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Greenland Ski & Dog Sled Expedition
28 day expedition
Dates: May 16 - June 12, 2004
Cost: $14,000 CAD, from Iqaluit
Maximum Group Size: 6
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Crossing the Greenland ice cap is considered one of the classic Polar expeditions. We follow in the footsteps of Fridjof Nansen, the great Norwegian polar explorer who first crossed the Greenland Ice Cap in 1888. The “inland ice” as the local Greenlanders call it, is the second largest ice cap in the world (second to Antarctica). We meet in Iqaluit and fly to Kangerlussuaq on the west coast of Greenland where our expedition begins just north of the Arctic Circle. With a team of Greenland dogs pulling our food and camping supplies, we will ski 550 kilometers across the undulating ice cap. At our highest point we will be 2,500 meters above sea level. Our descent to the coast is very exciting and takes us through nunatuqs and crevasses until we reach the ocean six kilometers from the small Greenlandic community of Isortoq. Our expedition begins in mid-May and finishes in mid-June; with 24 hours of light and temperatures between -10 to -20 C you will have ideal conditions for skiing and dog sledding.
The expedition is guided by Matty McNair. Matty and her family completed the Greenland crossing in the spring of 2003. For a good look at what this expedition is all about, Visit the ‘Kids & Kites on Ice’ Greenland crossing web site at www.kidsonice.ca.
Prerequisites: Must be in excellent physical condition and in good health. Cross country ski skills and basic winter camping experience are required. We will ask for a detailed resume of your health, phyiscal fitness, skill level and previous expedition experience before accepting you on the expedition. You will also need evacuation insurance.
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Polar expeditions are a combination of mental attitude, physical stamina and skills. You must be in top physical
condition with a mental determination of steel. Cross-country skiing skill is a must for efficient polar travel. You can expect to ski for 6 - 8 hours per day either in front or behind the dog team. Everyone will take a turn driving the dogs and helping with feeding them at night. If you are a person who embraces challenges and has a sense of humor when the going gets tough, you will truly enjoy the experience of traveling on the Greenland ice cap.
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