(1955 - )
the first
woman to travel to the
north pole (as the only female member of the Steger International Polar Expedition) in 1986. Bancroft was also the first woman to travel east to west across
greenland on skis in 1992. led the American Woman's Expedition (pulling hugely loaded sleds and backbacks) to the
south pole in
1993.
Bancroft is also an active proponent of causes such as:
UPDATE: November 3, 2000
This winter,
Ann Bancroft and
Norwegian Liv Arnesen will attempt to be the first
women to cross
Antarctica. They will carry their provisions on a
sled as they ski 2,400 miles across the
continent.