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See planned route/way points and progress

If you want to see planned way points and the team's progress you can so easily... simply:
1. Download and install Google Earth
2. Add a new network link (see how).

15. May 2007 22:09 - the last bulletin

Date: 15. May 2007
Time: 22:09 GMT
Elevation: 0 meters ASL
Temperature: ?° C
Position: ?N ?W
Distance covered: 0 k
Wind: ? m/s (?)

All good things must come to and it is often said, and at the time of writing Arctic Kite Tour 2007 has almost come to an end. We have reached Kangerlussuaq, where we are staying in "The Old Camp", our equipment has been packed and will be taken to the freight terminal tomorrow. On Thursday we will be on a plane back to Copenhagen.

It was originally the goal of our expedition to go from Narsaq to Qaanaaq and although we did not achieve this goal, Arctic Kite Tour 2007 has still been a great success. We have spent more than three weeks on the Inland Ice, we have covered nearly 800 kilometres, we have had great times and hard times, we have have done some excellent kiting and we have learned a lot. Last, but not least, we have had a much needed break from the daily ratrace.

The distance between Narsaq and Qaanaaq is nearly 2,400 kilometeres. If you are to cover this distance within a month, you are almost 100% reliant on the wind. During the first week of our expedition, we had no wind at all. The weather was beautiful - plenty of sunshine and a clear blue sky, but no wind. Later we got wind and were able to cover distances of up to 100 kilometres per day. The only problem was that the wind would drop around lunchtime, so we would have to do all our kiting before then.

On days where we were able to cover considerable distances, we would set the alarm clock to 3:30 AM and then start kiting at 6:00 AM. At this time of the year the temperature is around -25C that early in the morning and, needless to say, kiting in such low temperatures is very hard. You have to wear many clothes and everything becomes cumbersome and tiring.

Based on our recent experiences it is our firm belief that the "Narsaq-Qaanaaq Passage" should be undertaken during the summer season and not the winter season. To do the passage within a reasonable time frame you must be able to kite when the wind is blowing. This means that you must be able to turn night into day and viseversa. During the winter season this is nearly impossible.

Once we get back to Denmark, we will publish a full report about the expediton on this site with fotos, videos etc. Once we have done that we will start the planning of Arctic Kite Tour 2010, because we will of course return to do the complete journey ;-)

15. May 2007 01:12 - hot shower and tickets to CPH

Date: 15. May 2007
Time: 01:12 GMT
Elevation: 45 meters ASL
Temperature: +?° C
Position: 67,011N 50,734W
Distance covered: 33,8 k
Wind: 2 m/s (east)

E45:T+?:P67,011N 50,734W:D33,8:W2M/S E. WE WERE PICKED UP BY A UNIMOG FROM KANGERLUSSUAQ TOURISM AT 16:45 AND HAVE MOVED INTO THEIR BARRACKS WHERE WE HAVE HAD A NICE HOT SHOWER AND WE WILL BE ENJOYING A NICE SOFT BED.WILL FLY TO CPH ON THURSD.A CONCL TO OUR EXP WILL FLW ASAP END

14. May 2007 11:26 - Landfall

Date: 14. May 2007
Time: 11:26 GMT
Elevation: 500 meters ASL
Temperature: -1° C
Position: 67,156N 50,051W
Distance covered: 8 k
Wind: 2 m/s (east)

E500:T-1:P67,156N 50,051W:D8:W2M/S E.SPENT ALL SUNDAY STRUGGLING IN THE CREVASSE AREA E OF PT.660.MADE LANDFALL 18.30. WILL GO TO KANGERLUSSUAQ MON.END

12. May 2007 22:48 - first exit to 660

Date: 12. May 2007
Time: 22:48 GMT
Elevation: 700 meters ASL
Temperature: -1° C
Position: 67,189N 49,918W
Distance covered: 56 k
Wind: 14 m/s (east)

Started with skisails and did 40 km in a few hours. Took the first exit to point 660 and are now only 8 km away from point 660

