Greenland Highlights

Published on 01.06.2010 - General Info

Narsaq, south Greenland

We hope that Greenland lovers will excuse us for the delayed following of these expeditions. But, for us, the North Pole is becoming increasingly important. And in view of our limited manpower ... Here therefore is some news of the large island and of those -ever more numerous- who have chosen it as their playground.

Kaffeklubben Expedition :

The Project : Two Finns, Toni Vaartimo (37), a coast guard, and Vesa Luomala (34), an engineer, are attempting to cross Greenland lengthwise, the very crossing that was successfully completed by Adrian Hayes in 2009. That is to say from the village of Narsaq in the south up to the northernmost point, Cape Morris Jesup and Kaffeklubben Island. They will be pulled along by traction sails.

News : On 29 May (38th day on the ice - they were deposited on the coast on 22 April), they had covered 527.6 km, and are currently at an altitude of 2,228 metres, at the following coordinates: 65° 49' N / 46° 27' W. They have been severely delayed by heavy rainfall, which has prevented them from leaving the tent for several days on end. But on 20 May, they bagged 146 kilometres over the day. Both of them have already successfully completed the East-West crossing of the island, one of them in 1999 (Vaartimo), and the other in 2006.

Their Website : Kaffeklubben Expedition

Kite Greenland 2010 :

The Project : Two Britishers, Jon Chalmers (27), a mountain bike guide, and Carl Alvey (26), an outdoor instructor, are attempting a double crossing of Greenland with the help of traction sails. The traditional East-West crossing over a distance of 600 kilometres, which should take a fifteen or so days, and the South-North crossing of 2,300 kilometres, which for its part should take between 30 and 40 days.

News : Having set out from Isortoq on 05 May towards the west coast, they were soon hampered by abnormally high temperatures and by both rainstorms and blizzards. It was only on 15 May that they took the kites out of their luggage for the first time. On 16 May, they managed to do 60 kilometres, and 120 kilometres on the 20th. Having arrived at the west coast after 22 days of ice and rain, they had to descend a glacier through 60 cm of water with their skis on their feet! They have decided to postpone the second crossing, the South-North one, for a year when the weather would be colder and there would be less water...

Their Website : Kite Greenland 2010

North Star 2010 :

The Project : Two Britishers, Fran Middleton (42), a driver, and Barrie Robley (29), an adventure guide working in Switzerland, are attempting a small South-North crossing of Greenland from Tasiilaq to the north-western coast, at Quaanaaq. With parafoils.

News : Deposited on the ice on 19 April, they abandoned their attempt a week later, on the 25th, because of a serious fall sustained by Fran while the two men were making headway under sail, leading to an injured knee. They have been picked up by helicopter.

Their Website : North Star 2010

X-Greenland 2010:

The Project : Four Norwegians, Nile Arne Ro (43), a helicopter and rescue pilot, Ragmar Sandmark (46), a researcher in the field of composite materials, Hans Friis (58), Project Manager, and Stake Brudevoll (48), an engineer, are attempting a South-North crossing of Greenland over a distance varying between 1,500 and 1,800 kilometres. With power kites.

News : They landed in Kangerlussuaq on 11 May and were airlifted to the vicinity of the defunct American radar station DYE 2, from where they started on 13 May. Then, the expedition was lucky with the weather and was able cover a total of 1,404 kilometres in 14 days with peaks of more than 250 kilometres in a day. On 29 May, they were at the following geographical position: 77° 24' N / 59° 49 ' W. They were still 250 kilometres from the coast. One of the expedition members has been pretty absent-minded: one day, he lost his sleeping bag on the way (fortunately, somebody managed to find it by doing a U-turn for 30 minutes). The next day, it was his sail that he was controlling badly and which "packed its bags" during a short pause!

Their Website : X Greenland 2010

PolarIce :

The Project : Four Britishers, Mike Dan (30), a management company director, Tim Tottenham (30), Project Manager, Simon Edmundson (29), Field Service Manager, and Paddy Scott (27), a cameraman, are going to train in Greenland as preparation for their great adventure in the Antarctic next winter (Russian Base of Novolazarevskaya - > Pole of Inaccessibility - > South Pole - > Patriot Hills - > Bellinghausen Sea along the Antarctic Peninsula, i.e. a journey of 5,750 kilometres, totally unsupported). Just one problem: the quartet has not yet found a main sponsor!

