Four British trekkers have achieved the fastest ever recorded on-foot crossing of Greenland by human or animal.
George Wells, Patrick Woodhead, Andrew Gerber and Tom Avery – collectively known as 67°N – are a team of renowned polar explorers who travelled a total of 610kms in kites at temperatures that plummeted to as low as -25C.
It took team 67°N just nine days, 19 hours and 40 minutes to complete the hazardous crossing, which was a full eight days quicker than Brits Patrick Peters and Matt Spenceley in 2008.
The snow kiteboarders began their journey in the Inuit village of Isitoq and finished it in the ex-military town of Kangerlussuaq. They covered most the distance on skis, but when the wind was high enough, they enjoyed the assistance of their kites.
Avery admitted that they were black and blue, weather-beaten, dehydrated and frost-nipped – but that it was all worth it. He described the conditions as tough but pointed out that the hard ground made it so tough and their knees and sleds took “a real pounding”.
He went on to say that they knew their target was ambitious, and they didn’t think they could achieve it, but they were absolutely delighted despite been more exhausted than they had even been.
Their final descent, down the Russell Glacier, was only manageable by foot.