Highlights and keywords from the Greenland 2004 expedition
Gunnbjørn Fjeld (3694m) – the highest peak on Greenland
In May 2004, Petter Bjørstad, Torstein Skage, Ståle Arild Grimen, Per Ove Oppedal, Jan-Frode Myklebust and I went to the Watkins Mountains on Greenland. This 2-week expedition had two goals; to claim the first ski descent from Greenland’s 3 highest peaks – Gunnbjørn Fjeld (3694m), Dome (3683m) and Cone (3669m), in addition to get as many first ascents as we can. Most of the peaks in the Gunnbjørn Fjeld area had been climbed, but on the 2nd week, we moved to a mountain region where none of the peaks had been climbed before.
Extensive trip reports from this expedition are found here and here, but in short – we were the first to ski down Gunnbjørn Fjeld and Dome. This achievement was recorded in the Alpine Journal. Another team (from Tromsø, Norway) got the first ski descent of Cone. We also got 9 first ascents, 2 second ascents and 7 other peaks – incl. the 3 highest.
It was a fantastic adventure. I am sharing a small set of pictures that represent some of the amazing moments we had during these two weeks.
The below pictures are the copyright of Arnt Flatmo (me), Per Ove Oppedal, Ståle Arild Grimen and Petter Bjørstad.
Pre-expedition training
Logistics (Iceland)
The adventure is ON!
Safe landing
Our primary goal (Gunnbjørn Fjeld)
1st campsite
Campsite view (1/2)
Campsite view (2/2)
On top of Greenland (me)
Torstein and Per Ove did the 1st ski-descent of Gunnbjørn Fjeld
Gunnbjørn Fjeld summit view (1/2)
Gunnbjørn Fjeld summit view (2/2)
Me – towards basecamp
Celebration
Room mates (Torstein and me)
Dramatic terrain
Greenland = distances
Towards Dome
Dome summit ridge
On Greenland’s 2nd highest peak
The snow was just … wow!
Cooking – a significant part of the expedition
ABC (Advanced bascamp) below Dome and Cone
Steep (Torstein and Per Ove climbing Peak Bergen)
Torstein and Per Ove
A skier’s paradise
How about that view when skiing?
Just 1 bad weather day. One!
Moving on to another area
Candyland. None of these peaks have been climbed
Me on Ebeth’s south peak
Christine Fjeld – our first peak without snow
As wild as it gets…
Before Facebook…
Istind (Ice peak) – the hardest of the peaks climbed
Steep ascent to Istind
Skorsteinseggi – only climbed by me. And perhaps even by 2016?
