Greenland Expedition: Wind, Teamwork, and Tent Challenges

Day 13 of the Expedition: a Windy Challenge in Greenland

Today is Tuesday, August 26, 2025, and we are on day 13 of our expedition in Greenland. This morning, we set off at precisely three minutes past five. The powder snow we encountered yesterday had mostly been blown away by the strong wind. Although the snow’s speed had decreased, the strong wind didn’t make it any easier. We faced the wind at an angle, which we describe as “wind from two o’clock.” This means the wind was coming from the front right, and we navigated using wind vanes on our ski poles.

Teamwork and Navigation

Today, we followed the same strategy as yesterday: walk for fifteen minutes and then switch. This greatly enhanced team spirit and teamwork. Despite differences in walking speed within the team, we collectively covered 24 kilometers. A highlight of the day was reaching the highest point of our expedition, at an altitude of 2,497 meters above sea level. Although there may be debate about which sea level exactly, this was an important milestone for us.

Practicing Tent Setup in the Wind

The strong wind also provided us with an excellent opportunity to practice setting up tents under challenging conditions. We learned to anchor tents securely by attaching guy lines to the sled and working carefully with snow stakes. We practiced this process with both our large kitchen tent and smaller solo tents.

Daily Routine and Preparations for Tomorrow

After setting up the tents, three team members focused on gathering fuel, while Susana and I concentrated on cooking. Cooking here mainly involves melting snow to obtain water. We filled ten thermos flasks and five large Nalgene bottles with hot water, so we won’t have to spend time melting snow tomorrow morning. Finally, we updated our records and recorded this blog. Tomorrow, we expect a change in wind direction, which will bring new challenges for our navigation. We’ll be up early again tomorrow to face this new day. See you later!