Bradford-born Arctic explorer Ann Daniels has revealed how her ‘hoodie’ is her most prized luxury on the ice.

The 44-year-old mum-of-four is 57 days and 381km into a gruelling three-month trek to help scientists find out how fast the ice caps are melting.

She has said it is the moments of privacy behind the hood of her jacket that acts as “a shield” most when “things get too much”.

The adventurer, who was brought up in Allerton, abandoned her own solo attempt on the Pole to be expedition navigator and cook on the Catlin project which is being led by veteran explorer Pen Hadow.

She said on her blog: “When I’m missing home or feeling down it always makes me feel better to let it all go with a couple of privately-shed tears.

“It releases the tension and lets go the happy hormones. You can’t beat the power of catharsis – especially when no one can see.”

But she managed to keep back the tears recently when she fell on a chunk of hard ice while trying to haul a sled over a ridge. The rope suddenly shot forwards making her fall backwards.

She said: “The worst thing was I was trying so hard not to cry because I was wearing my sunglasses. They would have steamed up and then the steam freezes and I can’t see!”

Near misses are something that can be common place on the ice as Ann knows all too well – on one occasion what appeared to be a solid patch of ice cracked beneath her.

She said: “I never, ever relax here. I thought I was on solid ice and suddenly I was being forced into a wide straddle! I managed to hop on to one side, but it shows how you can never trust what you’re standing on.”

In another log from the ice, she reported that she fell waist-deep through another crack that had been covered by snow.

She said: “I never forget the power of it (the ice). When the ice is in a benevolent state it can seem comforting – miles and miles of white all around you like a blanket. But other days the ice makes a terrific noise when it cracks and breaks and then it seems angry.

“I’ve seen huge blocks of ice pushed around like sugar cubes. I never trust it, but I feel I have a relationship with it. You could say the ice has a huge, temperamental personality.”

Travelling an average 6.68km a day, Ann and her team still have about 537km more to go to reach the North Pole, taking thickness measurements of the ice as they go.