Pen Hadow
Encyclopedia
Rupert Nigel Pendrill Hadow known as Pen Hadow, (born 26 February 1962), is founding director of Geo Mission Ltd, an environmental sponsorship organisation, and British
polar guide and explorer. He is the first person to trek solo and without resupply from the north coast of Canada
to the North Pole
. and the first Briton to have trekked, without resupply, to both the North and South Poles from the respective continental shorelines of North America and Antarctica.
where he was Deputy Head of School and captain for the School's 1st XV rugby and 1st XI Harrow Football teams. In 1977, while at Harrow, he re-instated the school tradition of Long Ducker, a 20-mile run from Harrow-on-the-Hill to Marble Arch
and back. The feat had not been previously completed since 1927. He attended University College London
and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Geography in 1984.
765 km from Ward Hunt Island
, Canada to the Geographic North Pole
in 64 days becoming the first person to complete the journey solo and without resupply by aircraft or other means. He started the trek on 17 March 2003 pulling a 265 kg sledge, arriving 19 May. Of the 850 hours travelling across the disintegrating sea ice, he swam part of the way wearing an immersion suit when he encountered open water or thin ice. His book 'Solo: Alone & Unsupported to the North Pole' (published by Michael Joseph) recounts the journey.
for a trek to the Geographic South Pole
. The 1,200 km trek started 5 December 2003 at the entrance to Hercules Inlet
on the Zumberge Coast
, Antarctica and was completed on reaching the South Pole on 28 January 2004. Murray (63) became the oldest person to reach the South Pole from the continent's shoreline; and the expedition raised £280,000 for the Royal Geographical Society
The Survey's observations, viewed in the context of decades of existing measurements by submarines, satellites and buoys, led Professor Peter Wadhams of the Polar Ocean Physics Group (University of Cambridge), to suggest the Survey's work added further evidence to an emerging view that there is a significant probability that by 2020 only 20% of the Arctic Ocean basin will have sea ice cover in the late summer. Professor Wadhams also suggested that by 2030-40, there is a significant probability that the Arctic Ocean's sea ice cover will be transformed into an ice-free open ocean in summer times.
Catlin Group Limited continued its support of the Catlin Arctic Survey in 2010, with a scientific focus on ocean acidification and in 2011 on thermohaline circulation.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
polar guide and explorer. He is the first person to trek solo and without resupply from the north coast of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
. and the first Briton to have trekked, without resupply, to both the North and South Poles from the respective continental shorelines of North America and Antarctica.
Early life
Hadow was educated at Harrow SchoolHarrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
where he was Deputy Head of School and captain for the School's 1st XV rugby and 1st XI Harrow Football teams. In 1977, while at Harrow, he re-instated the school tradition of Long Ducker, a 20-mile run from Harrow-on-the-Hill to Marble Arch
Marble Arch
Marble Arch is a white Carrara marble monument that now stands on a large traffic island at the junction of Oxford Street, Park Lane, and Edgware Road, almost directly opposite Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park in London, England...
and back. The feat had not been previously completed since 1927. He attended University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Geography in 1984.
North Pole
In 2003 Hadow trekkedBackpacking (wilderness)
Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...
765 km from Ward Hunt Island
Ward Hunt Island
Ward Hunt Island is a small, uninhabited island in the Arctic Ocean, off the north coast of Ellesmere Island. Its northern cape is one of the northernmost elements of land in Canada. Only a 17 km stretch of northern coast of Ellesmere Island around Cape Columbia is more northerly. The island...
, Canada to the Geographic North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
in 64 days becoming the first person to complete the journey solo and without resupply by aircraft or other means. He started the trek on 17 March 2003 pulling a 265 kg sledge, arriving 19 May. Of the 850 hours travelling across the disintegrating sea ice, he swam part of the way wearing an immersion suit when he encountered open water or thin ice. His book 'Solo: Alone & Unsupported to the North Pole' (published by Michael Joseph) recounts the journey.
South Pole
In 2004, Hadow partnered with Simon MurraySimon Murray
Simon Murray CBE is a British businessman, adventurer, author, and former French Foreign Legionnaire. He was the oldest man to reach the South Pole unsupported, at the age of 63.- Early life :...
for a trek to the Geographic South Pole
South Pole
The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
. The 1,200 km trek started 5 December 2003 at the entrance to Hercules Inlet
Hercules Inlet
Hercules Inlet is a large, narrow, ice-filled inlet which forms a part of the southwest margin of Ronne Ice Shelf. It is bounded on the west by the southeast flank of the Heritage Range, and on the north by Skytrain Ice Rise. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for the LC-130 Hercules...
on the Zumberge Coast
Zumberge Coast
Zumberge Coast is that portion of the southeast coast of Palmer Land between Cape Zumberge and the south entrance point to Hercules Inlet. Overlooking the west part of Ronne Ice Shelf, this coast was mapped by United States Geological Survey from U.S. Navy aerial photographs taken 1961-66 and...
, Antarctica and was completed on reaching the South Pole on 28 January 2004. Murray (63) became the oldest person to reach the South Pole from the continent's shoreline; and the expedition raised £280,000 for the Royal Geographical Society
Arctic Surveys
In 2007 Hadow conceived, organised and led an exploration team to survey the thickness of the winter-spring sea ice in the northern Beaufort Sea area (Arctic Ocean). Its purpose was to provide a new source of information taken from the ocean's surface to help project how long before the perennial sea ice cover would cease to be a year-round surface feature of the planet . The expedition, known as the "Catlin Arctic Survey" after lead sponsor Catlin Group Limited, an international specialty insurance and reinsurance company, covered 430 km in 73 days, with Hadow accompanied by Arctic explorer, Ann Daniels, and photographer Martin Hartley.The Survey's observations, viewed in the context of decades of existing measurements by submarines, satellites and buoys, led Professor Peter Wadhams of the Polar Ocean Physics Group (University of Cambridge), to suggest the Survey's work added further evidence to an emerging view that there is a significant probability that by 2020 only 20% of the Arctic Ocean basin will have sea ice cover in the late summer. Professor Wadhams also suggested that by 2030-40, there is a significant probability that the Arctic Ocean's sea ice cover will be transformed into an ice-free open ocean in summer times.
Catlin Group Limited continued its support of the Catlin Arctic Survey in 2010, with a scientific focus on ocean acidification and in 2011 on thermohaline circulation.
Geo Mission
In 2009, Hadow founded specialist environmental sponsorship organisation, Geo Mission Limited. Geo Mission is an environmental sponsorship organisation bridging the gap between marketing-led event sponsorship and corporate environmental philanthropy.External links
- In pictures: Catlin Arctic trek to reveal true extent of melting ice caps, The ObserverThe ObserverThe Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
colour supplement, January 25 - Catlin Arctic Survey 2009 Official Website
- Catlin Group Limited Press Release: Catlin Arctic Survey Explorers Return From Scientific Expedition
- BBC News: Arctic to be 'ice-free in summer'
- Catlin Group Limited Press Release: Scientists and Explorers Team Up to Examine Ocean Acidification During Catlin Arctic Survey 2010
- Catlin Arctic Survey 2010 Official Website
- Catlin Group Limited Press Release: http://www.catlin.com/cgl/media/press_releases/pr_2011/2011-01-26qa/
- Catlin Arctic Survey 2011 Official Website
- Geo Mission Website