Dispatches & Blogs

Sun-baked deep snow can transform a simple travel day into a "glob fest." With recent snowfall and rising temperatures, breaking trail has become a grueling test of endurance. AC/DC unexpectedly found themselves as the headliners of this sticky situation. "Glob fest" describes a snow condition where the surface turns into a clumping, adhesive mass. As skis move across the surface, friction melts the top layer, causing the snow structure to quickly morph into a sticky mess. Th

The sun and warmth are in full effect for AC/DC. With the sun shining down, the team covered 11 miles and gaine another 500 feet of elevation. Everyone felt good despite the heat, and the day marked a milestone: the first full day on skis after passing the icefall. Nights have been surprisingly comfortable, with no wind and temperatures mild enough to enjoy dinner outside. Crossing the icefall is a significant step toward the team's goals within this larger journey. It marked

AC/DC started the day with crampons on moving through rugged rubble and ending it gliding on skis through sticky, warm snow. Covering 8.7 miles, the day tested their endurance, adaptability, as they enjoyed moving through changing terrain. The transition from hard, uneven ground to soft, wet snow created a unique rhythm for the day. The morning started early, moving around 5:30 a.m. the team took advantage of the colder morning temperatures. Moving to an earlier schedule all

Facing a day where the weather and terrain push every limit tests not only physical strength but also mental resolve. AC/DC found themelves trudging through heavy, wet, falling snow that soaks their gear, while low visibility clouds the route forward. Low visibility in snowy conditions creates a unique challenge. When the world shrinks to a few feet ahead, every step demands attention. The icefall terrain adds complexity with its uneven, slippery surfaces. The team must rely

The first full day on the trail featured light winds, sunny skies, and temperatures below freezing. At the start of the expedition, the team is climbing through the icefall, moving through a frozen landscape of deep, frozen creek-like gullies and ridges. These conditions present the initial obstacles the team will encounter. Fully loaded sleds, firm, icy conditions, and the elevation gain are some of the challenges the team will navigate in the coming days. They covered 4 mil

AC/DC has begun their adventure east. Following last night's drop-off, the team set up their initial camp close to the drop-off site. The journey to the drop-off point, known as Point 660, offers a breathtaking drive from the expansive fjord that defines Kangerlussuaq into the remote and rugged moraine hillsides encircling the fjord. Upon reaching Point 660, the team unloads the sleds and equipment, ensuring nothing is forgotten. The next road lies 350 miles to the east!

The Greenland Crossing Team with their Sledge Flags Woohoo! We're off to the Greenland Ice Sheet tomorrow evening! This is CP by the way. And this is likely the last time I'll be writing a blog update, because I'll be on trail :) Before I get into our day, I should mention our official team name (there might be a copyright issue...). We are AC/DC! Annie CP Denis Creasy (Michael) We had a great day of prep and organization. The last of our cargo arrived first thing this mornin

Greenland Crossing under an awesome Sun Dog We are SO excited to be in the final preparation stages for our upcoming Greenland Icecap Crossing. Bags are packed, gear has been weighed, food has been selected and then pared-down. We will be posting updates every few days as well as sharing dispatches on social media. Check back on April 29th for our first dispatch!

After a good day of skiing the team is back in Longyearbyen. They skied through Bolterdalen from last night's campsite which is a broad valley with mountains on either side. Along the way they passed dogsled tracks and, towards the end, a couple of dogsled kennels. Finally they skied to the road and had a transfer back to town. Ah, the comforts of being back in town. It is a great feeling to take a hot shower and have a good meal prepared for you. No need to melt snow for wat

Today was a challenging but good day for our team in Svalbard. The weather was clear and calm and the terrain was beautiful. They departed Reindalen and headed up a valley and then over a mountain pass. The ascent included traversing several side slopes, which, depending on the slope and on your sled, can sometimes cause the sled to roll. While this is not dangerous it is a serious pain in the butt. It requires you to stop, back up, roll your sled over, and then start skiing

