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Author
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Topic: Neil Armstrong's expedition to the North Pole
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Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 08-03-2016 12:39 AM
  
Recently I was in Stamford and whilst browsing around a second hand book shop I came across an autobiography by Sir Edmund Hillary titled "View From The Summit" published in 1999. Always interested in exploration I bought it for a fiver (£5) and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Obviously it gave great detail of the first successful climb to the top of Mount Everest which he made with Tenzing Norgay, his successful expedition to the South Pole and many other adventurous trips he had made.He also recalls going to the North Pole with, among others, his son Peter and Neil Armstrong in 1985. I quote from page 274: That evening I talked at some length to Neil Armstrong about opportunity and adventure. I very much liked his relaxed personality and when I rather naively asked him how he had been chosen to be the first to stand on the moon he answered, "Luck! Just luck!" I had a definite feeling that it might have been a little bit more than that. He also said "at the Pole someone produced a bottle of champagne and poured a little into glasses for Neil and me. Before we could even wet our lips the champagne froze solid." As the temperature was -45 degrees Centigrade I'm not surprised!I think that it is a strange irony that there was much speculation as to who reached the top of Everest first (it was Hillary) and the supposed entitlement of who should step onto the moon first. That these two great adventurers should meet, and in such an exotic location, was marvellous. Both had enjoyed supreme triumphs but also had personal tragedies in their lives as well but still remained modest and thoroughly decent people and a wonderful example to us all. Sadly both are no longer with us but will of course be remembered for all time. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-03-2016 01:48 AM
Neil Armstrong recounts this expedition in James Hansen's "First Man." One notable activity that Neil successfully kept out of the press was his trip to the North Pole, which he made in April 1985 under the direction of the professional expedition leader and adventurer, California's Michael Chalmer Dunn, and in the company of the world-famous climber of Mt. Everest, Sir Edmund Hilary, Hilary's son Peter, and Pat Morrow, the first Canadian to reach Everest's summit. "I found the trip to the North Pole tremendously interesting," Armstrong recalled, "predominately because it was so different from everything we normally see in our usual life. It's so very different up there. It was well worth the troubles of the trip." Hansen's endnotes also mention that among Armstrong's personal papers (now held by Purdue University) are the correspondence and notes pertinent to the polar expedition, including a signed certificate from the Polar Bear Chapter of the Order of Arctic Adventurers, substantiating that Armstrong crossed the Arctic Circle and reached 90 degrees North. |
Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 08-04-2016 04:31 PM
Buzz Aldrin also went to the North Pole in 1998 described in his books "Magnificent Desolation" and "No Dream Is Too High." He also went 2.4 miles deep to the ocean floor to observe the wreckage of the Titanic and still has an ambition to go to the South Pole. At his age a wonderful example for us all. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-04-2016 04:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Kite:
...and still has an ambition to go to the South Pole.
According to his website, he is embarking for the South Pole on Nov. 22. |
Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 08-04-2016 04:48 PM
Terrific news. Good for him. | |
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