Getting away from it all in Greenland

Our intrepid chief executive Mike Nestor and his son, have recently hiked 250kms above the Arctic Circle. 

Their Greenland adventure started at a place on the ice sheet known as Point 660, from where they set off towards the sea at Sisimiut, on the coast of the Davis Strait.  Their first port of call, a mere 35kms from the start, was Kangerlussuaq – in fact, where they landed on their flight from Denmark.  After that there was nothing but 165kms of wilderness, plus some planned off-piste diversions to up the ante!

Commenting on the trip, Mike said:

“In terms of the terrain, as compared to some of our more vertically challenging  expeditions, the ground was relatively easy to cover despite the long stretches of waterlogged bog. Once we left the ice cap I don’t think we exceeded a height of 500m above sea level. That said, we were helped enormously by a wonderful period of settled weather which was warm and sunny, apart from heavy rain on our last day.  The only other time we got soaked was on the way to the airport in the UK!

“The main issue for anyone undertaking the Arctic Circle Trail is the need to be entirely self-sufficient, both physically in terms of the weight of food and equipment and emotionally in terms of coping with the remoteness of the area, particularly if you veer off the official trail in search of a more personal experience.”

Asked about the highlights, Mike enjoyed a satisfying sense of isolation:

“The scale of the landscape was phenomenal.  It took us time to adjust to judging distances.  We enjoyed clear air and the purity of the water – although glacier drain-off near the ice sheet, which contains tiny particles of ground-up rocks known as rock flour, is not recommended for drinking.  But I can endorse being ‘off air’ for two weeks – we didn’t take a satellite phone and had no access to any form of electronic communication.”

The only worrying moment was when a musk ox came to within three or four metres of their tent. The usual advice is to get no closer than 45 metres. Mike said they kept very still, as these mighty beasts, weighing up to 400kg, can charge aggressively if they feel threatened or provoked. Fortunately, after a few minutes he lost interest and left them in peace.

[Polar bears are very rarely seen in this part of Greenland and, Mike says, do not form a significant threat. For anyone interested in how to act in an encounter with one, however, Visit Greenland provides a helpful guide! – Ed]

Would they go back?  Yes, possibly in the winter for a more challenging (and mosquito-free) experience.  Watch this space!