E700:T-1:P67,189N 49,918:D56,3:W14M/S E.STARTED WITH SKISAILS AND DID 40 K IN A FEW HOURS.TOOK THE FIRST EXIT TO PT.660 AND ARE NOW 8K AWAY.END

11. May 2007 20:06 - 100+ k day

Date: 11. May 2007
Time: 20:06 GMT
Elevation: 1178 meters ASL
Temperature: -4° C
Position: 66,838N 48,987W
Distance covered: 101 k
Wind: 2 m/s (south)

ELEVATION 1178. TEMPERATURE -4. POSITION 66,838N 48,987W. DISTANCE 101. 2 M/S SOUTH. DID 101 K'S TODAY BUT ONLY BECAUSE WE STARTED AT 6:50. IT WAS FREEZING COLD (-21 AND 7M/S FROM SOUTH. WE DID 60K TACKING DOWNWIND WITH OUR 11 SQUARE METER KITES ON 60 METER LINES IN LESS THAN 2 HRS. GOT INTO A NASTY BAND OF BOULDRY BLUEICE. IT WAS HARD TO NEGOTIATE AND OUR SKIS AND PULKS WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE (WE WERE SOMEHERE IN THE MIDDLE). CHANGED TO SKISAIL TO BETTER CONTROL SPEED AND DIRECTION. CHANGED BACK TO 11 SQUARE METER KITES AND HAD DONE 101 K AT 12:50. THEN THE WIND DROPPED AND SO DID WE :-). ESTIMATED 2 MORE DAYS ON THE ICE. END

10. May 2007 21:01 - Late starters

Date: 10. May 2007
Time: 21:01 GMT
Elevation: 1670 meters ASL
Temperature: -2° C
Position: 65,969N 48,321W
Distance covered: 42,1 k
Wind: 1 m/s (south)

The expedition members had a long morning (probably with eggs and bacon) as the catabatic winds at 11 m/s were too strong for kiting. At 1PM the dropped enough to start the ski-kiting. The descent from the ice to point 660 is estimated to bebin in approx 3 days.

E:1670:T-2:P65,969N 48,321:D42,1:W1 M/S S.STARTED RATHER LATE THIS MORNING (11AM) DUE TO HIGH WIND (11 M/S) AND LOW TEMP (-12).CATABATIC WIND DROPPED AROUND 1PM.WILL BITE THE COLD AND START AT DAYBREAK TMRW AND TRY TO MAKE MANY K'S.EST DESCENT FROM ICE AT PT.660 IN APPROX 3 DAYS.

9. May 2007 - record distance

Date: 9. May 2007
Time: 20:59 GMT
Elevation: 1650 meters ASL
Temperature: -7° C
Position: 65,592N 48,393W
Distance covered: 70,1 k
Wind: 2-7 m/s (south-east)

It's been a lovely day :-) Did 70 km in sunshine with winds of 7 m/s from the south-east. At around 14:30 (local time) the wind dropped.

E:1650:T-7:P65,592N 48,393:D70,1:W2M/S SE.IT'S BEEN A LOVELY DAY:-) DID 70 K IN SUNSHINE AND 7 M/S FROM SE.WIND DROPPED AROUND 14:30.END

8. May 2007 20:17 - strong winds, zero visibility

Date: 8. May 2007
Time: 20:17 GMT
Elevation: 1700 meters ASL
Temperature: -3° C
Position: 64,973N 48,654W
Distance covered: 58 k
Wind: 5 m/s (south)

E1700:T-3:P64,973N 48,654:D58:W5M/S S.SAME WEATHER AS PAST TWO DAYS.STRONG WIND FROM S.STARTED WITH 11 SQM KITE.SWITCHED TO SKISAIL AT 10 M/S AND TACKED DOWNWIND TO BUILD UP SPEED.FINISHED AT 14.00 WHEN IT STARTED TO SNOW AND VISIBILITY DROPPED TO ZERO.WE ARE BORED AND WANT DECENT WEATHER!END

