Greenland Crossing May 2009

Four teachers have been selected to be part of the Fuchs Foundation teachers’ expedition to the Arctic Circle in May 2009. The Fuchs Foundation is a charitable trust set up in the memory of the pioneering explorer Vivian Fuchs. The trust facilitates expeditions to Polar Regions to encourage teachers to engage in scientific field work with the intention of inspiring young people. The 5 week expedition in May 2009 is to be based around the high arctic snow fields of Greenland. We will complete a crossing of the Greenland icecap on skis and will be supported by a team of dogs. The expedition will leave on the 29th of April and return on June 12th 2009. The main body of the journey is from Ammassalik (65.36N 37.38W) on the east coast of Greenland and finishing at Kangerlussuaq (67.01N 50.72W) on the west coast.

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

Still on the move

19-5-09. We have had three good days on the icecap and are currently making good progress. Yesterday we were shown some authentic Greenlandic skis made of wood and seal skin, they work perfectly, even in sticky snow where modern equipment fails. We left late afternoon to try to get better snow conditions and pushed on across the icecap until nearly midnight. Today we awoke to a windy day with poor visibility. The kite sails were unleashed and we were dragged across the snow, a really great way to polar travel if the prevailing wind is in the right direction. The highlight of the day was speaking to students and colleagues at the University of Bedfordshire. There were many insightful questions, but like everybody else they want to know about Polar Bears and toilets. Love to all friends and family. Dan

 

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