The British Explorer has spent decades braving some of the most extreme environments on Earth. A record-breaking polar explorer, she was the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica and has led multiple all-female expeditions across the Arctic. Now, her focus is singular: document the Arctic before it disappears.
Through her expeditions, Aston says she has witnessed dramatic changes firsthand—rain in Svalbard, grass-filled valleys in what should be snow-covered northern Iceland.
Now, her latest mission, the Before It’s Gone (B.I.G.) Arctic Research Expedition is all about the data—crucial, real-world measurements of sea ice, snow composition, and atmospheric conditions. Backed by the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, Aston and her team of citizen scientists are racing to gather this information before it’s too late.
Aston’s first encounter with the polar environment came at 19 when she joined the British Antarctic Survey. Two and a half years on the ice shaped her life’s work. Since then, she has crossed Greenland, trekked through Canada’s high Arctic, and skied to the North Pole. But she says she has also seen the stark reality of climate change up close.
“You can collect some data from space, but there’s certain information you can only get from being there on the ground,” Aston says. “We’re running out of time to access this geography in order to collect information.”
Aston says the B.I.G. Arctic Research Expedition is a direct response to this crisis.
The team aims to reach the Geographic North Pole, a feat that is becoming increasingly difficult as the ice thins and melts. They travel by ski, hauling equipment across treacherous terrain to gather critical data that will refine climate models.
So far, it hasn’t been easy.
The past three expeditions have been forced to shift locations due to extreme conditions—ironically, the very thing Aston is trying to document. Instead, they’ve focused on Svalbard, Iceland, and other Arctic regions, collecting ice and snow samples that may reveal the impact of microplastics and black carbon pollution.
Aston reiterates how vital that data is. The Arctic is warming three times faster than the rest of the world, yet gaps remain in how climate models predict its future.
She says without “boots-on-the-ice” measurements, those models are incomplete.
Planet Initiative
Aston’s work aligns with Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative, which supports scientific exploration aimed at protecting the environment. Since its launch in 2019, the initiative has backed projects ranging from ocean conservation with Mission Blue to wildlife restoration in South America.
For Aston, the collaboration offers more than just funding—it provides a global platform to highlight the urgency of Arctic research. “Being supported by the initiative is wonderful in terms of the credibility and community it brings,” she says.
