Check out the amazing archivement of Michael and Cornelius who just managed to cross Greenland from south to north using Ozone Snowkites. After the Pittark Team made the same trip last year it seems that more and more expeditions are following them.
Our congratulations to Michael and Cornelius!
We are wondering what comes next?
Read on for their report below …
We are now back in France since some time and the expedition seems already far away. Still we only slowly realize that we actually made it. A dream has come true for us!
We have crossed Greenland from south to north, 2240 km over the icecap from Qaleraligd Fjord close to Narsaq all the way up to Bowdoin Fjord and Qaanaaq. During the whole trip we only walked for 60 km – all the rest was covered using the wind with our Ozone kites and one additional skisail.
Thanks to the kites we were able to cover 2215 km sea level to sea level in only 29 days and 5 h. And Narsaq to Qaanaaq in 31 days. Being lucky with our choices for the access to and the exit from the icecap, we were able to do the whole trip without further assistance, except boat transport from Narsaq to the starting point. And of course except the cup of tea offered by Lou and Mark when we met them as well as a finnish and a German expedition at Day 2 – it would have been a pity miss this one.
Long distance kiting is a pleasant way to travel on snow. The incredible power of the kites made us completely forget the weight of our pulks until we had to haul them again ourselves at the end. And it made us forget how far it actually is. We forgot the time: once beyond the arctic circle it was the wind that ruled our rythm. Only when our shadow had again nearly completed a full tour of us, we realize that an other day had passed.
We enjoyed the exotic pleasure to ski directly into the huge low sun – right north of us. Or in streams of driving snow with an orange glow in the low light. Or through a white ocean of frozen waves. Or just into white clouds of an endless nothing. Or through a dream of dry powder….
We had a good time out there kiting!
Michael Charavin & Cornelius Strohm for “Wings over Greenland”
Article: Wings over Greenland