7. May 2007 18:14 - bird saves the day

Date: 7. May 2007
Time: 18:14 GMT
Elevation: 1950 meters ASL
Temperature: -5° C
Position: 64,556N 48,183W
Distance covered: 50,1 k
Wind: 5 m/s (south)

If it hadn't been for the bird, the day would have been more than absolutely crap. With a 5 m/s wind from the south the team travelled another 50 km in close to zero visibility (pretty good). The team seem to have aquired a mate in the bird they offered a few bread crumbs. The current position and speeds puts the team with a 8-10 days radius of KANGERLUSSUQ/Søndre Strømfjord.

E1950:T-5:P64,556N 48,183:D50,1:W 5M/S S. ANOTHER DAY WITH ABSOLUTELY CRAP WEATHER.WHITEOUT WITH SNOW AND WIND FROM S.50 K ISN'T BAD THOUGH IN THESE CONDITIONS.A SMALL BIRD IS FOLLOWING US.WE THROW IT A FEW CRUMBS.UNLESS WEATHER IMPROVES THERE ARE APPROX 8-10 DAYS TO KANGERLUSSUQ.

6. May 2007 20:41 - 26 km in whiteout

Date: 6. May 2007
Time: 20:41 GMT
Elevation: 2050 meters ASL
Temperature: -3° C
Position: 64,128N 47,867W
Distance covered: 26,1 km
Wind: 2 m/s (south)

With almost no visibility (almost whiteout) "only" 26 km was covered. The team finished early and is hoping for clear skies and eastern wind tomorrow.

E2050:T-3:P64,128N 47,867:D26,1:W2M/S S.DID 26 K IN ALMOST WHITEOUT.FINISHED EARLY DUE TO THE WEATHER.HOPE FOR CLEAR SKIES AND WIND FROM E.END

5. May 2007 19:15 - Eat & Sleep well

Date: 5. May 2007
Time: 19:15 GMT
Elevation: 2100 meters ASL
Temperature: -1° C
Position: 63,895N 47,824W
Distance covered: 35 km
Wind: 2 m/s (south)

A "lazy" day covering 35 km using a light wind from the south. The Mallorca skys are gone and visibility is poor. Luckily there is plenty of food and a cozy sleeping bag.

E2100:T-1:P63,895N 47,824W:D35:W2M/S S. DID 35 LAZY K'S WITH LIGHT WIND FROM BEHIND.SKY OVERCAST & VISIBILITY MODERATE TO POOR.WE EAT&SLEEP WELL:-).END

4. May 2007 20:48 - Leg hammering

Date: 4. May 2007
Time: 20:48 GMT
Elevation: 2100 meters ASL
Temperature: -2° C
Position: 63,588N 47,958W
Distance covered: 55 k
Wind: 2 m/s (south)

Flemming and Sverri had a good day with 55 km covered at fast speeds over sastrugi snow using skisails (see video of how skisailing could look) to take advantage of the catabatic wind.

E2100:T-2:P63,588N 47,958W:D55:W2M/S S. HAD A GOOD DAY USING SKISAILS.WENT FAST OVER HARD SASTRUGI.LEGS TOOK SEVERE HAMMERING.CATABATIC WIND MAX OK.END

3. May 2007 22:32 - Reaching top of platou

Date: 3. May 2007
Time: 22:32 GMT
Elevation: 2100 meters ASL
Temperature: -8° C
Position: 63,096N 48,002W
Distance covered: 57 k
Wind: 2 m/s (east)

It may be preliminary, but it seems wind conditions are changing for the better. Another day with clear blue sky and close to 60 km in the bag, and a 300 m ascend to 2100 (which should the the hight of the platou). Due to a whole week of no wind and insufficient progress, the safety margin is now too narrow to complete the expedition as originally planned. The new destination is point 660 approx 30 km due east of Kangerlussuaq / Søndre Strømfjord (see position). The current distance to the target is 480 km.