Camping in Reindalen Another great day for the team as they descended the Kokbreen Glacier and skied into the Reindalssletta. This is a wide valley more commonly known as Reindalen, or Reindeer Valley. And yes, we usually see a lot of reindeer there! It was great fun coming down the Kokbreen Glacier. At one point they crossed a snow bridge over a crevasse, which was exciting. They skied around 11 miles before making camp and settling down for some delicious cheese quesadillas

Descending the Rugaasfonna Snowfield and Kokbreen Glacier Yesterday the team traveled up the Dronbreen Glacier. They ascended around 1800 ft / 550m to reach a mountain pass and then descended a little before making camp. Traveling on a glacier often requires being in a rope team to protect the skiers from crevasses. This is exciting, but it also requires a lot of communication and plenty of attention to the rope. It involves a whole new set of skills that, once learned, allo

Another good day of skiing, though at times it was into a head wind. Everyone did a good job and everyone is getting used to the rhythm and the systems of sled hauling. The team has made their way to the base of Dronbreen Glacier which they hope to ascend tomorrow. Along the way they saw reindeer and a few rock ptarmigan, which are the only terrestrial bird that live in Svalbard throughout the year. The weather was warmer today but still cold enough to not get hot while skii

Today our team in Svalbard had their first day of skiing and they did a great job. After spending yesterday learning a variety of skills and systems, today they all got put to good use. The team started skiing in the late morning and put in almost 9 miles before setting up camp. The first night of camping is always exciting. It’s good to know that you can sleep warm and comfortably in the cold. It’s also good to put your first shift of polar bear watch behind you! The condit

Today the team dogsledded back to Qaanaaq. It was a beautiful day - cold and clear and calm. In the morning, Tobias spotted and shot a seal. Some of the dog teams hung back to be a part of the hunt. They all reconvened at a small hunters cabin near town and rode the final hours to town together. It was bittersweet seeing Qaanaaq get bigger as they got closer. Now they are all back at their host Regines house and getting showers before dinner. Everyone is feeling good! Their

After a good night’s rest the team had a casual morning. They walked around the small town of Siorapaluk and visited the small local grocery store. Then they suited up and dogsledded to the end of the fjord where they were able to get up close and personal with a glacier. The glacier was close to the sea edge and it was a unique perspective on glaciers. We are often standing or skiing across glaciers, or if we are on a boat we are some distance away. To be right up against

Dogsledding to Siorapaluk The team had a warm and wonderful night last night in Qeqertarssuaq. They had a leisurely morning, which allows the sun to rise high in the sky, before they departed across the fjord towards Siorapaluk. Siorapaluk is the northernmost inhabited settlement in Greenland, with a population of around 50. Along the way they weaved their way through massive icebergs that were frozen into the fast ice of the fjord. Eventually they saw a seal sun bathing and

Polar bear pants are doing their job by keeping everyone warm! The team dogsledded across Inglefield Fjord to an abandoned community on Herbert Island called Qeqertarssuaq. The town was abandoned around 1990 and most people moved to Qaanaaq. It was the home of Regine, our team's host in Qaanaaq. She arrived there after her family was displaced from their home near the current Thule air base. In "ghost" communities you can often find homes that still have pictures on the walls

Scanning the horizon for wildlife Today the team headed towards the edge of the sea ice which is rich with marine wildlife and an ideal place for the mushers to hunt. Qaanaaq, and much of Greenland, is rooted in traditional subsistence hunting. Hunting seals, narwhal, polar bear, walrus and whales is an important part of the culture. With the recent cold temperatures the sea ice edge had refrozen so they changed plans and looked for seal holes. Seal hunting involves being sti

En route to Svalbard! We are super excited to explore the awesome backcountry of Svalbard with our Svalbard Ski Expedition team. They are traveling from around the world to meet up with us in Longyearbyen, Norway, a small town in the Svalbard archipelago which is at 78 degrees North! Svalbard is one of the best sled hauling destinations on the planet, and we can't wait to teach them the necessary sled hauling skills and systems, and then go share it with them! Check back in