Darren Davis goes to Greenland

Darren Davis goes to Greenland

Pioneering First Winter Ascent Expedition to The Watkins Mountains, Greenland

GREENLAND is the largest (non-continent) island in the world but only a small part of the country is ice-free and suitable for permanent habitation. The ice-free part of the country which is inhabited is made up of an Arctic mountainous landscape. The inland ice covers about 85 per cent of the total land area.

Itinerary

During February extending into March 2010, the team will meet in Reykjavik, Iceland on the expedition start date before taking an internal flight to Isafjørdur in NW Iceland the next morning. We will meet up here with our advance shipment of expedition goods and fly the same day over the ice filled Denmark Straits direct to Gunnbjørnsfjeld base camp in east Greenland. The final part of the flight offers superb views of thousands of unclimbed summits stretching as far as the eye can see. An amazing sight as the anticipation and excitement builds in preparation for the glacier landing. Base camp will be situated at the aircraft landing site at the foot of the access glacier leading up to Dome and Cone, altitude 2300m.
As a pioneering expedition we could experience any extremes of weather including long periods of strong winds, heavy snowfalls or remorseless cold temperatures.

Aims

The aim of this expedition is to make the FIRST EVER WINTER ascent of Cone (Qaqqaq Johnson) and Dome (Qaqqaq Kersham), the Arctic's second and third highest mountains in the Watkins Mountain range in Greenland at over 12,000ft each. This major expedition will complete a significant piece of Arctic mountaineering history. The Watkins Mountains are without doubt the most impressive range of arctic summits, peaks, cliffs and massifs in Greenland. If time and conditions allow, there could be an opportunity to make a second winter ascent of Gunnbjørnsfjeld before being collected by a Twin Otter ski plane. Gunnbjørnsfjeld is the highest summit in the Arctic and is often referred to as the "8th summit" in the world. In April 2004 there was an attempt on the first winter ascent of Gunnbjørnsfjeld but was retreated at 3400m due to temperatures in the -40°, strong winds and extreme wind chill on the summit ridge. This has since been successfully completed in 2006, but has still remained a challenge for the very few that have dared to attempt to climb the highest peaks in the arctic. As you can understand, this expedition can hold many challenges, so safety is the utmost priority.

Introduction

My name is Darren Davis; I am 41 years old, and am employed as a Physical Education Instructor at HMP Lowdham Grange, Nottingham. I will be joining a pioneering Expedition to the Watkins Mountains, Greenland. The interior of Greenland by its very nature can be an expensive place to go. Travel and safety logistics are extremely complex. As part of this event I will be supported by Serco – HMP Lowdham Grange, HMP Dovegate, and Clothing Specialist Furtech - Furtechnology, EDZ Performance Clothing and BBC Radio Nottingham. As part of this expedition, it is also my intention to raise much-needed funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, Breast Cancer Care and Rainbow Hospice. As you may know Macmillan Cancer aims to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. They provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support, and campaign for improved cancer care. Breast Cancer Care is for anyone affected by breast cancer and is there to offer support and information when you need it. Regrettably cancer affects us all. Rainbows aim is to meet all the needs of children and their families -physical, emotional, social and spiritual. Care is provided by a team of specialists from a wide range of professional disciplines who work closely with each other and with others involved in supporting the family.
Together we can help.

Previously, I have been supported by Serco Group plc, in aid of charities and funding. One of my expeditions was to travel across the Arctic Finn mark Plateau in Norway in February 2006, led by Polar Explorer Mike Thornewill, which proved to be very successful.

My previous challenges includes half / full marathons, triathlon, duathlon, mountain endurance races, climbing British mountains, trekking in Nepal and walking long distance walks in Britain including my latest success in June 2009, the Pennine Way, a 268 mile trek from Edale, Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland. 

My most recent expedition was joining the first guided expedition to the northern mountain ranges of Liverpool Land, Greenland in April 2007. This included successfully climbing thirteen first ascent peaks. I was sponsored by Furtech Clothing and supported by BBC Radio Nottingham. All the events were used to raise much-needed funds for various charities including leukaemia sufferers, Cancer Research, Macmillan Cancer Support, SCOPE – spinal injuries, Testicular Cancer Support, Alzheimer’s Society and Mountain Rescue Teams.

If you would like to donate to any of the charities mentioned please go to the Just Giving links, use this sponsorship form or contact me on Darren.davis@serco.com

Macmillan Cancer Support
Breast Cancer Care
Rainbow Hospice

Please dig deep and donate now.

Thanks and Regards

Darren Davis