Our Shelter: The Hilleberg Keron 4 GT

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Our shelter: the Hilleberg Keron 4 GT

Arctic Adventure is back with a new blog update on the 2023 Greenland Expedition. In this post, I would like to discuss our shelter, which is the Hilleberg Keron 4 GT. This tent is our rock, our castle, our home during the expedition. Those in the know know exactly what I am talking about. Just as car enthusiasts can talk enthusiastically about an Audi RSQ8, tent connoisseurs know that the Hilleberg Keron 4 GT is a great tent.

Dome tent or tunnel tent?

When choosing a tent, it is important to think about what you will use it for. There are two models to choose from: a dome tent or a tunnel tent. Both have their advantages. For example, a dome tent is wind resistant and does not matter which direction the wind comes from. A tunnel tent, on the other hand, is more spacious. For the expedition to Greenland, we have chosen a tunnel tent because we will have to deal with katabatic winds. This wind comes from the top of the ice sheet and does not turn quickly. This allows us to set up the tent firmly with the back in the wind.

The Hilleberg Keron 4 GT

Our tunnel tent is the Hilleberg Keron 4 GT. The “GT” in the name stands for “big tent.” In fact, this tent has a vestibule attached to the tent. The vestibule acts as an extra awning where we can take off our shoes and brush snow off our hats before entering the inner tent. For winter camping, we also have a three-person tent that we use with two people. In total, we carry three tents for five people.

Tent modifications

Of course, I couldn’t resist making some adjustments to the tent. Instead of the normal pegs you get with the tent, we used snow pegs. Designed specifically for use in snow, these are 30 centimeters long and 4 centimeters wide. We also brought bamboo poles to use as pegs. These sticks are cut at 80 centimeters, rounded at the ends and painted red for better visibility.

Transporting the tent

When we clean up the tent, we roll it up with half the tent poles still in it. Then we bend the tent poles and roll the tent up against the wind. The tent goes into a large tent bag and is transported on our sled to the next encampment. There we secure a guy line in the snow to anchor the tent. With at least two people, we set up the tent, anchor it with the pegs and tension the tent. We also make a wall of snow by cutting snow blocks and put them on the windward side, where the wind comes from. This ensures a better night’s sleep in high winds. In addition, we make a 30-centimeter pit in the awning so that we can sit comfortably and easily remove our coats and shoes.

Minor adjustments and maintenance

I made some minor adjustments to the tent, such as replacing the first guy line with a blue guy line for easy recognition. We also carry a sewing kit for any repairs and a spare section for a tent pole. It is important to store your tent thoroughly dry, remove dirt and make any repairs before you go on an expedition.

Conclusion

The Hilleberg Keron 4 GT is the perfect tent for our Greenland Expedition. With proper modifications and careful maintenance, we are ready to brave the elements. The tent stands firmly, provides ample space and withstands the strong winds of Greenland. We are looking forward to setting up our castle and enjoying the beautiful nature during our expedition. Still have questions? Feel free to ask them in the comments!