Helen Spencer – Vet, Polar Explorer & South Pole Ski Adventurer
- Jun 23
- 4 min read
Meet Helen Spencer, a veterinarian from Kent who swapped clinic life for the extremes of the world. From hiking in Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Yemen to caring for orangutans in Borneo, Helen has chased adventure across the globe.
In this episode, she shares her journey to ski the last degree to the South Pole, including:
Training, kit prep, and polar skills courses
The physical and mental challenges of long polar expeditions
Coping with loss, vulnerability, and finding strength on the ice
Lessons in perseverance, confidence, and small steps toward big dreams
Helen’s story is a testament to courage, resilience, and pursuing your goals—even when the journey is long and demanding.
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Listen to Helen Now!
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Show notes
Who is Helen
Being based in Kent
Growing up on a farm and having a lot of freedom
Becoming a vet
Wanting more adventure
Working for the charity: World Wide Veterinary Service
In her free time loving to travel
Leaving school and travelling with her backpack, and staying in hostels
Starting to do a few solo and group expeditions
Hiking in Afganistan, Madagascar, Mongolia, Yemen, Palestine, North Korea
Recently skiing the last degree of the South Pole
Building her confidence with travelling
Earning enough money to go www.interrail.eu/en
Having a budget of £10 per day
Spending time in Borneo looking after Orangutans
Being a shy, farm kid growing up and being better with animals than people
Having 5 years at university
Having a neighbour who had a zoo and spending time helping out at the zoo
Knowing what she wanted to do when she was 5
Building internal confidence
Hiking in Afganistan’s Wakhan Corridor
Why expedition are about the people you meet as well as where you go
Getting the balance right between being social enough but also having time for herself
Needing time out and making sure she has her own tent
Having a 10 day tolerance on expeditions
Her goal to ski to the the pole in Antarctica and where the dream came from
Being fascinated by polar history
A week long polar skills course in Finse, Norway
Needing a challenge - being in bad mental and physical health
Taking some time out after selling her veterinarian clinic in London
Having a year to get in shape
Training at the Altitude Centre in London
Not being able to test her kit
Receiving a lot of help and advice
Heading to Loughborough Elite Sports Centre to have her fitness tested
Heading over to Antarctica and what it was like
Being out on the ice and why it was like being out on the open ocean
Pulling the pulk at altitude on the ice
Why it was a physical challenge but also a mental challenge
Her way of coping with difficulties
Wanting to feel small
Being there mid summer, when the sun never sets.
Rainbows and halos forming around the sun
Being able to move forward after the challenge
Trying to cope with the loss of her parents in an accident, 2 weeks before she was due to be married
Being in a dark place
Coping by being on her own and doing physical endurance
Wanting to be broken down and feel vulnerable
Getting to the pole and why it was hugely emotional
Why it meant everything to her
Kick on
Fundraising £20K in memory of her mum who had Parkinson’s
Gaining confidence, a bit more self assurance and pride.
Spending 3 weeks in Antarctica, and skiing for 8 days
Tent life…
Going to the loo! Code Brown! Pooing in a bag and packing out your poo.
The worst bit of the expedition and having to leave your warm sleeping bag
How to connect with Helen on Social Media
Final words of advice
Some dreams can take time
Taking small steps and trying the thing you want to do
Her mantras in life…. “Don’t be a dick to yourself”, “Don’t be a dick to others” and Don’t be a dick with our environment”
Social Media
Instagram: @adventure_vet_spence
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