The mountainous Liverpool Land peninsula extends from Uunartoq in the south to Kap Gladstone in the north. The outer coastline of Liverpool Land is usually free of ice during summer. However ocean waves and swell must always be considered if the pack ice off the coast is thin and does not form a natural shelter. During spring and summer the bird life along this coast is varied and abundant. The waters are calm in the fjords, with alternating indented coastlines, vertical glaciers and alpine cliffs. In winter and spring the conditions for dog sledding along the outer coast and in the fjords are generally good. The dog sled route from the village meanders through valleys and over glaciers, across land and down into Lille Fjord all the way to the outer coast. Along Liverpool Land’s outer coast there are a few simple hunters’ huts, which we are allowed to use during our dog sled journeys. The route back is most often through Hurry Fjord which offers a complete change of scenery and good views of Jameson Land. Seals can frequently be spotted in April and May as they relax on the ice. It is not unusual to see a polar bear. With the arrival of migrating birds, the local people rejoice that spring is in the air. Old and young celebrate the arrival of the sun and long daylight hours by going camping and hunting on the edge of the sea ice, or engaging in other healthy outdoor activities.
Day 1.
Arrival at Constable Point airport (CNP). Shortly after, the helicopter will leave from CNP to Ittoqqortoormiit. A representative of the guesthouse will meet you at the helipad and escort you to the guesthouse. After settling in, all participants meet at the conference hall. There you will be equipped with suits for the sled journey, including boots, sleeping bags and sleeping mattresses. We will go over the route on the map and talk about the routines of the journey. You will also have the opportunity to buy last-minute gear, like chemical hand warmers, knives, head lamps, etc
Day 2.
You will be picked up at the guesthouse in the morning and escorted to the sleds where the guides await us. Any luggage you do not want to bring on the trip can be stored at our office. The sleds will be prepared, and the dogs will take their place before them, anxious to get started. Every day the trip will start a bit dramatically, since the dogs are very impatient in the mornings – especially on this first day of the journey. We will start out on the fjord ice and head for Kap Hope, which is one of the two deserted villages in the area. At Kap Hope we will make a short stopover, giving you time to take a look at the village. Afterwards, we continue on the ice and turn into the mouth of Hurry Fjord. From there it is a nice, flat stretch to our first destination of the day. We will stop for lunch at Dom Brava. There is a small cabin that can give us shelter if it is windy. We will travel close to land, hoping to see ptarmigan and arctic hare. In May, chances of spotting seals on the ice are good. We will camp in the hut “Gåsereden” (“The Goose Nest”) and prepare a meal made of Greenlandic supplies.
Day 3.
Today we will experience one of the most beautiful parts of Liverpool Land. The stretch from the “Goose Nest” to the outer coast, via “Kalkdalen”, goes through a scenic landscape. In the valley we will pass two lakes and a hanging glacier. The valley gets narrower towards the outer coast, and the mountains surround us higher. The sledding has some interesting moments, when the musher must control the dogs and the guest must hang on tight – don’t worry, it is good fun! We will be able to observe how the shape of the mountains is changing – from the plateau inland mountains to the pointed alpine mountains at the outer coast. On the sea ice in Horsens Fjord we will stop at a hole in the ice, created by warm streams under the sea surface. This place attracts birds and other wildlife, and is a good place for a break. We will camp in tents outside a hut at Kap Greg and spend the night in this extraordinary area.
