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Ski Expedition across the largest ice free landmass in Greenland - 13 days

Arctic Circle Trail - Winter

Ski from Sisimiut to the Ice Cap

Learn winter camping/navigation/safety routines and techniques

Experience untouched nature by skiing the Arctic Circle Trail

Good chances of seeing the Greenland wildlife, Reindeer, Musk-Oxen, Arctic Hare, Polar Fox

Experience the Unesco World Heritage landscape of Aasivissuit- Nipisat

Good training for those thinking about a longer ski expedition like a Greenland Ice Cap Crossing

Discover the two cities of Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut

Description

This is a ski expedition on the Arctic Circle Trail in winter. We will be skiing on “Nordic BC Skis”, and dragging all our equipment along in sledges.

Skiing the Arctic Circle Trail will provide a proper challenge for all participants!

 

This is an extended version of the Arctic Circle Trail.

We will be outside for 13 days. Therefore we are gonna be sleeping in specialized winter tents for the whole duration of the ski tour.

Our ski tour on the Arctic Circle Trail starts in the second largest city in Greenland, Sisimiut, and ends at the Ice Cap, after which a taxi will come and pick us up and drive us to the airport town of Kangerlussuaq.

Because there is sometimes snow scooter traffic on the first part of the expedition, we will in the second half of the trip find our own route north of the established scooter/sledge route.

 

A large part of the route will go through the Unesco Heritage landscape of Aasivissuit-Nipisat.

If in doubt of whether this ski tour suits you, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Who is this trip for

This is a trip for those who wants a true ski expedition in the beautiful, but sometimes also very harsh nature of Greenland.

A ski expedition on the Arctic Circle Trail will require willpower and quite some effort from all participants.

The trip is demanding because of it’s length, and because it is based on skiing and sleeping in tents in winter.

Therefore all participants are expected to contribute actively with regards to setting up camp and cooking and melting snow for water.

The daily skiing distance is 10-15 kilometers pr. day. And the temperature can range from minus 10-30 degrees Celsius.

Therefore participants must be fit enough for walking this daily distance, and be mentally prepared for dealing with the cold temperatures and winter camping.

Skiing the Arctic Circle Trail can potentially give many mental and physical rewards.

The trip will provide a very solid foundation for those contemplating about doing longer ski expeditions like a Greenland Ice Cap crossing. This is because you will learn basic winter camping/navigation/safety routines.

Pre - Expedition Course

 

The Expedition is divided into two parts. The ski expedition on the Arctic Circle Trail from Sisimiut to the Russell glacier is gonna take us 13 days to do.

But in order to be able to go on this trip, all participants has to participate in a 5 day long Expedition Course.

The Expedition course will be held at "Golsfjellet" in Norway.

The Expedition Course is meant to prepare all participants in the best possible way for doing the long ski expedition on Greenland.

 

The Expedition Course is tent based, and ment to feel like a short version of the ski tour to Sisimiut. 

Iteneraries

 

Itenerary for the Expedition course in Norway
The Expedition starts with the preparation course. After all participants has arrived at Golsfjellet 
on day 1, we will immediately start to pack the sledge ready for day 3. During this expedition course, we will stay in tents, and train on all relevant skills for doing the Arctic Circle Trail Winter expedition. That means, learning good winter camping routines, and skiing with a loaded pulka.   

   

Day 1                                                                                              Arriving with the train at "Gol station" in the afternoon. Alternatively driving all the way to Golsfjellet yourself. After participants has arrived we will start to pack their sledges ready for leaving on day 3. One night in a shared dormitory at Golsfjellet hut.

Day 2

We start with indoor navigation, stove handling and SAR lessons. After lunch we head our on a afternoon ski trip to practice navigation.

Day 3-5                                                                                      Expedition course! We are out skiing and sleeping in tents for 4 days (3 nights).

Day 6

Arriving back at Golsfjellet cabin early in the afternoon. Participants are leaving with the train/car in the afternoon and evening.

 

Itenerary for Arctic Circle Trail ski expedition in Greenland
 

Day 1

Participants are arriving in Sisimut, and will be lodged at the "hotel seamans home" for 3 nights.

Day 2-3

Sightseeing in Sisimiut, and on day 3 we will be packing the sledges ready for starting the expedition. Participants will send items they do not need on the ski tour with mail to Kangerlussuaq.

