Arctic Mountaineering 2009 - Greenland

Product Details

Explore a Pristine Wilderness!

Discover the widerness and beauty of the high arctic! Visiting the world's biggest National Park requires special permission from the Danish Polar Centre - when you get there, you will see why! It is wild, beautiful and very remote indeed. Glaciers cut through steep, jagged mountains and fast-flowing rivers carry silt to the sea where icebergs float by.

Situated at 72°N The Stauning Alps in North East Greenland generally enjoy relatively warm and dry summers. On the glaciers and higher in the mountains the temperatures can vary so shorts might be worn in the day and down jackets and woolly hats needed at night! Nature abounds with fascinating flora and fauna and chances of seeing Gyr Falcons and Snowy Owls, Lemmings, Arctic Foxes and the enormous Musk Ox.

What's involved?

This month-long expedition will begin with walking and acclimatising. The expedition will involve three phases in the field which will occur in different sequences. The science phase will build on long-term work in the area including geology, survey work, fluvial and glacial studies, ornithology and invertebrates. In the trekking phase fires [groups] will explore the mountains and undertake challenging journeys along ridges and through valleys to explore rarely visited areas. In the mountaineering phase fires will be trained in snow and ice techniques such as crevasse rescue in order to undertake multi-day journeys on the glaciers and explore the mountains.

Adventure

This whole expedition will be an adventure! The topography is astounding and you will have opportunities to learn and explore with world-class leaders. Travelling in this environment is challenging and you will learn to minimise your equipment so that your pack is as light and you can travel as far as possible. You will develop hard skills such as navigation, travelling on glaciers and leadership skills. This is a prime opportunity to challenge yourself and push your limits, supported by other team members and your leaders.

Science & Fieldwork

With the excellent geology and glacial setting, The Stauning Alps offer fantastic opportunities for some fascinating science and fieldwork projects, especially investigating aspects of climate change as the polar regions display key indicators of global warming. You will work alongside qualified scientists from the UK on a range of projects investigating global warming and gathering important data for monitoring changes.

An expedition to the area in 1998 surveyed the snout of a glacier and it is intended to gather further data so that a comparison can be made. We also plan to use GIS research mapping and investigate river sediments and vegetation patterns as they relate to glacial outflow. A further fire should be able to investigate suspended sediment and bed load sources from the Skeldal glacier in detail in order to improve our understanding of the processes and mechanisms of sediment transport in the proglacial system.

We also intend to undertake a study of the distribution of a small crustacean, Lepidurus arcticus, in lakes and ponds. This was the area of one of the 1998 studies. In all 14 lakes were sampled and population densities determined, so this type of project could prove to be important in monitoring changes.

In addition the the above three areas for science and fieldwork, it is hoped to undertake some work involving Young Explorers in exploring the nature of the expedition experience and the learning through and from the expedition.

Cost

Your contribution will be in the region of £3,100 including a deposit of £500.
Travel costs are expected to be around £850 including all taxes.

BSES Expeditions is a youth development charity which strives to keep expedition costs as low as possible. Please note that advance planning to remote and often difficult to access wilderness areas is subject to many variables and the costs may vary. These will be confirmed six months before departure.

You are required to organise and run your own fundraising activities, lots of advice and encouragement will be given. We can offer mentoring support, for those who feel completely daunted by the prospect of fundraising, to ensure you reach your targets.

Key dates

Application Deadline Monday 6th April, 2009
Compulsory Briefing Weekend Friday 17th - Sunday 19th April, 2009
Expedition Dates Mid July to mid August, 2009
BSES Annual Presentation of Expedition Reports Saturday 30th January, 2010

Once you are onboard you will have access to a password protected area of the website which contains all the information you need for the expedition, from a full kit list and equipment advice to health information, suggested fitness programmes and logistical information.

All details are subject to change and correct at time of writing.

---

Our users say

"I am convinced I will never find another place as varied and unique as Greenland. It is unlike any place I have ever seen before – deep fjords with the occasional floating iceberg, mossy banks, steep cliffs and ice caps which stretch to cover mountain tops and lead down to glaciers which descend into the valleys. Over the course of the five weeks we spent there, I have learnt a lot about myself in terms of my capabilities, and have gained a lot, both in terms of personal skills and knowledge of the island, and knowledge of the Arctic in general. While the experience was very physically challenging, I feel it was hugely worthwhile and I have achieved a lot both physically and mentally, including reaching the summits of three peaks. I would like to thank everyone who donated towards my trip, as it all helped me reach my goal and achieve my dream of going on an expedition in the Arctic. Now I just have to decide what I want to do next"! Alice Horton