her husky Charlie. Helen walked 1,600 miles of the Gobi Desert at the age of 63.

She has also written books about this unconventional explorer, who kayaked 2,200 miles of the Amazon River and lived near a wolf’s den above the Arctic Circle. Hint: They are worth reading!