25 May 2011 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. A beautiful volcanic ash free day!

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. A beautiful volcanic ash free day! My day started at 5am Copenhagen time, with little sleep the night before. At 5:30 am, I scrambled to get my stuff packed and down to the lobby. I then had to inhale my breakfast due to the European transportation being very prompt about the 6:30 am departure. At 6:31 am, they were closing the door as I approached (running!).

It was a smooth process checking in at the Copenhagen airport. We did not have to take our shoes off! After a short wait in the staging area, we were permitted to board the plane. There were no fears mentioned about the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud.

We landed in Kangerlussuaq at about 10:10am Kangerlussuaq time (4 hours later than Copenhagen). I was greeted by “Bear”, a large, very nice man, who patiently waited for my baggage to be unloaded. While I waited for my bag, I noticed a statue of Knud Rasmussen, the famous Greenlandic polar explorer and anthropologist. He was the first European to cross the Northwest Passage by dog sled in 1927. Once I picked up my baggage, we jumped in the truck and drove to Kangerlussuaq International Science Support (KISS). This is where the researchers and workers transition before going out into the field.

After checking in and eating lunch, I walked over to the supply warehouse to pick up my arctic gear. I need to load two large duffle bags with all the cold weather gear I could fit and need! I also had to put together a cold weather sleep kit. It consisted of a fleece sleeping bag liner, a -30 F sleeping bag, and a therm-a-rest sleeping pad.

Once I had all my gear taken care of, I decided to take a ride on one of the KISS bikes. I rode to a local lake that I visited last year. It was very different. It was completely frozen! I did spot a caribou crossing the large lake!

Info about Kangerlussuaq... Kangerlussuaq (Danish for Søndre Strømfjord) is a settlement in western Greenland in the Qeqqata municipality, located at the head of a fjord of the same name. It is Greenland's main air transport hub, being the site of Greenland's largest commercial airport. Kangerlussuaq is the Greenlandic word for 'Big FjordA deep U-shaped valley formed by glacial erosion, which is filled with seawater as the glacier retreats.'. Kangerlussuaq was also known as Bluie West Eight and Sondrestrom Air Base during its time as an American military base. The Kangerlussuaq area is also home to Greenland's most diverse land-based wildlife (such as muskoxen, caribou and gyrfalcons). The combination of these two factors has made Kangerlussuaq a significant tourist center for most of the year. The settlement's economy and population of 556 is now almost completely reliant on the airport and tourist industry.

FYI – The Steffen research team is still stranded at Swiss Camp. They are to arrive back in Kangerlussuaq tomorrow and hopefully the following day I will be heading out into the field with them. Until then…