A teenage explorer is to brave new heights in a mountain expedition in South America.

Ruth Snowden, 16, will face a daunting but thrilling six-week challenge as she treks high altitudes in the remote Peruvian Andes.

The Bingley Grammar schoolgirl will carry out environmental fieldwork and try a range of outdoor activities on the Cordillera Blanca in the White Mountains.

She is one of 50 students who has been selected for the trip by youth development charity, BSES Expeditions. Ruth, of Ling Park Avenue, Wilsden, was inspired to apply for the excursion by her older sister Felicity who took a similar excursion to the Arctic islands, Svalbard, two years ago.

Ruth said: "It just sounded so amazing and she had such a fantastic time. I wanted to do something like that on my own."

She added: "I'm just looking forward to being there - it's such an amazing mountain range. And I'm looking forward to the challenge of living in tents with no outside contact."

Miss Snowden has always had a passion for the great outdoors and is currently training to be a kayakist with the Bradford South Scouts group.

She is all geared up for the expedition having raised £2,700 over the past year and is now busy collecting some final funds for her kit.

Whilst she is out there, Miss Snowden will be involved in projects such as geological mapping, conducting a baseline environmental survey to monitor the future effects of climate change, and a study into the impacts of tourism on the local area. She will also try her hand at ice climbing, mountaineering and trekking.

Proud mother Bernadette said: "She's very determined. You need to be able to survive in extreme conditions, live away from home, have no contact with family and prove yourself to be fit and healthy enough to endure the conditions. I think she is more than fitting for this task."