Day 4- 16

Arctic Circle Trail Ski Expedition! Arriving at the Russel Glacier on day 16, after which we are picked up by car and driven to Kangerlussuaq. 

Dates & Price

 

Tour price: 19.500 DKK

 

Dates for Expedition Course in Norway 2025:

 

2-7 January

Dates can be adjusted during autumn 2024.

Dates for Arctic Circle Trail Expedition:

11-23 March 2025.

Dates can be adjusted slightly during autumn 2024, all dependent on Airgreenlands changes in their flight program.

If interested in booking, or having any further questions please contact me 

Mail: thuleexpeditions@gmail.com

+47 48604292

Location & Transport

 

Norway:

"Golsfjellet" is located east of the great Hardangervidda. Winter starts early here, and there provides a very good training ground for leaning about winter outdoor skills.

Golsfjellet can be accessed by train via the trainline that runs between Oslo and Bergen. Train tickets can be booked here:

Norweigian Train Company

It is thus possible to arrive in either Bergen or Oslo and then take the train from there to Gol Station.

Alternatively it is possible to drive all the way to Golsfjellet yourself.

 

Greenland:

Sisimiut is the second largest city in Greenland and therefore it is well worth to spend some days here exploring the city.

 

Destination arctic circle - Sisimiut

Visit Greenland - Sisimiut

 

Kangerlussuaq Airport (Sønder Strømfjord) is the main gateway to Greenland. And lies in the inland of Greenland.
Airgreenland has direct flights from Copenhagen.


The airport used to be an old american military base, but after the cold war ended the Greenland govornment overtook the rule of the airport, and today it acts as a transfer airport for all travellers continuing to other cities in Greenland. 

All flights to Sisimiut and back from Kangerlussuaq can be booked with airgreenland.

Air Greenland

Overskrift 5
What is included for the expedition course Norway
  • ​Services of a qualified Arctic Nature Guide
  • All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 5 ( not including snacks) 
  • 2 night accomodation in shared room in cosy hut at Golsfjellet
  • Expedition equipment, tents, stoves, cooking utensils, thermos bottle, snow shovel, pulkas equipped with a drag system, drag harness for pulkas

  • All safety equipment including: satellite phone, satellite emergency beacons

  • Rental skis, skins, ski poles (NOT ski boots)

What is not included for the Expedition Course Norway

  • Transport to/from "Gol station" in Norway

  • Ski boots (must be very warm, and compatible with the binding system NNN BC

  • Personal clothing (must be able to cope with minus 30 celsius for multiple days

  • Sleeping bag (must have a minimum comfort temperature of minus 20 celsius)

  • Sleeping mat (minimum R-value of 6)

  • Snacks for all days

  • Personal Hygenics

  • Personal Travel insurance 

  • Any extra expenses due to unforeseen events and changes (delayed flights, extra logistics and accomodation)

What is included for the ACT-Greenland

  • Services of a qualified Arctic Nature Guide

  • All meals on the ski expedition, (not including snacks)

  • Expedition equipment, tents, stoves, cooking utensils, thermos bottle, snow shovel, pulkas equipped with a drag system, drag harness for pulkas

  • All safety equipment including: satellite phone, satellite emergency beacons

  • Rental skis, skins, ski poles (NOT ski boots)

  • 2 nights hotel accomodation in Sisimut (breakfast included)

  • Taxi transport from Russel Glacier to Kangerlussuaq

What is not included for the ACT-Greenland

  • Flight to Sisimiut

  • Flight from Kangerlussuaq to your home destination

  • Accomodation in Kangerlussuaq 

  • Meals in Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut (except for hotel breakfast in Sisimiut)

  • Ski boots (must be very warm, and compatible with the binding system NNN BC

  • Personal clothing (must be able to cope with minus 30 celsius for multiple days

  • Sleeping bag (must have a minimum comfort temperature of minus 20 celsius)

  • Sleeping mat (minimum R-value of 6)

  • Snacks for all days

  • Personal Hygenics

  • Personal Travel insurance (must included Search and Rescue coverage)

  • Any extra expenses due to unforeseen events and changes (delayed flights, extra logistics and accomodation)

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