Equipment list:
A detailed equipment list will be sent to all participants upon confirmation. For those who are preparing for the North- or the South Pole, recommendations can be given regarding specialized equipment that can then be tested during the Greenland Crossing.
Food:
Typical breakfast consists of muesli i.e. dried nuts, seeds, fruits, oats etc. mixed with milk powder (and/or chocolate powder) with warm water poured over. Typical lunch consists of oat biscuit with for example butter, cheese and sausages. Also dried fish, chocolate and various different types of biscuit. Typical dinner consists of freeze dried food (most often from Real Turmat from Norway - http://drytech.no/, the very best in our opinion). The expedition time frame When choosing the correct time for a Greenland Crossing there are always certain things to consider. Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions together with our on-the-ground partner has decided that the time period, April/May is in fact the most opportune. In the early spring the temperature is not favorable, as it is still much too cold up on the ice sheet at this time. However an expedition of this sort cannot be done too late when the temperature has risen and the melt off on the west side of the glacier can be problematic.
The western edge of the glacier can however be difficult at all times (even impassable if the melting is great), since it is necessary to navigate through a much crevassed area on a rather steep outlet glacier. Expedition members should expect to take off their skis and wear crampons for some time in order to get off of the ice sheet and onto Hill 660.
Baggage transport:
All baggage is transported in pulkas (sleds) made of plastic. At the beginning of the expedition each member should expect to be hauling a sledge weighing up to 90 kg (198 pounds). This is the total weight of both the personal and the communal gear (i.e. clothes, sleeping bag, food, fuel, stoves, tents etc.). Towards the end of the expedition the weight will be reduced as the team members will eat and burn away a lot of the total weight during the crossing.
Weather:
Most of the time, the weather conditions on the Greenland Ice sheet are stable, but some variations have to be expected and taken into account. While climbing the east side of the Greenland glacier, one may expect steady winds from the north-west with variable wind speeds. If the wind speed exceeds more than 15 - 17 m/sec, staying outside is not advisable and in our itinerary we have planned for some weather days.
Once the expedition begins to descend on the west side of the ice sheet, katabatic winds from the south-east are to be expected. Over all, the temperature varies from 0 to -20°C during the day, getting warmer as the expeditions moves to the west side of the Ice sheet. At night the temperature can drop down to - 30°C so a good sleeping bag is essential. The radiation of the sun during the evening makes the tents reasonably warm and it is not uncommon to see -20°C on the outdoor thermometer and between +10 to +20°C inside the tents.
Snow conditions:
The surface of the ice sheet consists more or less of well packed snow that the constant wind sculpts into sastrugis. Some precipitation should be expected causing blizzards, bad visibility and difficult skiing and hauling condition. One or two days after snowfall the conditions should be good again, the snow well packed and skiing easy. In the event that the sastrugis are difficult, too high to easily haul pulkas over them, it is very important that expedition members arrange their gear into the pulka in a way that prevents them from rolling over. The expedition leader will be more than happy to advise you on how best to pack things into a pulka. The snow conditions make the use of skins necessary, when climbing up on the east side of the ice sheet. Once the steepest part is completed, it may be a good idea to cut the skins in half, and once the highest point is reached, there is no need for the skins any more. For the crossing we recommend rifled (crown/fish scales) skis for all participants except experienced cross country skiers. If someone opts for skis that need wax or klister, he has to know how to use it and bring it him self. In the warmer temperatures on the lower parts of the ice sheet on the west side, there may be some complications with ski-wax, whereas rifled skis are perfect. In May there is less chance of precipitation, but some snow and even blizzards can be expected.
Daylight hours:
In April/May continuous daylight is something to look forward to, especially for those who come from regions where there is little or no fluctuation in the daylight hours.
Level of experience of expedition members:
As the Greenland Crossing is a real Polar expedition, participants should expect long and hard days throughout the journey. As such, the expedition is only suitable for people that are both physically and mentally prepared for a highly engaging experience. Be aware that the mental aspect is often more challenging on expeditions like this than the physical one. Therefore, it is of great importance that participants are ready to deal with unexpected and challenging circumstances, since they can be stressful. Expedition members must be prepared to be confronted with cold weather, strong winds, fresh snow and even blizzards. Also expedition members should be ready for very challenging camping and camp life in the worst of scenarios present, not to mention dealing with the unexpected and unwanted, such as blisters and other bodily aches. A high level of fitness is indeed an asset for everyone considering an expedition of this caliber, but endurance and self motivation works wonders as well. Prior experience in winter travel, glacier crossings and cross-country skiing is important for a successful crossing. A short résumé is required to apply for joining the expedition. Doing The Greenland Crossing Expedition is a great way to prepare for a North and South Pole expeditions.
General preparation:
The best preparation for an expedition like this is to engage in long hikes in the mountains or long days of cross country skiing, even with a backpack or a pulka. It is very important that participants are familiar with all their personal gear and equipment (skis, boots, and clothes from the bottom up as well as through all the layers). The more comfortable you are with your gear the easier everything becomes when adjusting to the communal gear and the expedition as a whole. Hauling a pulka for hours for many days can be very straining for the lower back and it is recommended that participants engage in exercise that will strengthen both the abdominals and the back muscles. Strong back muscles make hauling easier, as well as shovelling when the necessity for building protective walls for the tents arises. Tent life can also be hard on the back and the better we prepare ourselves the better the outcome will be. The value of all general exercise in preparation for an expedition of this kind should not be underestimated.