Arriving in Kangerlussuaq

Both lost a few pounds during the trip!!

Finalizing

From the day we arrived in Greenland we were struck by how friendly and open the Greenland people are. After we arrived in Tasiilaq we stayed at the "red house" with Robert Peroni who was very helpful.We also had time to get to know Tasiilaq witch is a pretty exotic place. Just as many dogs as people.

Crossing the Glacier took 15 days , but due to early melting we struggeled for 6 days with the last 30 km. We also had stay in the tent for two days during a Pitaraq (Artic storm).

The crossing is something we will always remember, it was a fantastic experience. We also worked extremely well as a team and that is a very important part of such an expedition.

We recommend this crossing to everybody who wishes to experience an adventure in an arctic environment, but start from the west and go to the east in the spring. Save the Nansen route for the autumn!!

Day 22-24

Because of the melting snow we were forced to take a south bound route. This route we like to call the Manstaad-Hulaas/Johnsen route. It is probably never ever been used before. We struggeled desperate for two days to get to get to hight 660. We knew that if we did not reach the our flight home a lot of people would be pretty worried . Although we were doing fine we were unable to call hone since the satellite phone was long gone...... After two hard days we found a route through the glacier descent. With only five easy km left to point 660, we observed plane and helicopter activity with an unusually pattern. Where they looking for something??

When the helicopter started circling above us , we knew they were looking for us.

All the other expeditions had already been brought out of the area due to the heavy melting.We were disappointed since they would not let us walk the last 5 km but we consider it a valid crossing since it was only 5 easy km left. The rescue team was very nice and attentive.

Day 20-21

Summer had arrived 6 weeks earlier than normal.The snow was melting extremely rapidly. In a short time big melting oceans and rivers arrived out of nowhere.We were suddenly stuck on an island of snow. We struggeled for 2 days to find a way out. We managed finally to sneak out during the night then the snow had frozen.

This made us walk a big detour.To make a distance of 3,5 km we walked 51 km!!!

Both of us were very tired but Frode came out a bit fresher on the photos. We slept 1-2 hours during the day otherwise we were walking 6 days in a row.

Day 18-19

Setting new record .This day we traveled 70km with heavy tailwind with speeds up to 20km/h.This was a surrealistic experience. Then every thing turned pretty bad. We went with some distance between us when Tommy suddenly were gone.Frode could only see one of Tommys orange pulks. Tommy had fallen into crack!! Blue is a pretty colour but not when you are stuck on a small snow shelf 3,5 m down under the ice and the bottom is 20 m bellow you.Frode managed to arrange a couple of secure ropes and it ended happily.We were told that the snowbrigdes were still safe. But summer came early this year. After that we luckily had a rope between us. Frode fell into a crack too later on in the evening.

During a break we lost our Irridium satellite telephone.This turned out to become a huge problem since we could not tell anyone anything about our progression.

Day 17

Leaving DYE late in the evening. We had heavy tailwind and it was pretty easy to travel 52 km . In some areas we could just stand straight and let the wind do the work.

Reaching DYE 2

Today we were skiing for 16,5 hours and managed 56km under extremely poor conditions. Most of the time we had complete white-out and struggeled with sticky snow.We arrived totally exhausted at DYE2 at 5 in the morning.Dye was a surrealistic and strange place. It comes out of nothing and looks like an abandoned huge spaceship. We both agreed that we would never have overnighted alone her. Scenes from the aliens films came popping up.

We found some hermetic coffee the americans left then they abandoned DYE in the eighties! Tasted in fact pretty good.

Day 14, 35 km, good weather, sunny!

Day 15, 35,5 km, good weather, altitude 2380m. Looking forward to reach Dye 2 tomorrow!

On top of the glacier!

Day 12, 28,5 km headwind as usual and sastrugi landscape. Sastrugi is small rippels/dunes in the snow, elongated in the dominating wind direction. The sastrugi makes it hard to ski and the headwind is not helping.

Day 13, 30,5 km headwind, sastrugi and sunny. Its not possible to upload pictures, but there are some nice pictures ready to be uplodad in Kangerlussuaq. The tent is not optimal, it creates a lot of condensation and makes the sleeping bags moist to sleep in.

Greenland

Map of Greenland. A bit late, but here you can see the startingpoint: Tasiilaq and their destination, Kangerlussuaq. In total 570 kilometers.