News : They have already been to take advice in Norway from Ronny Finsaas for the handling of their sails (because the entire journey will be done with sails and they are all beginners in that field). On 07 April, they flew to Kulusuk and then to Tasiilaq. It was envisaged that the four expeditionaries would remain on the icecap for a month in order to test all their equipment and that they would at the same time attempt the crossing of the island from east to west. But they were ill prepared; they hadn't taken all of their sails with them and have therefore decided not to go westwards but to remain in the vicinity of the east coast. No matter, they have nevertheless taken advantage of the past few weeks on the Greenland icecap above Tasiilaq in order to familiarise themselves with the polar environment.

Their Website : PolarIce

Peary-Henson Centennial :

The Project : The American photographer Sebastien Copeland and the Canadian guide Eric McNair Landry are undertaking a great Greenland crossing (Narsarsuaq - > Quaanaq, i.e. 2.300 kilometres). Objective of the trek: to raise the awareness of as many people as possible about carbon emissions and waste disposal (industrial and domestic).

News : They began their adventure on 15 May. During the first days, there was no question of getting out the sails because there was no wind. Because of an enormous trough of low pressure during the following days (from 21 to 26 May), the pair had to remain in their tent for eight days. Since then, they've been playing hide-and-seek with Aeolus: when they can use their kites, they do about a hundred kilometres per day (sometimes less, sometimes more). If not, either they remain in their tent if the weather is too awful, or they make headway by skiing. Particularity: they rest during the day and start to use their kites in the evening at around 20:00. On 30 May, they were at the following geographical point: 64° 24,890 N / 46° 20,333 W.

Their Website : Sébastien Copeland's Blog

DanActive Greenland Coast-to-Coast Expedition :

The Project : The Canadians Catherine Fortier (a marketing specialist) and Frederic Rouillard (an engineer) are attempting a West-East crossing of Greenland. From Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq. Objective of the adventure: to inspire people of any age to surpass themselves and to acquire a taste for physical activity. No means of traction.

News : They were deposited by truck on the nearest glacier to Kangerlussuaq on 22 April. Progressing at a rate of some twenty kilometres per day, the two Canadians reached the island's other coast without let or hindrance on 21 May.

Their Website : DanActive Expedition

Endure Greenland Crossing 2010 :

The Project : Two Britishers, Ben Thackwray (30), a former footballer and a financial specialist (and a marathon runner and a mountaineer to boot), and Ian Cough, a former officer of the British army turned business man in the outdoor world, are attempting for the second time (the first time was last year) to break the speed records for the crossing between the east and west coasts of Greenland (Tasiilaq - > Kangerlussuaq).

News : Despite an abnormally warm season this year, despite the presence, for about fifty hours from the second day of their journey, of two polar bears that followed them day and night, and despite an incredibly large number of cracks (due to the warm temperatures), Ben and Ian have managed to reach both coasts (without counting the ascent or the descent), i.e. a distance of 340 miles (629 kilometres), in 15 days and 9 hours. Some Norwegians have already been quicker than they but the two Englishmen are content. All the more so as a few days after their return home, they featured in the Guinness Book of Records for the fastest 1,000 miles ever covered during an ocean rowing race.

Their Website : Endure Greenland Crossing 2010

Greenland Expedition 2010 :

The Project : Two Norwegians, Terje With Lunndal (35), a consultant, and Christian Iversen Styve (26), a law student and mountaineering and sports article salesman, are attempting a West-East crossing of Greenland (Kangerlussuaq - > Tasiilaq, which is 630 kilometres). Objective: to share their love of sporting feats and to promote the search for great adventure.

News : After having climbed the glacier towards the polar icecap after starting on 06 May, Terje started to feel severe pain in one of his knees. Two days later, the decision was made to throw in the towel. They were collected from the icecap by a helicopter on 13 May.

Their Website : Greenland Expedition 2410