DATES 28 - 7 May 2023
DURATION 10 days* Total with 6 ski-touring days
LEVEL Advanced ski tourers or split boarders OUTLINE
Following a very successful expediton to East Greenland in April 2022 GZBA is once again teaming up with Pirhuk Guides to create an extraordinary and unique Arctic experience in 2023. The adventure starts in Reykjavik Iceland, the only airport with flights to East Greenland. The team will overnight in Reykjavik to ensure everyone makes the early morning flight.
Flying into Kulusuk, East Greenland on our first day, we are met at the snow strip and skin around 30 minutes to the lodge whilst all kit is taken by snowmobile. After lunch and an update on conditions, there’s normally time for an avalanche exercise as part of a short ski tour from the lodge. The following day is our first full ski day. We’ll make plans in the evening, then early each morning we will check the state of the sea ice, snowpack and weather before confirming objectives. We’ll ski each day, either from the door or more normally using snowmobiles to tow in over the sea ice; other days we might travel by dog sled or boat to reach your objective.
Of the six full days of skiing, we plan to make a four-day / three-night ski traverse utilising our mountain huts, assisted by powerful boats to cross the open fiord which separates them. After a full week, we’ll skin back to the snow strip in time for our prop-plane flight to Reykjavik, Iceland.
In this wild and remote region, the state of the sea ice, snowpack and prevailing weather dictates everything that we do. This trip takes place on one of the least populated coastlines on earth, a vast region of glaciers, mountains and fiords subject to heavy pack ice. Limited infrastructure, extreme weather and challenging ice/snow conditions may dictate that we have to adjust the plan to suit. Between us we have over 20 years of experience in exploring East Greenland and use all that experience to make the best use of the conditions but it’s essential that all team members are aware of the possibility of disrup5on to plans inherent in this arctic region.
TERRAIN
From the lodge, we have access to a huge area of alpine peaks that rise directly out of the frozen ocean, bounded to the west by an icecap second in size only to Antarctica. This one of the richest areas for exploratory backcountry skiing on earth. The mountains of East Greenland are heavily glaciated and surrounded by a complex of fiords. They offer a myriad of great touring and descents, fall-line skiing directly from the summit to the shore. The terrain is classically alpine, lines linking peaks and cols with mellow glacier runs right up to couloirs and faces.
OBJECTIVES
We look to find suitable objectives for and will discuss the type of skiing you like best. There are countless classic lines to be skied and we are always on the look-out for first descents. Many of the region’s fiords are frozen, allowing us to tow in by snowmobile or ride dog sleds to the base of our tour. Other waterways remain open throughout spring. Conditions allowing, we will utilise our powerful motorboats to access some of the many stunning objectives that start and end by the saltwater of the fjords. Vertical height gain from sea to summit starts at around 700m and rises to over 2000m further inland.
Ascents/descents closest to the lodge average between 800m and 1000m of vertical, allowing us to link multiple descents.
TRIP COST CHF5600.- per guest
- based on a team of 6 plus 1 guide
PRICE INCLUDES | PRICE EXCLUDES |
− Baggage transfers: airstrip - village | - International return flights from your home country to Kulusuk |
- 6 days Guiding | − Expedi5on/travel insurance |
− 4 nights of lodge accommodation in Kulusuk (fully catered) | − Personal expedi5on equipment |
− 3 nights of accommodation in our wilderness huts (sleeping bags provided) | − Rental equipment costs |
− Logistical support for ski tours including hill food, bear detergents, Safety and communications equipment | − Any extra expenses due to unforeseen circumstances or changes to the planned itinerary (e.g. delayed flights, extra logistics and accommodation) |
TRAVEL
To reach our lodge, you’ll be flying into a remote gravel airstrip on one of the wildest coastlines on earth. The route between Reykjavik Domestic airport, Iceland, and our home village of Kulusuk, is served by Icelandair. The airline uses prop planes to serve the route, capable of landing on the short runway surrounded by mountains.
*Please note it is not uncommon for flights to and from East Greenland to be cancelled and re-scheduled for this reason we recommend putting aside 14 days for this trip
BOOKING
To make your booking, we ask that you pay a deposit of 20% of the trip cost (including flights), complete our booking form and accept our booking terms and conditions. Final balance payments are due 10 weeks before your trip starts.
We will confirm your booking after we have received your deposit and reviewed your booking information – please do not make any other travel arrangements un5l your booking is confirmed and you have received Travel Information from us.
