Ann Bancroft (person)

(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:

• multiple sclerosis
• cerebral palsy
• learning disabilities (she struggled with dislexia).
• women's health research
• the Special Olympics

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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.