Wallruspoint - Arctic expedition
by Jonas Norregaard | @jonasoutside
On assignment with Northeast Greenland Company NANOK and the National Museum of Denmark
September, 2019 I took part in an expedition to one of the world’s most remote regions.
A group of three Danes, Henrik, Torben and me. All with a long history of travel and living in these high arctic parts of the world, was send by the National museum of Greenland to restore a historical cabin build by Danish fur trappers in 1919.
Our destination was Dove Bay located on the North East coast of Greenland. Far away from any hamlets or civilization. This area of Greenland is a national park and a world heritage area. The national park is huge and reaches the same distance as from northern Norway to the southern part of Italy. The only people allowed to enter this pristine area, is scientific expeditions and the Danish army’s dogsledge patrols.
Our expedition was supported with logistics by the Royal Danish Arctic Command.
For almost a month we lived and worked in this small trappers station named after the small gravel point on the coast below the cabin where Walruses used to live. The Wallrus Point.
Since the National Park of North East Greenland was formed no hunting has been allowed. And the peace and quiet has med it one of the most important polarbear breeding areas.
During our stay we had numerous close polar bear encounters. But no one ended up I dangerous situations, we managed to scare all bears away with no harmfull tools.
We brought all food supplys by plane from Denmark, but it was a very nice and welcoming and on the the freeze-dried diet when we managed to catch arctic chars in the nearby river.
The Wallrus Point is packed with stories of great endavour, heroism, survival and andurance beyond what any modern man would ever experience today.
The young trappers in the early 20’s travelled up here In a search for adventure and fortune, trapping white and blue foxes. Arctic fox hides where highly valued among the European upper-class people in those days.
We experienced the high-arctic autumn from its beginning, to the first snowstorms in the end of September. Putting gear and garments to the test. I felt lucky to live in a time with clever thought membranes and brilliant designed liners and pants kept me warm and dry when s… hit the fan. Which it did!
The young adventurous trappers that risked their lives back when The Walrus point was build, only had simple woolen garments coats of fur, but a strong will to survive and live on the land. Most made it for the year or two they, where stationed here for… And some did not. Their remains still lay up there.
We managed to do all the restorations despite snowstorms and numerous polar bear encounters, in time before our pickup. Now the cabin will stand for another 100 year. If renegade polar bears and storms will let it.
A memorable month, in an extreme remote but yet stunning and beautiful part of the world only a few get to see.
The expedition was supported by Sitka Gear. A I highly appreciated help. THANKS!
You supplied the gear of my year.
Jonas Norregaard | @jonasoutside
