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The importance of navigation during the 2023 Greenland Expedition

During the 2023 Greenland Expedition, navigation is an essential part of successfully navigating the route. In this blog post, we’ll take you through the art of navigating Greenland and explain how we get from A to B during the expedition. We discuss the difference between orienting and navigating, the tools we use and the challenges we face. Read on to learn more about this fascinating aspect of the expedition.

The difference between orienting and navigating

Before we delve deeper into navigating Greenland, it is important to understand the difference between orienteering and navigation. Orienting refers to determining your current location, while navigating means determining where you want to go. This became clear when the author asked his son and he replied, “With orienting you determine where you are and with navigating you determine where you want to go.”

Preparation at home in Utrecht

The process of navigating begins at home in Utrecht, where the author lives. He studies numerous accounts of previous expeditions and uses a software program called Basecamp to plan routes. These routes are then transferred to a GPS device to be taken to Greenland. In this way, the author can follow a line on his GPS to follow the route. In addition to GPS, he also uses Google Earth to view photos of the landscape and searches for satellite images. Although these images are often outdated, they can still provide useful information about the terrain.

The challenges of navigating Greenland

Navigating Greenland presents some unique challenges. First, there are few landmarks on the island because most of it is covered in snow and ice. In the Netherlands, for example, people can navigate by walking to a church or tree, but in Greenland these points are rare. In addition, it is difficult to see depth because everything is the same color. This makes it difficult to recognize glacier crevasses and navigate around them.

Navigation techniques in Greenland

Despite these challenges, there are several techniques the author uses to navigate Greenland. First, the compass is used to determine the correct direction. Here the declination, the deviation between magnetic north and true north, must be taken into account. In addition, the sun and shadows are used to determine direction. Since the expedition goes from east to west, while walking, the sun is on the left and the shade is on the right. By keeping an eye on the angle between the shadow and the skis, the author can maintain his direction.

Another technique used is the use of wind. In Greenland, catabatic winds, caused by gravity, are common. These winds continuously flow in the same direction from central Greenland to the sea. By keeping an eye on the wind direction and attaching a faant to the ski pole, the author can maintain his direction.

In addition, the author uses his own trail to check that he is walking straight. If the track makes a turn, it can adjust its direction using the compass. This way he can navigate fairly easily and keep walking straight.

Conclusion

Navigation is a crucial part of the 2023 Greenland Expedition. Determining the right route and navigating through Greenland’s challenging landscape requires careful planning and use of various techniques. Although landmarks are scarce and depth is difficult to see, the compass, the sun, shadows and wind can help maintain direction. With these navigation techniques, the expedition can successfully get from A to B and overcome the challenges of the Greenlandic landscape.

Enjoy your day and should you wish to learn more about navigation yourself, attend one of the navigation workshops in Utrecht. Whether you are a beginner or already experienced, navigation is a skill that is accessible to everyone.