Who? Terje With Lunndal (1975) is from the far north of Norway and works as a IT System Administrator in Oslo, Norway. Petter Skodvin-Hvammen (1973) is from Tønsberg in the southern part of Norway and works as an IT Architect together
with Terje in Oslo. They are both pretty average Norwegian men with an interest in outdoors activities slightly above average, planning a not so average vacation.
Where? The Greenland ice sheet is a vast body of ice covering 1.71 million km², roughly 80% of the surface of Greenland. It is the second largest ice body in the World, after the Antarctic ice sheet. The ice sheet is almost 2,400 kilometers long in a north-south direction, and its greatest width is 1,100 kilometers. The ice thickness is generally more than 2 km and over 3 km at its thickest point.
What? We have decided to cross the Greenland ice sheet on skis, unsupported. It will only be the two of us, pulling all our equipment in sleds. We will cross the ice sheet from west to east covering more than 600 km of desolate ice and snow, exposing us to strong winds, blistering arctic cold, crevassed glaciers and potential polar bears.
Why? Good question. As we both are fond of outdoors activities, especially in the winter, each of us entertained dreams of going on an expedition. We are seeking adventure, grand nature and physical as well as mental challenges. Though these things can be found in a variety of places on the planet, the Greenland ice sheet has a special place in Norwegian history. The Norwegian explorer, scientist and diplomat, Fridtjof Nansen, led the first expedition to cross the ice sheet in 1888.
When? We will fly out from Norway, via Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq in early May 2010. After a few days of logistics we will climb onto the ice sheet and traverse it along the Arctic Circle for about 25 days. On the east coast we will make our way to the village of Tasiilaq via Isortoq, and then get a flight home via Iceland.
Experience? These are some of our favorite outdoor experiences:
Petter
- Svalbard, Arctic Norway, winter, 4 days
- Ifjordfjellet, Arctic Norway, winter, 6 days
- Jotunheimen National Park, winter, 6 days
- On bike from Tønsberg to Voss, summer, 4 days
- Smørstabbreen glacier, Jotunheimen National Park, summer, 6 days.
- [more...]
Terje
- Mt. Kilimanjaro (5896 masl)
- Ifjordfjellet, Arctic Norway, winter, 6 days
- Pasvik, Arcitc Norway, winter, 7 days
- Solo in Børgefjell, 7 days
- Solo on Hardangervidda, winter, 4 days
- [more...]
