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Polar First makes it to the Pole
10:41 a.m. EST Dec 17, 2003
When Jennfier and Colin started off a couple months ago, it was their intent to reach the South Pole on December 17, 2003, 100 years to the day of Wilbur and Orville Wright's maiden flight. And what do you know, they did it!
While maintaining a flight schedule within the US, or even South America is to be expected, down in Antarctica, the pilots can’t often pick and choose their days – take the Vinson teams for example. Not only did they get held up for a while in Punta Arenas to get to Antarctica, but teams were further delayed getting to Vinson due to poor weather.
Not only did Polar First reach the South Pole on their desired date, but managed to pull off the first single engine helicopter crossing of the Drake Passage and pay a short visit to Jennifer’s husband, Simon, who’s skiing unsupported with Pen Hadow. Now, it’s time to turn around and head north – to the North Pole that is.
From Jennifer and Colin:
We sat on the ground for two hours after the 'white out', we had no intention of flying in a white out again! The weather improved and we found ourselves with 5 knots of tail wind. As all the winds flow away from the South Pole, it was a big, welcome surprise. Our fuel situation is critical on this leg. We filled full-full at Thiell Mountains for the 600 mile round trip, our longest leg so far without refueling, so we are anxiously monitoring both winds and fuel.
A sinking helicopter
We camped thirty miles out from the Pole to ensure that we would make it in here on the 17th. Finding a landing spot that would hold the weight of the heli without sinking proved a nightmare. Repeated attempts at landing were followed by that sinking sensation. I suggested that I get out and put planks of wood under the skids. It was a good idea in theory, a nightmare to execute in practice.
I jumped out and was hit by freezing winds (-42C with wind chill factor). While getting the wood out, my computer fell onto the ice and I didn't have time to put on jacket and gloves. This left me whimpering with cold and Colin having huge difficulty holding the heli stable in the fierce wind. We eventually had to give up and I nearly left the computer behind while at the same time using up precious fuel. We finally found a halfway acceptable spot but the skids have still well broken the surface of the ice…
Anyone have any underwear I can borrow?
…Every day is a bad hair day! Make-up is long gone and I've got bandages on three fingers and both thumbs from the intense dry cold. Colin's hands are ingrained with dirt from the cooker and refueling. He was hoping he would be able to buy underpants in the South Pole shop but that's a no go. Lots of T-shirts, souvenirs but no underpants! His kit is all sitting in one of the duffel bags we left in far away Carvajal.”
Jennifer Murray and Colin Bodhill plan to fly a helicopter from New York, down the East Coast of the Americas to the South Pole and then up the West Coast of the Americas, to the North Pole and back to New York – with some stops in between of course. The duo hopes to land on the South Pole, December 17th, the 100th anniversary of Wilbur and Orville’s first manned, powered, flight.
Image of the Polar First team at the South Pole courtesy of Jennifer and Colin of the Polar First team.
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