Safety beyond the cold
Be honest about your prior experience and abilities, devise strategies against worst-case-scenarios in advance, and always carry a two-way emergency communication device
On the ACT, you are a long way from anywhere and it is VERY cold.
Well-prepared expeditioners with previous experience of extreme cold, multi-day trips will have the correct gear and the knowledge required to complete the trail without issue. However, each year, there are people who ignore the prerequisite of prior experience and overestimate their abilities. These individuals place themselves in potentially life-threatening situations and add strain to Greenland’s limited Search and Rescue resources.
The entire country relies on one primary helicopter for both land and sea rescues, supported by a relatively small crew of rescuers. Time spent rescuing ill-prepared or inadequately experienced adventurers could mean not being able to rescue a Greenlandic local who is facing a genuine and unforeseen emergency elsewhere in the country.
Please read our page on Search and Rescue in Greenland to fully understand how rescues are executed, why you must carry a two-way emergency communication device, and what resources are involved.
Aside from the usual injures, you should be aware of and have a strategy for dealing with the following:
- Weather conditions – Arctic winter weather can be unpredictable and severe, with the potential for sudden storms, whiteouts, and extreme cold snaps. Adventurers must be prepared to adapt their plans, seek or make shelter, and have enough supplies to wait out adverse conditions.
- Avalanche risk – Although the ACT is not particularly mountainous, there is always a potential for avalanches. Awareness of avalanche risk areas, the ability to recognize dangerous conditions, and knowledge of basic avalanche safety practices are important
- Wildlife encounters – While sightings of polar bears in this part of Greenland and along the ACT are very rare, you may encounter reindeer, musk ox, arctic fox, arctic hare, and ptarmigan. Although these animals typically avoid close contact with humans, you should maintain a distance of at least 100 meters. Additionally, be aware that there have been instances of attacks from foxes with rabies.