Only being offered once - and with a historical twist! With the stunning coast of East Greenland as our backdrop, we'll spend 15 days exploring the region with two distinct goals: climbing the highest peak in Greenland (Gunnbjorns Fjeld, 3693m) which is also the highest peak above the Arctic Circle, and then ascending to the icecap where we'll search for the lost cairn of the 1934 British Trans Greenland Expedition.More...
2010 Dates & Prices
| Expedition Name: | 2010 Tentative Dates: | Price: | Description: |
| East Greenland Nunatak Expedition | May 15-May 30, 2010 | $13,500 USD | Includes charter air from Iceland |
Daily Itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Meet at hotel in Akureyri, Iceland. Evening welcome reception provides time to meet other team members and review itinerary. We'll spend a day in Akureyri to review expedition procedures and equipment, and to take care of last minute details. |
| Day 3: | Depart Akureyri for Greenland by charter air. We'll land near Gunnbjorns Fjeld and establish our basecamp. |
| Day: 3-6 | Giving ourselves time to acclimatize we'll spend our first day in Greenland near our basecamp reviewing important skills like crevasse rescue, and going for a short ski with our pulks in the vicinity of Gunnbjorns Fjeld. Our second day we'll ascend the access glacier to Gunnbjorns Feld and establish our route for the summit push. Depending on our speed we may opt to establish a high camp. Weather permitting we'll make our ascent the following day. The ascent is not very technical and we will travel in un-roped teams for most of the ascent. Gunnbjorns Fjeld is 3693m (12,168 ft). Given good conditions the ascent and descent should take a total of 10-13 hours. Upon returning to basecamp we'll have a rest day before starting our ascent to the icecap. This window of time allows for a couple of "storm days." If we summit Gunnbjorns Fjeld early on we will begin our ascent to the icecap earlier. |
| Day 7-12: | Traversing the sweeping glaciers that spill off the Greenland icecap, we'll weave our way around crevasses and over mountain passes on our way up to the icecap. The ascent will be gradual and our well-acclimatized bodies will adjust to the rigors of pulling a sled. This is ski touring at its finest, with views of Frederiksborg glacier to the east and the expanse of the Greenland icecap to the west. We'll traverse approximately 110 miles of glaciers and icecap before arriving at two prominent nunataks where we'll begin our search for the lost cairn. |
| Day 13-14: | The exact whereabouts of the cairn are unknown, but we have deduced where it is likely to be located, though it may be covered deep in snow and difficult to find. Inside the cairn in an old coco tin we hope to find a message from the 1934 British Trans Greenland expedition which camped on the spot hoping to survey the height of the "Monarch" (previous name of Gunnbjorns Fjeld).Our search may be quick, or it may yield no results. If found we will document the discovery and return the contents of the cairn to the Greenland authorities as historical artifacts. If we have time to spare we will descend the Frederiksborg glacier and explore this region that is known for its stunning peaks and rugged icefalls. |
| Day 15: | Charter flight pick-up and return to Iceland. |
This itinerary is highly dependent on a number of factors and is subject
to change. Contact us for a more detailed itnerary!
Qualifications
This adventure is for people who are in good shape, and who are eager
to push themselves physically and mentally. Basic mountaineering skills
are required. Prior cross country skiing experience is preferred. You
will need to have very good cardiovascular endurance and the ability to
ski several hours at a time, with only short pauses, day after day. This
expedition demands that you stay well-fed and hydrated. You need to be
proactive about keeping yourself healthy and free of injury. An evacuation
from this expedition is very costly and logistically difficult. You do
not have to be a world class athlete to participate in and enjoy this
expedition, but every ounce of training and preparation will help to make
the journey more enjoyable and safer. Please contact us with further questions!
Equipment
Upon registration, you will receive a comprehensive gear guide including
an instructional DVD that explains the importance of each item as
well as gear recommendations from our past participants.
- 1 pair skis and ski poles (supplied by PolarExplorers)
- 1 pair backcountry ski boots compatible with NNN BC bindings (must be NNN BC compatible!) - IMPORTANT
- Mountaineering kit (Harness, ice axe, crampons)
- Sleeping bag rated to at least -20° Celsius (bring your own or rent this item from PolarExplorers)
- Bivy sack (bring your own or rent this item from PolarExplorers)
- 2 sleeping pads (bring your own or rent this item from PolarExplorers)
- 1 windproof / waterproof anorak with hood (must be breathable!)
- 1 pr. wind pants (must be breathable!)
- 1 insulated parka with hood
- 1 warm fleece jacket and pants
- 2 sets synthetic or wool underwear, medium weight top and bottom- 2nd set optional
- 1 overmitt system (need to fit over working gloves)
- 2 pair synthetic or wool working gloves
- 2 hats: 1 lightweight balaclava, 1 ski type
- 2 neck gaiters
- 3 pair socks and sock liners
- 1 face mask
- Sun glasses and/ or mountain ski glasses
- 2 pr. anti-fog goggles
- 1 sturdy small backpack with waist belt and sternum strap
- 2 Thermos bottles or insulated water bottles
- 1 set eating utensils with bowl
- Pocket knife / multi-tool
- Personal toiletries
- 1 pee bottle (small plastic bottle)
- Face cream, lip protection
- 4 carabiners
What's Included:
- PolarExplorers expertise in planning and preparation (call us anytime!)
- PolarExplorers guides (world-class polar guides having guided a combined 40+ polar expeditions & adventures)
- PolarExplorer's "Polar Prep" DVD covering personal clothing & equipment and tips for training.
- Daily online expedition blogs for friends and family back home
- Welcome reception on first night of expedition
- All charter air transportation during expedition as outlined in itinerary
- Skis, poles, sleds (quality gear that's tried and true in the polar environment)
- Tents & all group camping gear
- Expedition patch
- All food while on the ice
- Communication and safety gear
- Baggage allowance up to 77lbs (35 kg)
What's Not Included:
- Airfare to/from Akureyri, Iceland
- Lodging in Akureyri, Iceland
- Personal clothing and accessories
- Full medical, baggage, trip cancellation, evacuation, & search and rescue insurance (required)
- Extended stay fees associated with weather delays
- Alcoholic beverages
- Taxes and gratuity
- Travel to Polar Shakedown location
Full Expedition Description
Only being offered once - and with a historical twist! With
the stunning coast of East Greenland as our backdrop, we'll spend 15 days
exploring the region with two distinct goals: climbing the highest peak
in Greenland (Gunnbjorns Fjeld, 3693m) which is also the highest peak
above the Arctic Circle, and then ascending to the icecap where we'll
search for the lost cairn of the 1934 British Trans Greenland Expedition.
The 1934 British Trans Greenland Expedition started on the west coast
of Greenland and travesed the icecap to the east coast where they were
able to establish, once and for all, the height of the "Monarch"
(now Gunnbjorns Fjeld). Our expedition will combine the best of moderate
ski mountaineering and classic ski touring in one of the world's most
rugged and scenic settings. East Greenland is known for its majestic peaks,
broad glaciers, beautiful weather and occasional fierce storms. Temperatures
will range from -10ºF to +30ºF. We'll come prepared for it all
on this one-time expedition. In addition to basic mountaineering skills
team members should have some previous cold-weather camping skills. We
can recommend training opportunities such as our Polar
Shakedown Training to interested parties lacking previous experience.
