The trio are finally out on the ice
Published on 27.05.2009 - Emirates NBD Greenland Quest
Having waited for Derek's skis to arrive, the three men have finally been taken out to the departure point of their expedition. And on 20th May, as scheduled, they set out on their trek of 3 500 km.
What a saga with Derek's skis! Last week we saw that the three men had decided not to hang around waiting for the missing skis in Narsarsuaq. Instead, they placed their trust in the Greenland authorities getting serious in the steps they were taking to secure the misplaced equipment and the airlines keeping their promises. Which turned out to be the case, because the skis arrived safely at their destination  i.e. in Narsaq  just a few hours before the boat was due to leave and take the trio to their departure point at the foot of one glacier that was a little more accessible than the others (see photo).
And so it was that on 20th May, without being a single second behind schedule, the three men boarded a modern fishing vessel and, after a three-hour trip, ("after spending a long time observing the whales and lots of icebergs", notes Adrian), the three adventurers were dropped off at the foot of the glacier that had been selected for the climb up to the Greenland icecap.
The first few days of the expedition have gone smoothly. Hayes and his two companions took a little over three days to negotiate the slopes of the glacier, finding the best way to the top and ending up on the icecap.
By day 5, or 24th May, they had covered 28 kilometres.
