Greenland Traverse

Crossing the Greenland ice sheet – from West to East

Initially, the Greenland Traverse sounds a bit less exclusive than the North or South Pole; don’t let yourself be fooled, the traverse is more demanding and strenuous than most other expeditions. One thing is for certain, nothing is for free. The adventurer is put to test by furious winds blowing away anything in their path, gaping crevasses lying threatening at his feet and the monotony and vastness will gnaw away at his innermost thoughts while extreme low or high temperatures and an everlasting wind constantly give him a hard time.

The tour is guided by the Swiss polar expert, Thomas Ulrich. Under his lead and equipped with his own personally developed Arctic equipment, the group will experience the unexpected beauty of Greenland to its full extent.
The Greenland Traverse is one of the classic polar expeditions. If you are well prepared, we promise you one of the most unforgettable and enjoyable experiences ever!

Travel information

Starting from Kangerlussuaq on the west coast of Greenland, we will travel to Tasiilaq on the east coast. An approximate 25 days will be spent on the ice, the actual duration is strongly dependant on weather conditions. In May, temperatures on the inland ice can go down to minus 35° C, whereas during the day it can go from warm to extremely warm due to the sun.
We will sleep in tents and eat specially prepared expedition food. We will be walking an average of around 8 - 11 hours per day, taking short hourly breaks. Our walking speed will be determined by weather conditions and the group. Each participant will pull a polar sledge holding their own baggage and some of the group material. The group will be equipped with the latest material available, our polar sledge especially standing out from polar sledges used on other expeditions. All participants will be supplied with a polar sledge specially designed by Thomas Ulrich for polar expeditions, making the load pulling significantly easier.
For the traverse, a permit from the government of Greenland is required, issued only to those possessing sufficient previous expedition experience.

Requirements

Although demanding, this tour is not only designed for competitive athletes. Motivation, a large portion of perseverance, mental strength along with sufficient training and preparation prior to the expedition are the key requirements for success. We will be walking mainly uphill between 8 - 11 hours a day, initially pulling a sledge weighing 60 to 80 kg.

Key requirements are:

• Physical health and fitness (systematic training prior to the expedition, walking on skis and pulling heavy loads)
• Perseverance and willingness to actively help with group tasks
• Expedition experience (setting up a tent in a storm, using a gas cooker in a tent)
• Ability to work in a team
• Participants over 65 years of age need a medical certificate as confirmation that they are physically capable of taking part in a polar expedition (requirement of the granting authority of Greenland).

Safety and risks

Safety is our priority. The trip will be personally lead by myself. I am a state-certified mountain guide (UIAA) as well as a member of the International Polar Guide Association (IPGA). On an expedition, a fair portion of remaining risk can be reduced through appropriate equipment. We always carry redundant means of communication (satellite phone and emergency radio), the latest navigation tools (GPS), a complete and extensive expedition first aid kit, repair parts for the most delicate pieces of equipment as well as ropes and other safety equipment needed such as firearms should we encounter polar bears near the coastal areas.
Our home base team is at our disposal 24/7 throughout the whole expedition, giving us medical and/or strategic advice or in case of an emergency, organising the fastest alert and evacuation possible. Travelling through remote and harsh environments such as the Inland Ice naturally involves a certain risk. On the whole in these surroundings, bad luck has a much harder impact than in other areas. Incidents such as small injuries, frostbite or sudden illness cannot be excluded. In case of an emergency, a rescue helicopter can be summoned. In order to cover rescue costs, according insurance is mandatory for each participant. We arrange this for you and deposit a bank guarantee prior to departure - to cover possible rescue costs - with the authorities in Greenland.
To sum it up, one has to be aware that with regard to the specific conditions of this expedition it cannot be compared to ordinary journeys. It is clear, too, that there is a certain risk of accidents and injuries and that each participant takes part in the expedition at his or her own risk and in full knowledge of this situation. Each has to sign a declaration that he is fully informed about all this and prepared to take the risk. 

Equipment

Knowing that extreme cold weather can be well endured through appropriate equipment and the proper handling of such is extremely fascinating. The extensive expedition know how of Thomas Ulrich is therefore crucial for you as a participant. Putting together equipment for an expedition can be an exciting aspect, you can count on our immense experience with polar expeditions.
A briefing weekend in the wintry Swiss mountains is included in the services we offer and gives every participant the opportunity to have his complete equipment tested in view of the expedition. The same goes for your own personal equipment or that borrowed from friends. Thus we can guarantee that you are sure to enjoy this expedition. In the course of the expedition itself you will also learn a lot about the proper material for extreme trips and profit from the extensive know how of Thomas Ulrich.
We will put the complete group material at your disposal: Tents, sledges, mattresses, cookers and cooking material, fuel, means of communication (satellite phone and emergency radio), food etc. And this is what is included for you personally: skis, poles, mittens and gloves, face mask, caps as well as a sleeping bag which is sure to keep you warm.
Equipment you will have to bring yourself (not included): Your personal equipment includes a wind-and waterproof jacket and pants, thermal underwear, fleece jacket, dowin insulation layers, thin liner gloves and sunglasses. If you need some of these items we will gladly advise you or – for an extra charge - put together a complete set.