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Reunited in Antarctica, in style
05:05 a.m. EST Dec 27, 2003
One of the more exciting reuniting stories we’ve heard of in a while just occurred. Pen Hadow and Simon Murray were a little bit past the 81st degree and merrily skiing their way, unsupported to the South Pole.
Having nothing to listen to except for the wind, the ice crackling beneath their feet, and each other - what can be more music to their ears than the sound of a whumping rotor blade approaching?
And who was in the helicopter? Simon’s wife, Jennifer! She is piloting a helicopter to both the Poles and decided to pay a visit to her husband along the way.
Jennifer said, “Simon and I are used to meeting in unusual places but the thought of meeting in such a picturesque environment has been a dream of mine that I’ve held on to for many months. . . As Simon and Pen’s mission is strictly unsupported - they are carrying their entire kit from start to finish with no re-supply - I have had to abide by the strictest rules so I cannot give them anything at all, but thankfully, they were able to share their supplies with us.”
Simon added, “It was wonderful to have the opportunity to congratulate Jennifer on her fantastic achievement – crossing the formidable Drake Passage – and I’m pleased to say that she is now safely on her way to the South Pole.
“I was very tempted to hop into the helicopter with Jennifer as she was about to leave but gladly for all involved, I resisted the temptation!”
So after a spectacular reuniting, Jennifer and Colin resumed their flight to the South Pole, which they are hoping to reach on Wednesday. Simon and Pen resumed their unsupported ski the Pole, which they plan on reaching in, well, let’s just say a more than a couple of Wednesdays from now.
An interesting side note: “Simon first met Jennifer in his teens, when he joined an engineering firm as a special apprentice in an iron foundry, earning £4 a week.
He took a shine to Jennifer, and threatened to join the French Foreign Legion if she wouldn't marry him. When Jennifer turned him down he did exactly what he said he was going to do. It was five years before he returned, and Jennifer changed her mind.”
Mike Sharpe, the Operations Director for Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions at Patriot Hills was responsible for overseeing the logging of every piece of kit on the Polar First helicopter before and after the flight, to ensure that there is watertight confirmation that no re-supply has occurred.
Image of Simon and Jennifer, reunited, courtesy of Martin Hartley
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