After 38 days in the Arctic the two mountaineers and Greenland adventurers Georg Csak and Dominik Rind have successfully returned from their Arctic Summits Expedition.
The two members of the DAV Alpine Club are the first German expedition to summit the 4 highest peaks in Greenland (up to 3693 m) and are the first ever to also descend all four of the highest mountains north of the Arctic Circle on skis. Further, six first ascents in the Gronau Nunatakker and Knud Rasmussens mountain ranges add to the success of the expedition.
In order to reach Greenland’s remote mountain ranges they covered 321 km on skis across the inland ice. The expedition was fully self-supported, the two men pulled all their equipment and food supplies in pulka-sleds, each weighing in excess of 100 kg to start off with.
The most critical situation the two mountaineers found themselves in, was during their ascent of Paul Emile Victor (3609 m). While on an exposed ridge they got surprised by a sudden weather change. A raging snowstorm and total whiteout conditions forced them to dare an emergency descent of 1300 m down a steep and crevassed glacier. Without any visibility it took them 28 hours to reach the safety of their base camp.
An online diary updated throughout the expedition tells their story.
For further information and press releases of the Arctic Summits Expedition please visit www.ArcticSummits.de.

illustrated PDF-file (163kB)

German mountaineers Georg Csak and Dominik Rind will embark on their epic journey to the icy mountain ranges of East Greenland after two years of intense preparation.
Georg and Dominik aim to be the first German expedition to ascend the 4 highest peaks of Greenland, and the first ever expedition to descent on skis from all these 4 highest summits north of the Arctic Circle. Originally planned for 2007, the expedition had to be delayed last year due to an accident of Dominik.
The Arctic Summits Expedition has been planned by the two mountaineers themselves and will be excecuted alpine style and by fair means, i.e. without any logistical support from the outside. Using Pulkas (men hauled sleds) and snowkites, the two mountaineers plan to advance via the Inland Ice to secluded mountain ranges that have only ever been visited by a handful of men.
Apart from climbing the 4 highest peaks of the Arctic (up to 3693m), they also plan on doing several first ascents of as yet unnamed mountains. Starting on April 15th 2008, the Arctic Summits Expedition will keep them on permanent ice for a total of 35 days.

illustrated PDF-file (109kB)