This morning they tok a 17 mai picture and are wishing everybody a great celebration! The last days have been good. Day 9, 24km, day 10, 27km and day 11, 28km! It's about 56km to the top of the glacier, which is estimated 2500 meters above sea level. After they reach the top, they are hoping for tailwind and an easy descent to lower ground about 660. It's still windy and its getting colder and colder the higher they get. Now its -25 to 30 degrees celsius.

Day 7. Stuck in the tent

Since the last update, they have only walked 20km. About 100km from Isotoq they come over some bad weather and are now stuck in the tent. They have to take turns on clearing snow from the tent so they don't disappear. According to Frode, having to go out to take a dump is no picknic either. They called the weather service and the weather is probably getting better on friday:) The silverlining, well, their feet are getting some rest.

Day 5

Yesterday they climbed 300 meters on their 23 km walk. Isotoq is about 80 km away. They are having good weather, but the snow is wet and therefore everything is a lot heavier. In the day its 10-15 degrees Celsius, while at night its minus 10-15 degrees C. They are now on altitude 1550 and they have about 900 meters to the top.

Tommy still has blisters on his feet and Frode is beginning to get sore feet also. They also report a lot of white, they have passed a group of four and they have only seen a few ski tracks.

day 3

nice weather with sun from blue sky. we went 15 km and climbed 500 meter up to 1170 meter. we got up on the glacier and the terrain became flatter.

day 4
got up 0530 and went for more than 10 hours. Almost white out making navigation difficult. managed 23 km, 3 more than scheduled. Tommy has blister on feet and thighs

FandT

Wet start..

Since last time they have been struggling with bad weather and they had to cross an ice lake so both of their sleds drowned two times. So half a day went to drying all their stuff. Luckily they salvaged the sleeping bags and the parcas. So after two days they walked only 22km, but now the weather is much better and yesterday they were at the second camp, 620 meters over sea level and they are getting closer to the top of the the glacier.

forgotten something...

The weather is good and they are finally ready for departure for Isortoq! They had to repackage everything to fit in the helicopter, but are happy they can finally start the trip. The plan is to start gently to avoid blisters and other damages and then gradually go longer and longer. Its two hours from Isortoq to the glasier and they will start to climb the glacier tomorrow.

When they arrived in Isortoq, the hand luggage was still in Tasiilaq! Actually both forgot their hand luggage. And typically importen stuff like the satellite phone, PC and other stuff was in the backpacks left behind. Fortunately, the helicopter would run one more trip...

Tommy and Frode in Tasiilaq

Tasiilaq

Hi everybody.
After a long journey we have arrived in Tasiila at the east coast! In two days we hope to travel on to Isortoq where our starting point is.
But it depends on the weather and we might have a problem with all the baggage... In worst case we must wait 3 days in Isortoq for all the bagage to come. Logistics is a hassle.
There are many drunks and happy children in colorful Tasiilaq...

PS. I've changed the settings so everybody can submit new post!

Tommy and Frode

Departure from Trondheim!

Tommy arrived Trondheim today around 11. It´s been a hectic day with packing and arrange last minute things. They were both very eager to start the journey and almost forgot the maps.

Frode´s sleeping bag and parka just arrived the postoffice today! It was sent from the US for over 2 week ago, but has been delayed in customs and maybe also by the famous Eyjafjallajøkullen.

Their bags weight 17kg each, they are also bringing a rifle, a ski bag and two smaller backpacks as hand luggage. After check in at Værnes, Frode got a call up from airport securities. In the rifle bag was the rifle, ammunition and the removed bold (end piece) from the rifle! Not very safe!

Soon we departure

Today is tuesday, april 27. That means it is only 2 more days until we leave Trondheim. On saturday we arrive Tasiilaq. Almost everything is set and ready, only minor things left to fix, but still busy days...

Sending equipment

Last week we sent a pretty big shipment with expedition equipment. The boxes contain almost all the gear we need for the trip, a total weight of 100 kg!

Shortly after the gear was sent with airborne mail, the Eyjafjallajökul volcano on Iceland had a huge eruption spreading ash all over Europe. Hopefully the volcano won´t jeopardize our trip! Only one week left until the departure from Trondheim and we set the course for Greenland.

Interview with "Strinda"

Today we gave an interview to the neighborhood newspaper "Strinda". In the interview we talked about Greenland and all the preparations for the trip.

We fly out of Trondheim to Copenhagen on April 29. Then we travel from Copenhagen to Tasiilaq via Nuuk before we get transported with helicopter to Isortoq. From Isortoq we start the crossing of Greenland on May 3!