Everybody possesses an adventurous-side that is willing to measure the toughest of challenges. But one must be out of mind to go for limitless unthinkable adventures as the survival-master Bear Grylls. The legend has hoisted the flag on the top of Mount Everest, crossed the North Atlantic, executed the longest indoor freefall ever, and whatnot. Consequently, Grylls has registered his name in Guinness Book of World Records multiple times for transcendental feats.
Although most of Grylls' adventures take place either on the threatening lands or fuming waters, his damnedest venture took place in the sky over the clouds. The exciting activity he was a part of wouldn't appear to be like an expedition or escapade in a cursory look. But as a matter of fact, it was really one of a kind breathtaking.
The explorer and industrialist, Sir David Hempleman Adams, in 2005, hosted a record-breaking dinner party in the sky. David, being the host, arranged it all for his colleagues Lieutenant Commander Alan Veal and Of course, Mr. Bear Grylls.
It was nothing like a gala kind get together as you would imagine, but just two lifelong friends having a sophisticated dinner, on a round dining table... suspended from a hot air balloon. Yes, it may take one by surprise, but the duo took their food on an unusually decent table suspended from a specially designed hot air balloon. It was at an insane height of 24,262ft (7.4 km). Bear and Veal climbed down 40ft (12.19 m) to reach the dinner set up.
A less ordinary party, it must be a great feeling to have one's favorite food under the light shadow of the air balloon basket. Making the arrangements wasn't easy either, it took the team 45 odd minutes to reach the height where the dinner was planned.
The party goers were all dressed smartly in mess dress and of course, had to have the oxygen masks on. Moving on to the best part, the delicious menu consisted of asparagus tips, duck à l'orange, and fruit terrine complemented with a mix of hot and cold beverages. The 3-course meal was kept in special thermal insulated food boxes for the food to remain hot. Also, to avoid any slippage or shaking, the cutlery and crockery were fixed to the table.
Sadly, the cheerful host of the party didn't have enough luck as he didn't get to taste the mouthwatering food. Being a pro-balloonist, Hempleman-Adams was busy controlling and managing other important things and his beloved pranky friends were not kind enough to leave him some. As obvious, post-dinner, Hempleman-Adams said, “the only drawback was the other two members of the team ate all the food so there was nothing left when I landed.” Better luck next time!
The breathtaking party was all sunshine but the elements of danger also flew around like clouds in the sky. Typical of Grylls, he once again had a little daring fun with the threats of nature as he does on the land. Grylls hung upside down and dropped his oxygen mask. It was very dangerous because the possibility of a stroke of hypoxia (inability due to the lack of oxygen) is very high at such heights. Anyways, Grylls pulled off the stunt.
Pointing out the danger involved in the undertaking, Hempleman-Adams said, “without doubt, this is the strangest record I have ever attempted. It was a fun stunt but was at the same time very dangerous. There were potentially a lot of things that could have gone wrong.” Prior to the event, to prepare for the risk, the team members had tested their parachutes with more than 200 jumps.
Although the concept was pretty new and unheard-of, the triplet was no stranger to such dicey undertakings. The party-host, Hempleman-Adams is a Grand Slam Adventurer having triumphed all 7 summits of the world and reached both south and the north poles. In short, we can see why Hempleman-Adams chose Grylls to be a part of his uncanny enterprise.
It was a world record that shifted hands from Henry Shelford who had dinner at the height of 22,326ft (6.8 kilometers) on one of the Tibetan Mountains one year back in 2004.
Most of what Bear does has a good cause hidden behind and this time it was no different. All the proceeds from the event went straight to The Prince's Trust and The Duke of the Edinburgh's Award. 15 years later, we look forward to some more actions of this kind from the born-daredevil.
