Monday, January 01 2007
SOUTH POLE STATION, ANTARCTICA - The next time you're traveling in the vicinity of the South Pole, stop down and feel free to light-up your favorite cigar. The weather's fine.
That's how a group of explorers celebrated over the New Year's Holiday weekend in Antarctica. In a 12/31/06 email that I received from Roger Bennett, a
Famous Smoke Shop customer who is currently stationed at the Pole, he wrote:
Attached is a picture taken this evening of several friends and I [kneeling in the front row in the red parka] at a notable landmark, cigars in tow. While we don't fit into the category of [those serving in Afghanistan or Iraq, but] we are still a long ways from home, and serving our countries. Two members of the group are Royal British Marines whom we befriended this week when they appeared on our doorstep after about an 800 mile trek to visit us. I had the cigars sent to me at my current address, which just happens to deliver to Amundsen-Scott Station, South Pole, Antarctica, and all of us gathered at the Pole shortly after midnight on 1 January 2007, to make a little bit of history.
What history, you might ask? We are the first group to ever light up a cigar on New Years day (right after midnight) at the actual South Pole, and this is the 50th anniversary (today) of the stations completion. It was a balmy -20C, with about a 15mph wind at 12:30am, which made lighting, and keeping them lit, quite difficult. But, we persevered, and you can see the results. Yes, a bit of alcohol was involved, but it was a good time for everyone. It's light 24 hours/day here, so one time-zone is as good as another!
Happy New Year!
Roger Bennett
South Pole Station, Antarctica
