Tagged With "Greenland"
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Re: Greenland from six miles high!
I agree it's a spectacular sight not to be missed and that there's more to Greenland that just the ice sheet. 2014 will see me on my 7th month-long visit in the last 9 years. I will again hike alone from Sisimiut on the west coast to a location north east of Kangerlussuaq (something like 110 - 120 miles) and then join colleagues doing wild goose research. By all means aim to set foot on the ground there and enjoy camping in the remote arctic landscape - being alone out there is a unique...
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Re: Greenland from six miles high!
Originally Posted by DrFumblefinger: The world's climate has a history of change. Ice ages have come and gone. Who knows what tomorrow's weather will be, much less next century's? But I do know the folks in Greenland would appreciate a little warming there. As I look out at the snow in my backyard today, Canada could use a little, too. If you look at the rate of retreat of Sermeq kujalleq, 2012's big thaw and recent GRACE satellite data analysis on mass loss, I think warming is the last...
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Re: Greenland from six miles high!
Exactly the sort of thing that I am talking about on this other thread Please Don't Shut the Shade ! The view out the window beats the movie, every time.
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Re: Greenland from six miles high!
Thank you for your comment, voyager. I shut the shade if it's clouded over, but I still peak form time to time. I shut the shade when we're over the ocean or if it's dark outside. But if the flight is over a scenic place, I like to study the geography and try to figure out where I am. It's interesting, often beautiful, and I enjoy it.
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Re: Greenland from six miles high!
Dark is not the end of the show. I have seen streaking meteors flash in view. There have been times when I could see a part of the Milky Way or had a view of the Big Dipper. Over the ocean, I have seen flotillas of fishing boats off of places like Newfoundland. Even at night, you can see the lights of the boats bobbing. Once, I even saw a pod of whales in the channel off of Molokai. I peek every chance that I get. You never know what you will see.
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Re: Greenland from six miles high!
The Vikings were the first to live in Greenland - they described it as a "Green and pleasant land - with pastures and animals" Maybe when we get some serious Global Warming we'll all go back with our Cameras and the latest Frommers' Guide .... Greenland - Land of the Surfers and the 24 Hour Sun
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Re: Greenland from six miles high!
The world's climate has a history of change. Ice ages have come and gone. Who knows what tomorrow's weather will be, much less next century's? But I do know the folks in Greenland would appreciate a little warming there. As I look out at the snow in my backyard today, Canada could use a little, too.
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Re: Viewing the Northern Lights: Tips and Techniques
Thanks. Some wonderful advice given. Love to see some more pix if you have some. And maybe some idea of exposure and time used to get your best pix. Interesting blog.
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Re: Viewing the Northern Lights: Tips and Techniques
Me, too! Spent 9 days in Iceland a few years ago waiting for the clouds to clear, and I realize that if they had, I had very little idea of how best to photograph them!
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Re: Viewing the Northern Lights: Tips and Techniques
I wished 'd known this on my first adventure to see the Northern Lights in Norway, suffice to say those photos weren't great at all. Fantastic tips to keep in mind when I do venture to see them again.
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Re: Viewing the Northern Lights: Tips and Techniques
Having grown up in Canada, I recall some spectacular displays of the Northern Lights, especially when I was young. What always impresses me is how they seem alive. I need to head to Northern Canada sometime in the next few years to see if I can get some photos of the lights. Great piece! Great photos! Thanks for all the advice.
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Re: Viewing the Northern Lights: Tips and Techniques
excellent post and pics...thanks for the photography tips too, especially with a subject like the Northern Lights
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Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
In July 2006 I gave in to curiosity and realized my ambition to visit West Greenland. I returned 6 times in the next 8 years! I knew that about 10% of the world’s freshwater was sitting on Greenland with the capacity to raise...
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Visiting Western Greenland. Part II – Western Greenland on Foot!
Part I covered three Greenlandic towns I have visited but my real passion is being out in West Greenland’s wilderness. So this part is about what it has to offer those willing to get out there on foot and under canvas! I...
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Viewing the Northern Lights: Tips and Techniques
When you see the Northern Lights for the first time, they seem unreal. Almost magical, maybe even scary to some. The Aurora Borealis is one of the most spectacular natural phenomena you can observe and well worth a journey to the northern parts of the...
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Record ice melts and temperatures worry Greenland
Danish scientists are worried: Greenland's seasonal ice melt is happening sooner and more is melting, along with record high temperatures.
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Greenland from six miles high!
One of the advantages of the polar route between Europe and western North America is that on the westbound flight you generally travel during daylight. The route takes you over southern Greenland and on a good day the view out your window...
