Dogsled Northwest Greenland with Polar Inuit Mushers, Spring 2008
Sun March 30 – Sat April 12, 2008, from Ottawa, Canada, return
14 days: 9 days dogsled travel & camping, 2 nights Ottawa, 3 nights in Inuit villages.

Wintergreen pioneered this extraordinary trek in 2001 and we’ve been back many times. What a hit! Outside Magazine has ranked this experience among the "Top 25 Adventures of a Lifetime,” National Geographic documented it with their film “Ice Riders” and Smithsonian Magazine featured our trip in a cover story. We just can't get enough of this great experience -- the cultural intrigue and stunning scenery of Greenland keep luring us back. Other projects have kept us away the past few seasons so we’re rarin’ to return.

The Polar Inuit, the world's most northern and most traditional arctic culture, occupy an isolated 400-mile expanse of northwestern Greenlandic coastline that is framed by the Melville Bay ice cliffs to the south and the massive Humbolt Glacier near 80°N. On our past trips, we've enjoyed various destinations -- the Polar Eskimo have shared more and more corners of their northern realm with us as our friendship with them has grown! Depending upon snow and ice conditions, this year's trek may take us either northward towards Inglefield Land (which features the area's greatest concentration of caribou and musk oxen as well as polar bear, seals, arctic fox and seabirds), eastwards to the remote settlement of Kangerlusuak, or southwards along spectacular cliff-lined coasts towards the historic outpost of Cape York. 

This trip features spectacular coastal scenery, round-the-clock daylight (with generally moderate temps -- teens & 20s) and the most traditional experience with Inuit people that can be found anywhere in today's Arctic. It’s also the easiest arctic trip we offer an is suitable for persons of all ages and fitness (no skiing skills required!) You'll be teamed up with a Polar Inuit guide and travel by dogsled (Inuit-style 'fan' hitch) on a camping journey along sea cliffs & glaciers, through mountain passes and arctic tundra. You’ll also visit Siorapaluk, the world's northernmost community, as well as Qaanaaq, northern Greenland's supply post and Iqaluit, the capitol of Arctic Canada. And you’ll be traveling with the Eskimo descendants of North Pole explorers Robert Peary and Matthew Henson who discovered the North Pole. Plus this trip requires no special fitness – this is the easiest Arctic trip we’ve ever offered since each participant is riding on their own sled. If you want to fully experience the true cultural “top of the world,” this trip has it all! To view Smithsonian Magazine photos of our 2001 trip: http://www.laynekennedy.com and click onto “Recent Works.” For more photos of our Greenland trips, visit our website photo gallery at www.wintergreen.smugmug.com. 

Trip Itinerary

Sunday evening, March 30: Trip orientation meeting in Ottawa, Canada. hotel lodging

Monday, March 31: depart 9 am on 3-hr First Air jet flight to Iqaluit on Baffin Island, capitol of Canada’s new Inuit territory of Nunavut; tour the community, hotel lodging

Tuesday, April 1: 6 a.m. departure (weather permitting) on Air Nunavut Super King turboprop charter for 3.5 flight across the high arctic including Ellesmere Island and the Kennedy Channel to reach Qaanaaq, Greenland, world's northernmost municipality (with fuel stop on Clyde River enroute), stay at Qaanaaq Inn, village tour, trading post and Arctic museum visit, welcoming dinner and orientation meeting with our Polar Inuit mushers

Wednesday, April 2 – Thursday, April 10: travel by dogteam and camp along the fiords and coastline of northwestern Greenland, visiting historic sites and settlements along the way, camping in tents or coastal huts, viewing wildlife and stunning arctic scenery, observing our Polar Eskimo companions hunting & fishing, enjoying great cross-cultural group camaraderie each evening over camp dinner in our group dining tent.

Thursday, April 10: arrive back in Qaanaaq late afternoon, celebration dinner and lodging at Qaanaaq Inn

Friday, April 11: Air Nunavut return flight to Iqaluit, Canada, arriving midday, First Air flight to Ottawa arriving 4:50 pm, group night on the town and hotel lodging

Saturday, April 12: wrap-up breakfast and head for home!

Price: $US11,500* includes everything, starting and ending in Ottawa, CA: sched flight to/from Iqaluit and charter flight to/from Greenland, all meals in Greenland, all lodging in Canada & Greenland, Wintergreen guides, Inuit mushers, dogteams, camping gear, sleeping bags, loaner anoraks and boots. Price also includes an optional training trip: All registrants are welcome -- at no additional charge -- to participate on a dogsled trip at Wintergreen Lodge to become familiar with the logistics of dogsled camping and travel. (*price based upon current 2007 flight quotes. Any fuel surcharges added in 2008 may be additional.) Please note that most of the trip fee will stay in the Arctic – it’s passed along to the Inuit mushers, charter planes and Arctic service providers who make a trip of this magnitude possible. This is eco-tourism at its best since it contributes substantially to the sustainability of these Arctic communities and cultures, and features traditional Arctic skills.

Gear: All camping gear and sleeping bags will be provided. You just need to bring appropriate personal clothing. Loaner anoraks & pack boots available at no charge.

Guides: Paul Schurke and 1 or more additional Wintergreen staff. Each participant will be paired up with a Polar Inuit musher and dogteam upon arrival in Greenland, with whom you'll be traveling companions throughout the trip.

Group Size: 6 – 9 plus Wintergreen guides and 1 Inuit musher for each participant

To secure a reservation: A $1,000 deposit is due upon registration (refundable till Oct 1) with balance due in full by January 2008.