Greenland Crossing - A Cross Country Ski Expedition in a Class of its own!

Icelandic Mountain Guides is organizing its 8th expedition across the Greenland Glacier the worlds second biggest sheet of ice in April-May of 2014. The course is set to cross the interior of Greenland from Ammassalik/Kulusuk on the East Coast to Sondre Stromfjord on the West Coast.

It takes about 10 days to climb up to the highest part of the Ice sheet on this route, topping off at 2500 m. The gradient is gradual and the use of skins make sure that the skis move us forward. From the summit it takes about a week to get to the phantom radar station DYE 2, surely one of the most bizarre buildings on the planet that was used to monitor the Russians during the Cold War. From this strange place it takes from around 5 days to get to Terra firma - Hill 660, the landfall on the westerns side of the ice sheet.

Depending on the snow conditions and the weather we encounter the expedition can last from 21 - 30 days in total including transport at the beginning and the end For any back country enthusiast this is the ultimate expedition, where one needs to overcome several challenges, and not all of them physical!


Departure:
Departure date of the 2014 expedition will soon be announced

Price:
The price of the 2014 expedition will soon be announced

Cross country skiing: 4 to 5 weeks polar expedition.
Walking per day: 6 to 8 active hours.
Total distance: 540 kilometers (335 miles)
Altitude: 900 – 2.500 m.y.s (2.950 - 8.200 feet)
Max elevation one day: 250 m (820 feet)
Duration: 4 - 5 weeks
Expedition leader: To be announced 

Greenland Crossing Trip Manual (New and revised Trip manual for 2014 will be available soon).

Included: Guiding services, necessary permits and insurance for the crossing, flight Reykjavík - Kulusuk, boat or helicopter transport Kulusuk - Tasiilaq, helicopter transport Tasiilaq - Hahn Glacier, all food underway, pulkas, tents, cooking equipment.

Note: Because of some irregularities in flight to and from Greenland an extra day or two might be needed. Icelandic Mountainguides can not be held responsible for extra cost regarding flight delays or other unseen/unexpected situations.

For further information, take a look at the Greenland Crossing Trip Manual or contact us via expeditions@mountainguides.is

Not so detailed program:

Day 1:  Preparatory meeting with the EL at 14:00 - location to be announced

Day 2:  Flight Reykjavík – Kulusuk – Tasiilaq at 13:00 - check in starts at 12.00

Day 3-4:  Final preparation,the necessary inspection of gear etc - overnight in Tasiilaq guesthouse

Day 5:  Transfer to Isortoq/Hahn glacier – start of the Crossing

Day 5 –  day 15/20:  Skiing up to the summit. It takes about 10 - 15 days to climb up to the highest part of the Ice sheet on this route, topping off at 2500 m.s.l. The gradient is gradual and the use of skins make sure that the skis move us forward.

Day 15/20 – day 24/30  Skiing down on the west side of the Ice sheet, arriving at Hill 660

Day 24/30 – day 26/31  Hiking from Hill 660 to Kangerlussuaq end of the Expedition

The Greenland Crossing – a Real Polar Expedition
The expedition begins at Reykjavik city airport, on April xx (to be announced) 2014, with a flight to Kulusuk, Greenland and then a boat or helicopter transfer to Tasiilaq, the capital of East Greenland. The group will stay in Tasiilaq for one or two nights, sorting out equipment and food and dealing with the final preparations before setting out. From Tasiilaq the group will be flown by helicopter either to the small village of Isertoq or directly onto the Hahn-glacier at about 900 meters (2700 feet) altitude, where the skis will take over for the next 540 km (335 miles) or so. If the village of Isertoq is our starting point, the first part of the trip will be a dogsled supported hike to the bottom of the Hahn glacier for 3 – 4 hours.

It takes about 10 - 15 days to climb from the Hahn glacier up to the highest part of the Greenland ice sheet, at 2500m. From there it takes about a week to get to the phantom radar station DEY-2, one of the strangest buildings to be found on the planet, and then it takes approximately five days to reach land at Hill 660 at the western edge of the ice sheet.  All in all we estimate spending from 22 to 27 days on the ice sheet.

Hill 660 is in fact a nameless hill close to the glacier that measures 660 m above sea level in height. A jeep track lies from the hill which is beneficial for expeditions coming off of the ice sheet as both people and luggage can ride the last 35 kilometers to Kangerlussuaq. However, a hike back to civilization may be a welcoming thought for expedition members as the landscape is quite dramatic providing brilliant contrasts to the endless snows of the ice sheet. The fauna of the area is also truly remarkable. Reindeer, muskoxen, snow hares and arctic foxes can be seen in big numbers and during this period the lakes are still, mostly ice covered keeping the mosquitoes away.

 If the expedition has made good time over the ice sheet, nobody is pressed for a return flight from Kangerlussuaq, and all expedition members are still in good health, without any blisters or foot aches, there is a possibility of doing the hike, either in part or as a whole, down to Kangerlussuaq carrying only a light pack. This will be decided by the guide and all expedition members once the expedition has reached Hill 660.

For further information, take a look at the Greenland Crossing Trip Manual or contact us via expeditions@mountainguides.is