Iceberg
The Plan. There always has to be a plan, although often circumstances do not allow fulfilling them. Who knows, perhaps that’s better :-). A note of uncertainty and anxiety is quite a good companion. My earlier expeditions made me realize that a good plan is the base and openness for changes is a very desirable feature.
The plan was established on the basis of the present transport time tables. As we are going to explore Greenland from air (planes, helicopters), sea (ships, kayaks) and on foot the final plan will mainly depend on weather conditions.
Anyway the plan is as follows:
1/ flight Poznań – Copenhagen – Narsarsuaq (Grenlandia); (29-30 June),
2/ to warm-up on arrival : trekking to the Kiattut Sermiat glacier, hill 1102 and 970, back to Narsarsuaq ;
3/ we start the first part of our trip, which focuses on the exploration of the southern Greenland – mainly the area between Narsarsuaq and Narsaq as well as Nanortalik area. What awaits us there? Almost one hundred kilometer trekking over rough, mountainous terrain with climbing on several high mountains. We will be slowed down by hundreds of lakes and ponds in that area. Additionally – if time allows – kayaking training at Narsaq consisting mainly of capsizes into the water of temperature of 0 degrees Celsius. This training should strengthen us before our kayaking trip later on (we are goingo to train capsizes in Poland too, but it’s not the same thing :-). In the vicinity of Nanortalik we will have for our disposal Zodiac boat allowing us to move freely in Tasermiut fjord surrounded by high cliffs. We plan to do some climbing there, but it will all be decided on the spot.
4/ after exploration of the southern Greenland we plan to embark Artic Umiaq Line A/S and set off to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, along the coast and in the company of icebergs. We will have some stops.
5/ Nuuk – three resting days combined with climbing the surrounding peaks and trailing whales.
6/ flight Nuuk – Ilulissat ( stopover in Kangerlussuaq);
7/ exploring the vicinity of Ilulissat, particularly Ilulissat Kangerlus fjord is declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site
8/ canoe trip among icebergs surrounding Eqip Sermia. We will face the water with temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, our own weakness, icebergs, deep sea and wind. For obvious reasons, this part of our journey is the most demanding and dangerous . We believe, that we overcome all possible adversities, and fate will be on our side :-).
9/ at the end we have few extra days we can spend taking pictures and, weather depending, exploring Disko Island, Kangerlus Ilulissat fjord or the town of Uummannaq;
10/ flight Ilulissat – Copenhagen – Poznań.
The whole expedition will last more than a month, from which most days will be spent on Greenland.
Wastes
Of course the plan does not show the most important part – our passion of photography. We will do our best to bring some good pictures. We are planning to take some underwater and night pictures. We would like to lie and for the local fauna especially the polar fox.
For most of the expedition we will be left on our own devices. That is why we have to take a tent, food for the trekking part. If we add our photo equipment it sums up to quite a challenge to pack everything and walk often in very rough conditions. That is why we rely on really light camping equipment.
Our stay in Ilulissat will be connected with the phenomenon of the midnight sun, which shall give us the chance to take great pictures in perfect light.
The whole expedition is planned for July 2010.
