Bristolian bids to trek 300km of Arctic wilderness

Local adventurer Dani Godwin is bidding for a place in the Fjallraven Polar challenge, an international competition that takes just two people from each region of the world on a 300km Arctic expedition from Norway to Sweden, with the help of 200 sled dogs.

“I think as I have grown older, I have become more adventurous,” says the Bristol-born explorer. “I was lucky to have a family who took the time to take me to new places closer to home such as the local park. I have always had a love for wildlife and being outdoors in the fresh air, and it was a key place for me to learn, too.

“Being adventurous must run somewhere in the family tree as both of my aunties have travelled and lived in other countries, so growing up with that was an inspiration. I always wanted to go travelling and have always worked hard to afford it.

“My first proper adventure was after finishing my studies: I saved up and went away for six months around South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. In the past few years, I have saved mainly with the aim to travel, so I can spend more time in new places trying out new experiences. I am also lucky that my job as a wildlife filmmaker takes me to some very interesting parts of the world.”

Her latest bid, to join the expedition team on Fjallraven Polar, could be her toughest yet. Up against entrants from the UK, Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxemburg, if Dani is selected for the team then she’ll face hugely challenging conditions. Beginning at the edge of the Norwegian fjords in Signaldalen and finishing in Swedesh Lapland, previous trekkers have experienced blizzards and temperatures as low as -30°C. But Dani’s desire to brave the elements is grounded in her love for meeting new people.

“It sounds very enticing because you get to meet and work alongside many different people from across the world. It’s a place where age, ability, gender and ethnicity don’t matter and you all help each other out – the way it should be,” she says. “For me, the best part of travelling is learning about new cultures and meeting new people along the way. I believe that these experiences have helped shape me and my understanding of the world, and they make me feel grateful for what I have. There is a lot more out there than many people will ever know.”

Training for Fjallraven Polar can be difficult as a lot of the preparations take place upon arrival. If Dani receives enough votes, she’ll learn how to ride with sled dogs and carry out an intense health and safety course before crossing the Arctic. But Dani is trying to do much as she can before the voting ends.

“In my preparation, I am trying to keep as fit as possible. I think it will be both a physical and mental journey and having a good state of mind to me is the main thing. Once you lose that, you’ve lost half the battle. I like to keep my cup as full as possible.

“I also think you have to also be a good judge of character and understand how both your teammates in both human and animal form are feeling, and try to keep everyone positive and happy.”

As an animal lover, Dani plans to raise money for local wildlife charity Holly Hedge Animal Rescue thoughout the adventure. “My two lovely cats are adopted from Holly Hedge and the volunteers all do a great job,” she says.

Being chosen for Fjallraven Polar is no easy feat, but Dani is hopeful of her chances, despite the terrain being new to her. “It is a chance to try something outside the box and outside of my comfort zone. I have spent a lot of time in hot places but not so much in cold minus degree temperatures.

“It means I can spend time in what I would call true wilderness, which unfortunately is quite rare in today’s world. It would be a place to just think in the present moment and get back to basics.”

Vote for Dani by visiting www.polar.fjallraven.com/contestant/?id=110 and find out more about her chosen charity, Holly Hedge Animal Rescue, by visiting www.hollyhedge.org.uk. Voting closes on Thursday, December 14 2017.