New Zealand duo set out to conquer Greenland

14 August 2007

New Zealand duo set out to conquer Greenland through SPARC’s Hillary Expedition

In the spirit and tradition of great Kiwi adventurers, two New Zealanders will undertake a daring expedition beginning this week in the inhospitable arctic wilderness of Greenland.

The duo of Graham Charles and Marcus Waters, both of Christchurch, together known as the ‘Adventure Philosophy’ team, depart for Greenland this week as part of the SPARC Hillary Expedition, an initiative that identifies and sponsors inspiring New Zealand adventurers whose courage and determination reflect the valiant efforts of New Zealand’s most famous icon of outdoor adventure, Sir Edmund Hillary.

Charles and Waters aspire to complete an all-New Zealand team crossing of the Greenland icecap, from the east coast of Greenland to the west, followed by a marathon kayak journey to the capital city of Nuuk.

The Ice and Ocean: Greenland 07 expedition team will first ski 700 kilometres over and across the icecap, which at 2.5 million cubic kilometres, contains approximately 1/8th of the earth’s total ice mass. Charles and Waters face a steady climb – 65 per cent of the ice cap lies above 2000 metres – hauling 100 kilogram sleds across what is regarded as one of the most extreme highlands in the world.

Temperatures approaching minus-30 degrees Celsius are expected throughout the trip, confirming Greenland’s reputation as the coldest place in the northern hemisphere, colder even than the North Pole.

Because the snow-surface in Greenland reflects most of the sunlight, the temperature is lowest near the snow and increases in upper air levels to two kilometres. Typically, temperatures decrease at higher altitudes, but the dome structure of the icecap causes cold air to flow constantly to lower altitudes nearer the coasts, so crossing the icecap means the team will experience near constant head winds until they reach the top of the icecap.

Above the seas around Greenland the air is less cold, creating a substantial difference in temperature and air-pressure between the coast and the inland, often triggering fearsome storms known as Piteraqs.

Charles and Waters will then paddle 500 kilometres down the west coast of Greenland in sea kayaks, heading south along the coast to Nuuk, negotiating their way through dangerous moving pack ice in the near-freezing sea.

SPARC spokesperson Ross Palmer said the SPARC Hillary Expedition aims to inspire, encourage and support New Zealanders to participate in physical activity and adventure in the great outdoors.

“The Hillary Expedition adventurers are inspirational role models, they encourage Kiwis to get active and learn and grow in the great outdoors,” said Palmer.

Adventure Philosophy is one of five expedition teams sponsored in 2006-07 through the SPARC Hillary Expedition initiative, which aims to facilitate inspiring adventures for outdoor physical activities. The expedition is made possible by the support of Southern Cross Corporate Solutions and SPARC, sponsor of the 2006-07 Hillary Expedition Award.

In 2005, Waters, Charles and fellow team member Mark Jones completed the world’s first sea kayak circumnavigation of South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean, one of the most treacherous, exposed coastlines in the world.

In 2001, the same team completed an unprecedented 800-kilometre sea kayak traverse of the Antarctic Peninsula. Sea kayaks also played a part in the team’s 2003 expedition: the first east-west traverse of the mountains of Tierra del Fuego following an approach via sea kayak through the seas of Cape Horn.

Details of the team’s upcoming Greenland expedition may be found at www.adventurephilosophy.com.

Two SPARC Hillary Expeditions have already been completed this year: The Rock Solid Progression Project team tackled the daunting Darran Mountains in Fiordland, and two female climbers, Pat Deavoll and Lydia Bradey attempted the first ascent of Beka Brakkai Chok (mountain) in the Hunza region of the Karakoram Range in northern Pakistan.

Other SPARC Hillary Expeditions to be completed later this year are:

New Zealand Himalaya Alpine-Style Expedition
Objective: To complete ascents of technically and physically challenging routes at high altitude, in “alpine-style”.
When: August – October 2007

The New Zealand ‘Lost Tower’ Expedition
Objective: To make the first ascent of the unclimbed, unnamed Tower (Cerro Incognito until local name is established) in the Aisen Province, Chile.
When: November 2007
SPARC is the New Zealand government agency charged with promoting, encouraging and supporting sport and physical recreation in New Zealand.

ENDS

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