REPORT FOR 03.05: E2100:T-8:P63,096N 48,002W:D57,4:W2M/S E.WIND PATTERN MUCH BETTER NOW.HAD DAY WITH CLEAR BLUE SKY AND MADE K'S.CONT.
DUE TO A WHOLE WEEK OF NO WIND AND INSUFFICIENT PROGRESS SAFETY MARGIN IS NOW TOO NARROW TO COMPLETE EXP. AS ORRIGINALLY PLANNED.NEW DESTN IS CONT
POINT 660 APPROX 30 K'S DUE E OF KANGERLUSSUAQ. CURRENT DISTANCE TO TARGET IS 480 K'S.END

3. Maj 2007 09:00 - New goals

Date: 3. maj 2007
Time: 09:00 GMT
Elevation: 1870 meters ASL
Temperature: -10 ° C
Position: 62,582N 47,946W
Distance covered: 60 k (on 02-05-2007)
Wind: 3 m/s (east)

Flemming called this morning to inform of the expedition's new goals. In light of the current wind conditions they have now decided to cut short the expedition and exit onto the west coast at "Point 660" at Kangerlussuaq / Søndre Strømfjord (both positions are plotted in the Google Earth file). Should they have reached their original end destination another month was needed or a lot of night-kiting would have been necessary. However, during the night, the temperature drops to minus 25 degrees ruling out any possibility for night-kiting.
Anyways. Everything is fine; the gear works as supposed to, the spirits are high and there is plenty of chocolate (now more than ever)- no retreat no surrender :-)

E1870:T-10:P62,582N 47,946W:D58:W3M/S.WOKE UP 3:45AM.6M/S WIND FROM E.STARTED 6AM.IT WAS -25 &VERY COLD.HAD A GOOD DAY OUT & DID SOME MUCH NEEDED K'S.END

29. April 2007 23:36 - Iglo camping, possible early exit

Date: 29. April 2007
Time: 23:36 GMT
Elevation: 1730 meters ASL
Temperature: -5° C
Position: 62,017N 47,500W
Distance covered: 21 km
Wind: 7 m/s (south) - 1 m/s (west)

Again an early rise at 05:30 due to good wind conditions. Started kiting at 07:30 with a very cold 7 m/s strong southern wind. At 10:00 and after 21 km and an ascended to 1730 meters above sea levelthe wind diead out... Sverri and Flemming quickly got bored ... so why not build an iglo? Due the the weak wind conditions from the beginning of the expedition, reaching Qaanaaq within the time frame seem is beginning to become un-realistic. The team is concidering exiting at point 660 (not sure where this is...)

E1730:T-5:P62,017N 47,500W:D21:WIND1M/SFROM W.WOKE UP 5AM.WIND!STARTED 7:30.-21 & 7M/S-VERY COLD.DONE 21K BY 10AM.NO WIND REST OF DAY.GOT BORED AND BUILT AN IGLOO.VERY NICE.QAANAAQ IS NOT REALISTIC WITH SO LITTLE WIND.CONSIDER EXIT AT POINT 660.END

28. April 2007 - Minus 25 inside the tent...

Date: 28. APril 2007
Time: 22:32 GMT
Elevation: 1650 meters ASL
Temperature: 0° C
Position: 61,836N 47,403W
Distance covered: 3,3 km
Wind: 1 m/s (west)

A wakeup at 05:30 in minus 25 inside tent. The day offered only 30 minutes of wind and only 3 km ground were covered - then the wind died. The team is not making the expected progress, and can only hope for better wind conditions tomorrow... over and out.

E1650:T-0:P61,836N 47,403W:D3,3:WIND1M/SFROM W.WE GOT UP 5:30.TEMP IN TENT WAS -25.KITED 30MINS THEN WIND DIED.NOT GOOD. HOPE FOR BETTER COND TMRW.END.

