AN ARCTIC explorer from Cromhall will be thrown out of her comfort zone when she embarks on a trek through the Gobi desert this weekend.

Hazel Richards, 51, who is more accustomed to sub-zero temperatures and icy terrain, will be in for a shock when she reaches Mongolia’s rocky landscape and mountain ranges on Saturday, June 2 to witness the transit of Venus.

The financial analyst will be in good company during her eight-day expedition as she and a team from the Coca Cola Space and Science Centre will be guided by none other than NASA astronaut and twice Space Shuttle commander Ken Ham.

Although the desert's weather extremes will be a new challenge for Hazel, she is confident she will adapt to her environment quickly on the back of her past polar achievements.

In 2010, she took part in a five-day trek across the Arctic Circle and set out for a 111-mile expedition to the South Pole the following year.

"It will be extremely hot during the day and at night it will drop below zero," she said.

"I’ve got to watch not to get dehydrated but it’s the same as in the South Pole. But I’m looking forward to the whole experience and excited to meet a real astronaut."

What she is most worried about is sharing the desert with camel spiders, with only the walls of her nomadic tent to keep them out at night.

"A camel spider is a bit like a scorpion," she said. "It doesn’t bite you until it’s the very last resort. I would like to see a camel spider but from a distance."

If she is afraid of encountering the eight-legged creature, she is anxious to get a glimpse of the Gobi desert’s oldest inhabitants - the takki horse - and meet Mongolia’s nomadic people.

"Gobi has the oldest living horse, the takki. It’s a prehistoric looking horse. It would be great to see one."

The trip will culminate in a historical spectacle on June 6: the transit of Venus, a type of solar eclipse which only occurs twice every century. The Gobi desert is the best spot in the world to observe the astronomical phenomena.

As per tradition, Hazel will be using the trek as a way to raise money for Acorns Children’s Hospice, The Mitchemp Trust, St Peter’s Hospice and The Eve Appeal.

This year, she has hatched a cunning plan to encourage people to donate generously. Sponsors will be able to ask a question to astronaut Ken Ham in exchange for a £20 donation, give £5 toward a present for local children or guess the number of miles she will cover in the desert for a £3 fee.

To sponsor Hazel visit http://www.hazelrichards.com/