Dispatches & Blogs

Today was a challenging but good day for our team in Svalbard. The weather was clear and calm and the terrain was beautiful. They departed Reindalen and headed up a valley and then over a mountain pass. The ascent included traversing several side slopes, which, depending on the slope and on your sled, can sometimes cause the sled to roll. While this is not dangerous it is a serious pain in the butt. It requires you to stop, back up, roll your sled over, and then start skiing

Camping in Reindalen Another great day for the team as they descended the Kokbreen Glacier and skied into the Reindalssletta. This is a wide valley more commonly known as Reindalen, or Reindeer Valley. And yes, we usually see a lot of reindeer there! It was great fun coming down the Kokbreen Glacier. At one point they crossed a snow bridge over a crevasse, which was exciting. They skied around 11 miles before making camp and settling down for some delicious cheese quesadillas

Descending the Rugaasfonna Snowfield and Kokbreen Glacier Yesterday the team traveled up the Dronbreen Glacier. They ascended around 1800 ft / 550m to reach a mountain pass and then descended a little before making camp. Traveling on a glacier often requires being in a rope team to protect the skiers from crevasses. This is exciting, but it also requires a lot of communication and plenty of attention to the rope. It involves a whole new set of skills that, once learned, allo

Another good day of skiing, though at times it was into a head wind. Everyone did a good job and everyone is getting used to the rhythm and the systems of sled hauling. The team has made their way to the base of Dronbreen Glacier which they hope to ascend tomorrow. Along the way they saw reindeer and a few rock ptarmigan, which are the only terrestrial bird that live in Svalbard throughout the year. The weather was warmer today but still cold enough to not get hot while skii

Today our team in Svalbard had their first day of skiing and they did a great job. After spending yesterday learning a variety of skills and systems, today they all got put to good use. The team started skiing in the late morning and put in almost 9 miles before setting up camp. The first night of camping is always exciting. It’s good to know that you can sleep warm and comfortably in the cold. It’s also good to put your first shift of polar bear watch behind you! The condit

Today the team dogsledded back to Qaanaaq. It was a beautiful day - cold and clear and calm. In the morning, Tobias spotted and shot a seal. Some of the dog teams hung back to be a part of the hunt. They all reconvened at a small hunters cabin near town and rode the final hours to town together. It was bittersweet seeing Qaanaaq get bigger as they got closer. Now they are all back at their host Regines house and getting showers before dinner. Everyone is feeling good! Their

After a good night’s rest the team had a casual morning. They walked around the small town of Siorapaluk and visited the small local grocery store. Then they suited up and dogsledded to the end of the fjord where they were able to get up close and personal with a glacier. The glacier was close to the sea edge and it was a unique perspective on glaciers. We are often standing or skiing across glaciers, or if we are on a boat we are some distance away. To be right up against

Dogsledding to Siorapaluk The team had a warm and wonderful night last night in Qeqertarssuaq. They had a leisurely morning, which allows the sun to rise high in the sky, before they departed across the fjord towards Siorapaluk. Siorapaluk is the northernmost inhabited settlement in Greenland, with a population of around 50. Along the way they weaved their way through massive icebergs that were frozen into the fast ice of the fjord. Eventually they saw a seal sun bathing and

Polar bear pants are doing their job by keeping everyone warm! The team dogsledded across Inglefield Fjord to an abandoned community on Herbert Island called Qeqertarssuaq. The town was abandoned around 1990 and most people moved to Qaanaaq. It was the home of Regine, our team's host in Qaanaaq. She arrived there after her family was displaced from their home near the current Thule air base. In "ghost" communities you can often find homes that still have pictures on the walls

Scanning the horizon for wildlife Today the team headed towards the edge of the sea ice which is rich with marine wildlife and an ideal place for the mushers to hunt. Qaanaaq, and much of Greenland, is rooted in traditional subsistence hunting. Hunting seals, narwhal, polar bear, walrus and whales is an important part of the culture. With the recent cold temperatures the sea ice edge had refrozen so they changed plans and looked for seal holes. Seal hunting involves being sti

En route to Svalbard! We are super excited to explore the awesome backcountry of Svalbard with our Svalbard Ski Expedition team. They are traveling from around the world to meet up with us in Longyearbyen, Norway, a small town in the Svalbard archipelago which is at 78 degrees North! Svalbard is one of the best sled hauling destinations on the planet, and we can't wait to teach them the necessary sled hauling skills and systems, and then go share it with them! Check back in

A team of Greenland huskies on Inglefield Fjord There's nothing like the loud noise and general craziness of a team of dogs who know they are about to start pulling. They are SO excited. The energy in the air is exciting and hectic, and there is no doubt that an adventure is ahead. With an almost deafening chorus of barks and yelps it can seem chaotic, but as soon as the musher releases the anchor the dogs leap into action - and suddenly it's quiet. There's no more barking or

Setting up the tents as a part of preparations. The team had a leisurely morning in Qaanaaq and a well-needed rest after many days of international travel. They spent time going through their food and making sure they have everything they'll need while dogsledding. They practiced setting up their tents and became familiar with all their gear. That included being outfitted with polar bear and seal skin trousers (called qarliik). They met with their guides/mushers whose names a

Qaanaaq may look like any Arctic town but the dogs and dogsleds on the Fjord point to an incredible culture. Get ready for an awesome armchair adventure. We are so excited for this dogsledding expedition! Qaanaaq is one of the world's northern most towns and the most northern community in Greenland. It has a rich dogsledding and hunting culture that was developed over thousands of years. Everything about the culture is related to the sea, the land and the animals that call th

The 2026 Arctic Circle Trail winter traverse was a super special expedition! We set out at the tail end of a historically warm and low snow winter in Greenland. In the weeks leading up to the start there was some uncertainty as to whether there would even be enough snow to travel by skis and pulk sleds. The team even brought along detachable wheels for their sleds in case they encountered long stretches of bare ground. And indeed they did use them, but only for the first hou

Our ACT team has transitioned to their skis and along the way the have seen loads of caribou. They are now on some of the larger lakes and passing beautiful scenery. More stunning terrain is on its way! All are having a great time :)

We're excited to announce that our Arctic Circle Trail Winter Traverse team is doing great! We're also more than a little jealous of them :) The roughly 90 mile journey from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut covers an incredibly gorgeous and endlessly fascinating region of Greenland, especially the Aasivissuit - Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage Site . (L - R) Richard, Michael, Laurie, Jordan, and guide Taylor As you may have heard, western Greenland has experienced a historically warm

South Georgia Island and its inhabitants The flat surfaces in our office are all filling up with gear, food, & maps, and our hallways are lined with skis, all for our upcoming Shackleton Crossing of South Georgia Island. We can't wait! Be a part of this awesome adventure by following our dispatches which will begin on November 13th. We look forward to sharing the journey with you!

I am happy to report that the Ruff Riders made if safely back to "town" today! After a short but uphill slog to find a good and flat...

Arriving to the sea's edge on a previous crossing. The Ruff Riders have made it to the East Coast of Greenland, 31 days after being...