27. April 2007 22:31 - Late starters 30+ K

Date: 27. April
Time: 22:31 GMT
Elevation: 1670 meters ASL
Temperature: -15° C
Position: 61,807N 47,390W
Distance covered: 30+ KM
Wind: 1 m/s (North)

E1670:T-15:P61,807N 47,390W:D33:WIND1M/SFROM N.WE GOT A LATE START AND DID ONLY 30+. WILL TRY TO GET UP AT 5AM TMRW IF WEATHER LOOKS PROMISING.END

26. April 2006 - Picking up speed

Date: 26. April 2007
Time: 23:27 GMT
Elevation: 1522 meters ASL
Temperature: -5° C
Position: 61,513N 47,469W
Distance covered: 39 km
Wind: 6 m/s (south-east)

After yesterday's daylong camping due to the storm, today was a success. 40 km has been covered in mostly deep powder snow and the team has now ascended to 1500 meters above sea level (aprox 500 meters to the top of the platou). Many more such days are neede to break the record.

E1522:T-5:P61,513N 47,469W:D39:WIND6M/SFROM SE.WE DID NEARLY 40K IN MOSTLY DEEP POWDER-GREAT SUCCESS-HI5. WE NEED MORE OF THIS WEATHER TO MAKE IT.END

25. April 2007 - Hawaii and warm beaches

Date: 25. April 2007
Time: 22:20 GMT
Elevation: 965 meters ASL
Temperature: ? C
Position: 61,204N 47,099W
Distance covered: 0 m
Wind: 20 m/s (north-east)

After the 18 k yesterday, the team decided to make an early night and to get up early. At 05:00 the weather was bright and clear and the wind was picking up. Breakfast was consumed, the camp packed and the kite- and ski-gear was prepared for a days ride. At 07:00, however, the wind suddenly turned into a storm at 20 meters per second, forcing the guys to quickly land the kites. With no outlook for immediate improvements in the weather conditions, the decision was made to setup the camp again (07:30). At 22:35 the wind was still blowing at 20 m/s. The day was spent dreaming about Hawaii and warm beaches.

Satellite images of Southwest Greenland (www.dmi.dk)

E1020:T-1:P61,209N 47,112W:D0,9:WIND16M/SFROM NE.GOT UP AT 5AM TO RIDE THE WIND. AFTER 10 MINSOF KITING WE GOTA STORM.SPENT ALL DAY IN TENT.END

24. April 2007 22:58 - First 18K of kiting

Date: 24. April 2007
Time: 22:58 GMT
Elevation: 965 meters ASL
Temperature: -4° C
Position: 61,204N 47,099W
Distance covered: 18,6 km
Wind: 5 m/s (north-east)

Finally the team got enough wind to use the kites. 18 km have been covered upwind and over hard sastrugi snow. The first test of the kite gear turned out great "Ski & kites" are great". All is well.

E965:T-4:P61,204N 47,099W:D18,6:WIND5M/SFROMNNE.ALL IS WELL.FINALLY WE GOT WIND.HAVE KITED 18K OVER HARD SASTRUGI UPWIND.SKIS&KITES ARE GREAT.END

23. April 2007 22:34 - Fresh snow and sunshine

Date: 23. April 2007
Time: 22:34 GMT
Elevation: 570 meters ASL
Temperature: -3° C
Position: 61,081N 46,867W
Distance covered: 2200 meters
Wind: 2 m/s (north)

The day started with whiteout and 15 cm of new snow. Later in the day the sun broke through increasing the temprature to minus 3 degrees celcius. The team has covered another 2200 meters and climbed to 570 meters above sea level. A soft wind of 2 meters per second blows from the north - not quite enough for kiting. Spirits are high and all is well :)
Zoom to details

E570:T-3:P61,081N 46,867W:D2,2:WIND2M/SFRNORTH.ALL IS WELL.DAY STARTED WITH WHITEOUT & 15 CM NEW SNOW.LATER SUNSHINE .NO KITING YET.HI SPIRITS.END.