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Viking ship follows trail of Leif Eriksson
On a quest to follow the route of Leif Eriksson to North America, the world's largest modern Viking ship sets sail this week.
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
Thank you so much! I've been curious since flying over it on a clear summer day on a trans-Atlantic flight, and the more so since reading an Icelandic mystery set in part in Greenland. The realization that even to Icelanders, it remains, relatively, terra incognita made it seem even more fascinating.
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
Thanks. Indeed, there's a lot of people movement between Denmark and Greenland. There are flights from Iceland though I've never used them. I've never been conscious of much of an Icelandic presence at all in the West, wouldn't know about the East coast. With thousands of photos to choose from, this article gives only the briefest of impressions. )
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
Thank you ! I've been wanting to go to Greenland for years and now I know I have to make it happen someday! I can't wait to see part II.
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
A fascinating view of a rarely visited place! Thanks so much for sharing your love of Greenland with all of us. I've a few questions about basic tourist infrastructure. While I suspect you spend most of your time in the backcountry, what level of services are available in these towns? I'm specifically wondering about sleeping accomodations, food options (you mentioned that Chinese restaurant, which sounds intriguing), and relative prices. In my experiences, remote places like this are quite...
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
Thanks. Nice photos. In 30 years, I have never met anyone else that has been there. I have been to deserts in the Middle East and Africa and to jungles in the south but Greenland is really the most remote place I have ever been. Would love to go back. Tom
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
Dr Fumblefinger : Happy to answer questions. Kangerlussuaq is fairly basic by comparison to what we're used to though I love the town and feel at home there now! It's a converted US airbase basically! (Can't browse to my photos from Insert/Edit Image button above?) Accommodation : airport hotel (good standard), campsite (very basic), private accommodation hire options exist though I've not used them in this town - as I'm also part of a wild goose research team, I can stay at the science...
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
Excellent article and pictures! The arctic regions are on my wish list and this has certainly inspired me
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
Thanks for that. I also loved Svalbard but there's so much more of the arctic I would like to see too. Originally Posted by IslandMan: Excellent article and pictures! The arctic regions are on my wish list and this has certainly inspired me
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part II – Western Greenland on Foot!
It's an amazing story, Huw, with beautiful photographs that really made me feel part of your travel experience. I love your sense of adventure. Thanks for sharing this special place with all of us! Are there any polar bears in Greenland? And if so, what precautions would a hiker take. One last question. How heavy was your backpack when you started this journey. The weight of food alone must have been substantial.
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part II – Western Greenland on Foot!
Thanks for the detailed info, Huw. I find it interesting and helpful. One last question. Do you use trekking poles when you hike/backpack?
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part II – Western Greenland on Foot!
Hi, yes I do. Very handy for crossing rivers with a big pack and they certainly take a bit of a load off your legs. I find I quickly get into my rhythm and can then keep my steady pace going. I would definitely recommend them. One unusual use for them last year was to fend off a deranged arctic fox that came into 'goose camp' 8 times and was trying to bite team members. I have video to edit and stills to post yet! Looks a little comical as it was little bigger than a domestic cat but serious...
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part II – Western Greenland on Foot!
I have no concrete plans (yet), but may be interested to hike the ACT with some off-trail extensions here and there. Do you think it is worth-while to take a packraft? There's of course the extra weight to consider, but on the other hand a packraft opens additional possibilities and adds excitement. Do you have any suggestions about areas off the trail that are particularly nice or interesting? Thanks.
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part II – Western Greenland on Foot!
Hi. Thanks for posting important information. By the way could i ask some questions? I'm planning to trek ACT in early may or early june though i am little worried about getting lost red paint to easily find the way to. Is it visible at this time. Second, about snow. At this season is it dangerous to walk ACT due to snow? how about the lake for canoeing if the lake is already iced, it means only have to walk. In this case how many hours or days more needed and is it possible in early june??
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part II – Western Greenland on Foot!
Hi. Got your enquiry. Busy tonight but will reply in the next day or two. )
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Re: Visiting Western Greenland. Part II – Western Greenland on Foot!
Hey Minho Park, if you're going to ask questions and people take the time and trouble to give you the benefit of their advice and experience, especially when it's not easy to get detailed advice based on lots of on the ground experience about somewhere like this, the least you can do is return to read it. It's been a week now so I have removed it.
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Re: Record ice melts and temperatures worry Greenland
How it's changed in a thousand years - since the first Vikings settled there. They wrote letters back to Denmark calling it a "Green Land" with pastures and crops and cows. And as the Ice melts at the North Pole - the South Pole records ice levels as being "Higher than ever recorded". Such is Mother Nature. Always changing her mind.