Expedition /ékspidísh’n/ n. a journey where the outcome is uncertain.
Right now we are supposed to be on our flight, leaving Kangerlussuaq after a successful expedition and this has got me thinking…
We always knew the expedition was going to be challenging, especially given that we were attempting the crossing at one of the most difficult times of the year. The vast majority of crossings are completed in April or May, when the snow cover and weather are good. When we first arrived the whole of Kangerlussuaq (all 400 of them!) were reminding us of this fact. It’s not that we didn’t believe them. It’s just that we were so stupidly optimistic. We were going to solve every problem thrown at us and we were going to enjoy doing so. After all we had managed it in Iceland when all the locals were telling us the same thing!
We were wrong. We were there too late. The terrain was too tough – there was not enough snow and too much water. As a result we were moving too slowly and the pulks broke.
On the brightside, we were able to get ourselves out of a tricky situation without needing to be rescued. We live to fight another day :)
There are, however, lessons to be learned:
1. When planning the trip we should have been less blasé about the timing of the crossing. That said, we didn’t have much say in when we went – most of the group are teachers.
2. Equipment – the blue pulks were just not up to the job. We should have all gone with the tried and tested orange pulks or completed a practice journey to test the equipment.
3. If we had booked flexible flight tickets, we would have saved a fortune!
4. Take the maps with you! Do not just rely on GPS.
5. Make sure every member of the group is involved in the planning and they are all aware of the demands of this type of adventure.
Adventure over – lessons learned and as Arnie says…
“I’ll be back” :)
Right now we are supposed to be on our flight, leaving Kangerlussuaq after a successful expedition and this has got me thinking…
We always knew the expedition was going to be challenging, especially given that we were attempting the crossing at one of the most difficult times of the year. The vast majority of crossings are completed in April or May, when the snow cover and weather are good. When we first arrived the whole of Kangerlussuaq (all 400 of them!) were reminding us of this fact. It’s not that we didn’t believe them. It’s just that we were so stupidly optimistic. We were going to solve every problem thrown at us and we were going to enjoy doing so. After all we had managed it in Iceland when all the locals were telling us the same thing!
We were wrong. We were there too late. The terrain was too tough – there was not enough snow and too much water. As a result we were moving too slowly and the pulks broke.
On the brightside, we were able to get ourselves out of a tricky situation without needing to be rescued. We live to fight another day :)
There are, however, lessons to be learned:
1. When planning the trip we should have been less blasé about the timing of the crossing. That said, we didn’t have much say in when we went – most of the group are teachers.
2. Equipment – the blue pulks were just not up to the job. We should have all gone with the tried and tested orange pulks or completed a practice journey to test the equipment.
3. If we had booked flexible flight tickets, we would have saved a fortune!
4. Take the maps with you! Do not just rely on GPS.
5. Make sure every member of the group is involved in the planning and they are all aware of the demands of this type of adventure.
Adventure over – lessons learned and as Arnie says…
“I’ll be back” :)
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