22. April 2007 22:15: a "Road runner" day ;)

Date: 23. April 2007
Time: 22:15 GMT
Elevation: 516 meters ASL
Temperature: -5° C
Position: 61,063N 46,850W
Distance covered: 4000 m Wind: 5 m/s (north)

After a day of hard climbing in warm weather and deep snow Sverri and Flemming is camping a bit higher than yesterday at 516 meters above sea level (still at the 4000 meter mark). As Flemming says (it must be Flemming): life is hard but nature is fantastic (white).

E516:T-5:P61,063N 46,850W:D4:WIND5M/SFRNORTH.ALL IS WELL.A DAY OF HARD TABBING IN WARM WEATHER AND DEEP SNOW. LIFE IS HARD BUT NATURE IS FANTASTIC.END (Sun, 22 Apr 2007 22:15:06 -0000)

21. April 2007 22:36: 2. day of climbing

Another 1000 meters covered and the team has now climbed to 415 meters above sea level. The temperature has dropped to minus 8 degrees Celsius and the wind has picked up blowing 8 meters per second. The conditions are improving higher up, but still the snow is deep making progress on the glacier slow. The team sends an “All is well”

Date: 2007-04-21
Time: 22:36 GMT
Elevation: 415 meters ASL
Temperature: -8° C
Position: 61,042N 46,769W
Distance covered: 4000 m

E415:T-8:P61,042N 46,842W:D4:WIND8M/S.ALL IS WELL. STILLDEEP SNOW ON GLACIER BUTBETTE CONDITIONS AS WE GET HIGHER UP.END (Sat, 21 Apr 2007 22:36:09 -0000)

21. April 2007 00:10: Deep wet snow makes ascend hard

All is well. The team has now ascended to 150 meters and above sea level and covered 3000 meters.
Despite a temperature of minus 5 celcius, the snow on the glacier is wet and deep making the ascent hard.

Time: 00:10 GMT
Elevation: 150 meters ASL
Temperature: -5° C
Position: 61,027N 46,769W
Distance covered: 3000 m

E150:T-5:P61,027N 46,769W:D3. ALL IS WELL. DEEP WET SNOW ON GLACIER MAKES ASCENT HARD. END (Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:10:40 -0000)

19. April 2007: First message from the North :)

The team has arrived in Narsaq and we are now packing/preparing our gear for shipment with small boats. Our trip will continue at a fast pace and we will presumably all ready arrive at our starting point later this afternoon. We seem to have packed to much gear (surprise) to travel with and will send surplus gear back to Lars (Sverri’s brother) in Denmark. The weather is excellent with the sun shining from a clear blue sky, a couple of degrees above zero and sunlight from very early morning.

12 April 2007

Time: 19:15 GMT
Elevation: 25 meters ASL
Temperature: 6° C
Position: 55°53'19N 12°31'24E
Distance covered: 0 km

We've figured out how to send and receive SMS to and from an email account via our Iridium 9505A satellite telephone. Royal Arctic Line in Narsaq has confirmed that our equipment has arrived undamaged.

6 April 2007

We spent most of the day under a clear blue sky at Sverri's brother's place in Karise practicing with the rifle, flying kites, updating the web site and doing a bit of admin work. With 12 days to departure we are AOK :-)

6 March 2007

250 kilos of equiment was picked up by a huge lorry from Smyrril Blue Water Shipping this morning. To save money our equipment will be sent by ship. It will cost DKK 7,000.00 to ship our equipment to Narsaq (freight and insurance). Click here to see our stuff.

The wooden structures, on top of which the equipment is placed, are neither sleds nor pulks. They are socalled Euro pallets. Our pulks are inside the tallest box together with our skis.

Date: xxx
Time: xxx GMT
Elevation: xxx meters ASL
Temperature: xxx° C
Position: xxxN xxxW
Distance covered: xxx k
Wind: xxx m/s (xxx)