A DIETICIAN who doubles up as a soldier is training for a historic and treacherous trek across Antarctica.

Sheets of barren ice and killer climates await Army reservist Rin Cobb, who hopes to embark on the first female-only expedition to the continent.

The 34-year-old, who moved to Abingdon last summer from Aberdeen, is among 12 British soldiers preparing for the 75-day trek.

Private Cobb, a combat medical technician in the 7 Rifles reservists based at Edward Brooks Barracks in Abingdon, said: "We were told fewer people have done this across the land mass than have been to space.

"If something goes wrong you need to be able to rely on yourself – it's the ultimate challenge.

"It's one of those places that's still pretty unspoilt from an exploring point of view – it's about the views, the beauty."

The explorers will battle -80 degrees Celsius temperatures and 60mph wind speeds during "Exercise Ice Maiden", a 1,700 trek passing through the South Pole.

But Private Cobb, who has completed gruelling overseas exercises during the selection process, must endure two more before the expedition in October 2017.

The first will be a mission to Norway this October, where the 12 hopefuls will be whittled down to eight.

Those eight will then go on one final training sortie across inhospitable territory in Norway and Greenland in April, from which the final six will be chosen to make the Antarctic expedition.

Private Cobb said she longed to make the final cut and join the other Ice Maidens to inspire other women to achieve their dreams.

She said: "Sadly in this day and age we are still not seen as equals in a lot of roles. I think it will inspire women to get up and do that thing they’ve been meaning to do, because they’ve seen this bunch of women doing this crazy thing and they’re achieving it."

The adventurer has completed expeditions in the Himalayas, Borneo, Greenland, as well as the legendary Marathon de Sables through the Sahara in Morocco – labelled the toughest foot race on earth.

She said: "I just have one of those minds that likes a challenge. I'm definitely excited – I don't underestimate how tough or dangerous it could be."

The former scout's civilian life as a dietician took a twist 18 months ago when she signed up to 7 Rifles.

Her training regimen has so far forced her to plunge into ice pools and ski for 10 hours straight.

She said the biggest challenge before November, when she will face her next test, is the mammoth fundraising task.

The close-knit team, who call themselves 'sisters with sledges', need £400,000 for the expedition.

For more information visit exicemaiden.com.