Last March, seven European explorers undertook a ski and pulka expedition in Hardangervidda National Park in Norway.
Their goal is to measure the ice mass of Greenland as part of a comparative study on the importance of Greenland for understanding climate change. Before their mission to Greenland, they test their equipment for six days in extreme weather conditions. This expedition requires exceptional physical and mental endurance, as they must cover a minimum of 20 km per day to complete their mission in the allotted time.
A major project: between science and polar exploration
Thomas Hitzigen, the expedition's lead scientist, intends to complete this summer a study begun more than 20 years ago. Accompanied by a young European team, composed of Sarah Heller (Austria), Thilde Hovmoller Ellemose (Denmark), Hugo Furnes (Norway), Marco Schütze and Lutz Schütze (Germany), they are preparing to set off independently to measure the ice mass of Greenland for more than a month. As Greenland is the world's second largest reservoir of fresh water, their expedition is essential for the comparative study. They will have to face extreme climatic conditions and considerable logistical challenges to accomplish their mission.
The ambition of this project, above all scientific, is great, but the will of the explorers is just as great. In the Hardangervidda National Park in March, winter is not over. The temperatures, although warm, oscillate between -20° at night and 0° during the day.
This week is a test week for the team, a decisive week for their next journey to Greenland. They must travel 20km/day to cross Greenland within the allotted time and complete Thomas Hitzigen's geodetic survey. The previous team failed in 2021 due to accumulated delay, exhaustion and a storm. It is a demanding physical and mental endurance that is required of the body and mind.
[MM-TEXT-IMAGE-1]
the weight of the pulkas. Finally, smell and taste offered them absolute comfort at every stop to eat . In this icy and hostile universe, where every step is a battle, every little break to drink water or eat a snack gives them a boost of strength and energy.
