Backcountry Greenland Ski Expedition 2009
This promises to be another great shop trip, with 6 places available for customers and friends. Approximate cost for guiding fees and logistics will be ~£2100. Flights to the region are a further £500.
The trip will run during Apri/May 2009 - with dates to be confirmed. If you are interestedat this stage, just let Andy or David know at the shop and we'll keep you informed. Bookings will be available through Alpine Guides from Summer 2008.
Travel We fly via Iceland to Tasiilaq in East Greenland, where we spent a couple of days ski touring and sorting logistics before travelling on by boat, dogsled and ski to the Tasiilaq Mountain Hut - our base and jump off point for making longer excursions into the surrounding glacier systems, including a remote camp for part of the trip.
Food and Accommodation Accommodation is booked for the group and we simply pay direct as we go along. In the mountains we stay for part of the time in the Tasiilaq Mountain Hut and for a number of days at a remote camp where expedition quality sleeping bags and sleeping mats will be neccesary. As this is a glacier camp, you need to be prepared for sleeping and living constantly on snow for a number of days.
Sample Itinerary Subject to weather and snow conditions, the planned itinerary for the trip is as follows:
Days 1-2
Fri-Sat |
Outward flight to Reykjavik, where we spend the night before flying on to Kulusuk Airport in Greenland.
Sat PM Travel by boat and dogsled to the outlying village of Kuumuit, our base for the next couple of days.
|
Day 3
Sun |
Day tour around Kuumuit - this is a stunning area, with great spring touring overlooking the ice covered fjord. |
Days 4-14
Tue - Thu |
At the end of this period, we ski back out to Kuumuit and tranfer back to Kulusuk on the Thursday afternoon.
Grenland Ski Photos - for a selection of ski photos taken in this region (and quite a few other amazing places too!) visit the Alpine Guides Ski Gallery. |
Day 15
Fri |
Day tour around Kulusuk (we include this as a spare day in the schedule to allow for any weather delays). |
Day 16
Sat |
Return flight from Kulusuk to Reykjavik - followed by a big night out in the famous party capital of the North. |
Day 17
Sun |
Return flight from Reykjavik to the UK. |
Important When travelling to Greenland, flight timings are always subject to weather and flying conditions. We have incorporated possible spare 'weather' days into our planning, to try and ensure connecting flights back to the UK (we also have radio contact from Tasiilaq Mountain Hut to check forecasts etc, in case of a need to change plans in the field).
Flights and Transport - all flights and transport are paid for by team members directly. Flights to Reykjavik are available with Iceland Express from Stansted and Iceland Air from Heathrow and Glasgow - both are easily bookable online. The flight on to Greenland is also bookable online via Air Iceland (NB this is a different company from Iceland Air!). The cost of Dogsled hire is shared between group members and paid for on the spot.
Fitness Ski mountaineering expeditions require high levels of fitness and endurance (see fitness levels 3-4). You must be capable of skinning all day whilst carrying food and equipment for a multi day tour and will need to prepare well in advance with regular training including big days out on skis.
Skiing Ability You need to be a strong skier with previous multiday touring experience (see: ski ability levels 3-5), able to handle all off piste conditions whilst carrying more than just a day sac. Proficiency with ice axe and crampons is also needed.
Equipment We will supply you with a full kit list. You are responsible for bringing personal clothing and sleeping equipment, a rucsac and ski mountaineering kit - at the shop we can supply you with everything you may need for the trip.
