Greenland Icecap Crossing – West to East

Notes from the Director

Greenland is a major step in our expedition pathway. Around a month spent travelling across the ice sheet gives you time to settle into expedition life, take on responsibility and understand how you operate through sustained physical effort. The distance is significant, but so is the consistency required: looking after your feet, eating properly, managing your clothing and doing your share of camp jobs every day.

Our crossing runs from west to east, beginning near Kangerlussuaq and finishing near Isortoq. Access from Kangerlussuaq allows us to make our final preparations before travelling by vehicle to the edge of the ice sheet. We plan to start in May, aiming to balance spring travel conditions with the increasing effects of melt as the season progresses. Weather and snow cover will still determine how quickly we move and when we can safely complete each section.

The opening days can be some of the hardest. Our pulks are at their heaviest, and the western icefall involves uneven ground, repeated climbs and descents, and careful route finding. Depending on snow cover, we may need to travel on crampons before reaching suitable conditions for skiing. As we gain height, the broken ice gives way to rolling terrain and then the broad, open interior. The abandoned DYE II radar station provides a striking landmark before we continue towards the highest part of the route.

Across the interior, the challenge becomes maintaining a sustainable rhythm. There may be days with little change in the view, when distance is measured through navigation and hours of steady effort. Wind, soft snow and poor visibility can all slow progress. This is where preparation and teamwork matter: keeping routines efficient, speaking up about problems and having the patience to adjust the plan. You will be involved in these decisions and in the daily work that keeps the expedition functioning.

Towards the east coast, mountains begin to appear as we descend from the ice sheet. After weeks in the interior, the return of visible rock, valleys and eventually the sea marks a considerable change. The final section still demands concentration, with our route off the ice and onward transfer to Isortoq dependent on local conditions.

I see this as a journey for people who have built solid winter expedition skills and want to put them to work over a longer distance. You need good endurance, experience of hauling a pulk and confidence living in a tent in cold weather. Just as valuable is the willingness to keep learning, contribute when tired and support the people travelling alongside you. Those are the qualities we want to develop throughout our expedition pathway, and Greenland puts them into practice day after day.