点评:We did the overnight icesheet camping trip in late September 2023, which is autumn (fall) in Greenland. It was a really cold (-6 oC / 21 oF plus significant wind chill that made it feel far colder) but really amazing experience - in fact, one of THE most amazing things we have ever done. Our guide Ana was excellent and we felt safe and well looked after.
The trip starts with a briefing at Polar Lodge in Kangerlassauq, followed by a 1 hour bus ride out to the moraine at the head of the ice sheet. We had to carry personal belongings in our backpacks and were also given plastic sleds (pulks) with camping gear on to tow behind us. The walk to the camp took about 45 minutes and wouldn't be difficult for someone with moderate fitness. Then it was time to pitch the tents, which was rather hard work in the very cold and windy conditions. After hot drinks and biscuits to warm up, Ana took us on a short walk to have a look around, then it was back to the base for dinner.
Throughout the day the weather had been overcast but it cleared in the evening to reveal a beautiful aurora display. It was a surreal experience being on the ice sheet and even more so to be witnessing the aurora while there. I still keep looking at my photos in wonder!
The next morning was spent walking around the ice sheet and looking at all manner of features and formations; it was extremely interesting. The highlight for me was taking a dip in a frozen lake, after Ana hacked a hole through the ice. There was no obligation to go in, so half of our group did and half didn't. I'm really glad I did because I felt absolutely amazing afterwards. And yes, it was really cold!
All in all it was an excellent trip made even more so by Ana being a great guide. But there is some room for improvement with the tour company (Albatross Arctic Circle)'s communication. If you are doing the trip then be aware of the following:
* You don't need to take a big pack - just one that's big enough for your clothing and personal effects.
* The instructions said to take thin gloves. Whereas they should have said to take thick gloves and also thin gloves as inners. I only took thin woollen gloves and my hands weren't warm enough. Fortunately I had a spare pair of woollen socks, which I put on like mittens over the gloves.
* They provide dinner on the first day, and breakfast and lunch the following day. There's plenty of food so no need to take extra. The briefing meeting time on day 1 is at noon but they don't provide lunch, so bring sandwiches or whatever with you.
* The instructions don't make it clear that day 2 takes all day and you won't get back to Kangerlassauq until well after 6 pm. Take this into account if, like us, you have booked into a restaurant for dinner.
* Be aware that the weather conditions are different on the ice sheet than they are in Kangerlassauq. When we went it was at least 6 oC / 43 oF colder on the ice sheet than it was in Kangerlassauq, so take that into account when looking at the Kangerlassauq weather forecast.
* If you are going during the warmer summer months then they recommend taking 2 litre capacity water bottles. You won't need so much if you are going during the colder months like we were. If you have an insulated bottle or thermos then it's a good idea to take that in the colder months because the water will probably freeze in an uninsulated bottle.
* Be sure to take hiking boots with stiff soles AND a flush heel. One person on our group had footwear with a flared heel and it was consequently difficult to fit the crampons on correctly.
翻译:我们于 2023 年 9 月下旬进行了过夜的冰原露营之旅,当时是格陵兰岛的秋季。这是一次非常寒冷的天气(-6 oC / 21 oF 加上明显的风寒,让人感觉更冷),但确实是令人惊奇的经历 - 事实上,这是我们做过的最令人惊奇的事情之一。我们的导游安娜非常出色,我们感到安全并且得到了很好的照顾。
旅程从康格拉绍克的极地小屋 (Polar Lodge) 的简报开始,然后乘坐 1 小时的巴士前往冰盖顶部的冰碛。我们必须在背包中携带个人物品,并且还给我们提供了带有露营装备的塑料雪橇(pulks),以便在我们身后拖曳。步行到营地大约需要 45 分钟,对于中等体力的人来说并不困难。然后就到了搭帐篷的时间,在寒冷多风的条件下,这是一项相当辛苦的工作。喝完热饮和饼干暖身后,安娜带我们走了一小段路参观了一下,然后就回到基地吃晚饭了。
一整天天气都是阴天,但到了晚上天气晴朗,展现出美丽的极光。在冰原上是一种超现实的体验,更何况是在那里目睹极光。我仍然惊讶地看着我的照片!
第二天早上,我们在冰原周围散步,观察各种各样的特征和构造。这非常有趣。对我来说最精彩的是安娜在冰上凿了一个洞后,在结冰的湖里畅游。没有义务进去,所以我们小组一半人进去了,一半人没有进去。我真的很高兴我这么做了,因为事后我感觉非常棒。是的,天气真的很冷!
总而言之,这是一次很棒的旅行,安娜是一位很棒的导游,这使得这次旅行更加精彩。但与旅游公司(Albatross Arctic Circle)的沟通还有一些改进的空间。如果您正在进行旅行,请注意以下事项:
* 您不需要带一大包 - 只需一个足以容纳您的衣服和个人物品的包即可。
* 说明书上说要带薄手套。而他们应该说要带厚手套和薄手套作为内衣。我只带了薄薄的羊毛手套,手不够暖和。幸运的是,我有一双备用的羊毛袜,我把它像连指手套一样套在手套上。
* 第一天提供晚餐,第二天提供早餐和午餐。食物充足,不需要额外带。第一天的简报会时间是中午,但是他们不提供午餐,所以带上三明治什么的。
* 说明没有明确说明第二天需要一整天,而且您要到下午 6 点之后才能返回康格拉绍克。如果您像我们一样预订了餐厅的晚餐,请考虑到这一点。
* 请注意,冰盖上的天气条件与康格拉绍克的天气条件不同。我们去的时候冰盖上的温度比康格拉绍克至少低 6 摄氏度/43 华氏度,因此在查看康格拉绍克天气预报时请考虑到这一点。
* 如果您在温暖的夏季前往,他们建议您携带 2 升容量的水瓶。如果你像我们一样在寒冷的月份去,你就不需要那么多了。如果您有隔热瓶或保温瓶,那么最好在寒冷的月份使用它,因为水可能会在未隔热的瓶子中结冰。
* 一定要穿鞋底坚硬且鞋跟齐平的登山靴。我们小组中的一个人穿着带有喇叭形鞋跟的鞋子,因此很难正确穿上冰爪。