Dogsledge tour in Ilulissat, Greenland, getting on Greenland icecap (or inland ice). Pictures of Greenland ice cap.

Ilulissat dogsledge tour to the ice cap
14-16 April 2007

About 50km from Ilulissat there is a dead glacier that can be climbed by dogsledge, offering the possibility to have a walk over the ancient Greenland inland ice. The trip is three days (two nights) long, with overnights in an heated hut (small refuge).

(Click on a picture to see an enlarged version)



GREENLAND PICTURES
	Trip to Copenhagen 11-13 April 2007 As the flight from Copenhagen to Greenland doesn't offer any same-day connection with flights from my country, I decide to spend two nights in Copenhagen, visiting the city and the beautiful botanical garden. GO
	Fly to Ilulissat via Kangerlussuaq 13 April 2007 My today's final destination is Ilulissat, with a short stop in Kangerlussuaq. Flying over Greenland with nice weather offers breathtaking views. GO
	Ilulissat, Greenland 13-18 and 25-27 April 2007 Ilulissat is a nice and charming greenlandic town, about 350km north of the arctic circle. For passengers continuing to Qaanaaq, is required to stop here for at least one night, as the flight leaves early in the morning. GO
	Dogsledge tour to Grenland's ice cap from Ilulissat <YOU ARE HERE> 14-16 April 2007 About 50km from Ilulissat there is a dead glacier that can be climbed by dogsledge, offering the possibility to have a walk over the ancient inland ice. The trip is three days (two nights) long, with overnights in an heated hut.
	Qaanaaq (Thule), Greenland 18-25 April 2007 Qaanaaq, known also as Thule, at more than 77 degrees north, represents one of the last frontier and the ideal base for polar expeditions of various lenghts and purposes. From Europe, Qaanaaq can be reached only after a very long flight, with overnight stops in Copenhagen and Ilulissat. GO
	Dog sledge expedition in Greenland - Day 1 19 April 2007 Today, we cross the Murchison sund, reaching Herbert Island, where the first night is spent in a tent near the limit of open water. GO
	Dogsledge expedition - Day 2 - with seal hunting pictures \| without seal hunting pictures 20 April 2007 Because of the open water in front of us, we drive back on Murchison sund, up to the ghost town of Qeqertarsuaq on Herbert island. During the trip, the Inuit guides catch several seals, as they normally do when there are no tourists. GO
	Dogsledge expedition in Greenland - Day 3 and 4 21-22 April 2007 From the ghost town of Qeqertarsuaq we drive to the opposite side of Murchison sund, making a zig-zag between areas of thin ice. The following day, we continue our trip driving over Mac Cormick fjord, all the way to its end. GO
	Dogsledge expedition in Thule, Greenland - Day 5 23 April 2007 Today, we drive overland, crossing a glacial valley up to Bowdoin fjord, where the night is spent inside a refuge. GO
	Dogsledge expedition in Qaanaaq, Greenland - Day 6 24 April 2007 This is the last day on dogsledge, thence, the final destination is back to Qaanaaq driving over the mouth of Inglefield Bredning, along strange and fascinating rock formations. GO
	Fly from Qaanaaq to Copenhagen 25, 27 April 2007 The weather is still beautiful throughout the west coast Greenland, so the flight from Qaanaaq to Ilulissat via Upernavik and Qaarsut (Uummannaq), as well as the continuation to Copenhagen via Kangerlussuaq, offers unforgettable views over spectacular polar scenery. GO
	Trip dossier and Greenland information page This page contains brief information, useful if you would like to organize a trip like this. Flights from Europe, outfitters, overnights and technical equipment (including cloths and digital camera) is discussed. GO
	My previous trip to Greenland and Ilulissat August 2001, one week. This site contains pictures and information about my previous trip to Greenland, a beautiful trekking on tundra and onto icecap from Ilulissat, made in summer 2001. GO

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We leave early in the afternoon of first day. Before departure, the sledge is prepared and the dogs are tied. Eleven dogs pull two people (me and my guide), the food provisions, baggage and emergency equipment.


	More dog sledge pictures. The dogs can pull the sledge even on climbs (if the climb is too huge, normally the guide descend and follow the sledge from behind, in order to keep it lighter).


This is the scenery where I will travel for the next days, a breathtaking panorama of snow, ice and glaciers.




Soon, I take a short hike on the sea ice, following a trail in the snow. The fjord has many icebergs frozen solid inside. I meet also another dogsled team coming from the opposite direction.


In the meanwhile, some dog has a rest, while some other gets angry.


	The following morning the temperature holds at about -18 centigrades. We cross the frozen fjord bound for a dead glacier.








We are now on the Greenland icecap, the huge sheet of ice covering entire Greenland. In some places, the snow is blown away by the winds, causing blue inland ice to come out. The scenery is really breathtaking and I take a short hike, while the dogs have a rest.


We descend from the Greenland ice cap, crossing the fjord again, in order to have a better look into a glacier flowing inside the fjord itself.



The nice white and blue wall of the glacier ending into the frozen fjord.


	It is late afternoon when we start our drive back to the refuge.


After some hours, I get a beautiful view over the Icefjord.