Greenland – the Wild West – Photo Gallery

A collection of images to show the potential of this area and the outline of a typical week

  • Arrival on the west coast. After an international flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, we take a 30 minute flight to the small settlement from where the expedition gets going.
  • Arctic ambience. The air is clear, the light is special. You know you're somewhere really remote.
  • Dog town. The settlement is home to a few thousand people, and almost as many husky dogs
  • Booted and suited. Our transport is by two stroke rather than four paw. We are kitted out with suits, boots and helments for the snowmobile ride
  • Snowmobile ride. The journey in to the hut takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on weather and snow conditions.
  • Your ski area for the week. The hut is situated on the shore of a frozen fjord. The hut can just about be made out on the small round bit of shore sticking out just right of centre in the lower third of the shot. All around is terrain made for ski touring
  • The hut is a small one storey structure originally built by the local commune for visiting hunters.
  • The dining room. At one end is a warm dining room and kitchen
  • The hut is kept warm and cosy with a diesel heater. Boots can be dried out easily. We have recharging facilities for cameras, but there is no internet or phone signal. We are equipped with VHF radios and satellite phones for emergency communcation.
  • We sleep in a 10 bunk dormitory. It's warm and comfy. There is a composting toilet. I have not included photos!
  • The snow in the Arctic is generally more stable than in a European alpine setting. It also stays in a fairly constant state during the day as the angle of the sun is so low.
  • Fantastic terrain. The terrain in the area could have been made for ski touring. Imagine Scotland on a large scale. The mountains are around 1000m high, and there are lines from safe and shallow to "how steep do you want?"
  • Weather conditions: Of course I take more photos when the sun is out! Temperatures range from -15 to just below zero. Typically one day each week, the weather gets quite challenging...
  • The skiing is simply magnificent, with big open slopes down to tight couloirs. Some of the best skiing is in the stream gullies.
  • Challenging stuff: This is perfect couloir skiing on about 35 degrees in feisty weather. Skiers: Ray Allwood, Mark Howard, Paul Spelling
  • Scottish rules: Mark Howard on the Couloir of Destiny in perfect conditions if less than perfect weather
  • Afternoon entertainment: We can try our hand at ice fishing for Arctic char. Fisherman: Whitey
  • The ski bus: We will often use a snowmobile to get you to more far flung objectives.
  • The bus has space for 4 skiers. We can also have skiers on the back of a snowmobile or towed behind one.
  • Into the Great Wide Open: Ascents are typically 1000 to 1200m, so around 4 or 5 hours. We have a real sense of space and solitude here
  • Powder hounds: Depending on conditions, the skiing can be up there with the best. Skiers: Lisa Allwood, Mark Howard, Ray Allwood
  • Massive potential: To the north of the hut is territory that needs exploring. Say no more
  • Wildlife: You can rest assured: there are no polar bears in this area so no need to carry rifles. We may see Arctic hare, fox, sea eagles and ptarmigan.
  • The scenery is really very special
  • Temptation: We didn't ski this line in 2018, so I need to go back! Skier: Stuart Galbraith
  • This line has become a firm favourite as a warm up. Doable in most weather conditions, here it is on a bluebird day. Skier: Stuart Galbraith
  • Greenland couloir action: The couloir skiing here is special. This 600m line is between 30 and 3 degrees, and finishes on the fjord shore with just 10 minutes of snowmobile back to the hut Skier: Nick Isaac
  • Return to base. At the end of our stay, we return to the settlement by snowmobile for a final evening meal, and then fly back to Copenhagen the following day. For more information, please send me an email via the contact form on my website