White-out Adventures and Challenges in Greenland

Day 17 of the Expedition in Greenland

It’s Saturday, August 30, day 17 of our expedition in Greenland. After a rest day, during which Wouter surprised us with a wonderful story about basecamp management, we’re back in full action. The past few days have been intense, so an extra hour of sleep on Friday was more than welcome.

A Unique Experience in the White-Out

On Friday, we started at six in the morning, but visibility was zero. We found ourselves in the middle of a white-out; everything around us was white. After two shifts, however, a moment of clarity broke through. The sun emerged, creating a halo with two rainbows, a rare natural phenomenon that only occurs in Arctic conditions. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long, and soon we were back in the white-out. Navigating was challenging without wind, causing us to meander like a river through the snow. It felt like walking through a carton of milk or being inside a ping pong ball. The distance between the front and back of our group could reach up to 100 meters, making the whole experience surreal.

The Challenges of Strong Winds

Saturday began with hopes for better weather, but those hopes quickly faded. At six in the morning, it was cloudy again with snow and white-out conditions, this time accompanied by strong winds from the south. After a few shifts, we decided to set up the tents according to storm procedure, as the wind has free rein in Greenland and the weather can change rapidly. During such a white-out, there’s little else to do but think. My thoughts drifted to food: Chinese, Indonesian, Middle Eastern, Turkish pizza, and apple pie all crossed my mind. Although we eat well during the expedition and I only drink one cup of coffee a day, food remains a recurring theme in my thoughts.

Practical Matters: Sanitary Facilities

A question I’m often asked is how we handle sanitary facilities during the expedition. The answer is simple: we have to do our business too. For men, urinating is easy: unzip and go. For women, like Susana, it means squatting. A pee funnel is discouraged due to the risk of accidents. In strong winds, it’s advisable for everyone to kneel to prevent urine from being picked up by the wind. For number two, the same applies: squat and then cover with snow for aesthetics and hygiene around the camp. Toilet paper and wipes are taken back to Kangerlussuaq for proper waste disposal. That’s it for this blog post full of images and scents from our expedition. Tomorrow we’ll discuss another topic, but one just as colorful and fragrant as today. See you tomorrow!