Heliskiing in Kangaamiut, Greenland

Live the unique experience of heliskiing in Kangaamiut, a village in the west coast of Greenland, with an IFMGA Mountain Guide.

7 Days

Apr

High

Intermediate

Description

The west coast of Greenland is a stunning destination for heliskiing, including steeps, flat glaciers and 2000-meter descents that go right down to the sea. Being in close contact with the locals also turns it into a meaningful cultural experience.

For this 7-day trip, we are going to the village of Kangaamiut, on an island off the coast of Davis strait, between two large fjords. This small village is on the south of the Artic Circle.

The easiest way to get there is via Copenhagen. We’ll take a flight from there to Kangerlussuaaq, in Greenland. Then, a short flight will take us to Maniitsoq, only 60 kilometers away from Kangaamuit. We can cover that distance either by helicopter or by boat.

Skiing in the fjords around Kangaamiut is a major adventure. It requires to be in excellent physical shape as well as being able to ski on any kind of snow conditions.

Due to our great location, we’ll be near a large number of glacial runs, that drop into the fjords behind Kangaamiut Island.

By mid-spring, days are already quite long (lasting from 18 to 20 hours). We may experience all snow conditions. However, we are mostly finding good spring corn snow in the south and powder snow when we are in the north. In addition, the risk of avalanche is lower during spring so we can enjoy and also feel safe.

I will organize groups of 4 people (plus me) for heliskiing. This way, the heli time can be spread among the group.

Finally, after an exciting week of skiing, we’ll go back to Maniitsoq, and fly the following day back to Copenhagen.

Please contact me if you want to join me in this adventure. The west coast of Greenland is waiting for you to discover its beauty!

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Luggage transfer
Helicopter drops as described

Price details

Price per person to join a group of 12 people is 13800 EUR (+service fee).
The price per person to join the group for the scheduled date (April 20th to 26th) will vary depending of the final size of the group.

Details

More info

-The helitime allowances are split on a pro rata basis between the group. As part of the package I have allocated 6 hours of helitime for each group. Additional heli hours are available at the cost of €3000/hr.

-Accommodation and food: We'll stay close to the local population and their daily routine. We'll rent houses from a few of the families, and gather together in the evening for our home cooked meal. Regina, our hostess, whips up hearty meals including local fish and meats (halibut, musk ox and reindeer all feature on the menu). She also sells wine and beer (beware Greenlandic prices!)

There is also a small supermarket in the village where you can stock up on extra snacks or drinks for your houses. However, the price includes all meals and also a picnic heliski lunch.

The houses are warm and comfortable and most have stereo, DVD player, as well as showers, drying and laundry facilities. Due to the extreme cold in the winter months and the bare granite nature of the island the toilet facilities use a bag system which is emptied and collected daily.

-Helicopters and safety: Air Greenland supplies AeroSpatiale Squirrel (aka A Star/Ecureil) AS350 B3 helicopters equipped for Arctic flying (HF radio, inflatable skids, survival bags). These are operated with four guests in the rear seat and the guide flying up front in a single seat.

Pilots have both heliski and Arctic experience.

Each machine has sat phone and GPS. Flight following is via VHF radio to the Tower in Kangerlussuaaq and Air Greenland heli-base in Nuuk. There is an emergency back up from another Squirrel operating to the south of us and if required a 19 seat Sikorsky is one and a half hours away in Nuuk.

All guides carry a sat phone.

Meeting point

Copenhagen, Denmark

About the guide

Hans

5.0

(1)

Mountain Guide

I'm a Swiss trained, American born, mountain guide living in Verbier, Switzerland. I guide my clients backcountry skiing in winter and mountaineering in the summer. Many of my clients are repeat clients with whom I have been sharing experiences together for over 20 years.

I was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii. Helping my father break horses as soon as I could walk certainly helped me acquire a taste of adventure. I left the Hawaiian islands to attend JSC in northern Vermont and discovered winter. Majoring in Urban and Environmental planning increased my desire to explore the outdoors, and with the ski slopes of northern Vermont in my back yard, the addiction to winter skiing and ice climbing and summer rock climbing set in.

I moved to Verbier, Switzerland in 1983. Some of my climbing partners were local guides and encouraged me to enter the Swiss Mountain Guide’s Training program. I began my first course in the winter of ’91 and received my UIAGM status two and a half years later.

I'm passionate about my guiding and sharing these alpine and maritime experiences with my clients. Over the years, they have become very close friends and through mutual confidence, are able to extend their reach further and further into the mountains. My approach through cognitive behavioral coaching, heightens these shared experiences and enables us to enjoy all our life experiences to their fullest.

Languages

English

Certificates

IVBV | UIAGM | IFMGA

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What people are saying about Hans

Dmitry

Thank you very much for recommending me as a guide Mr. Hans Solmssen. He is a highly qualified intelligent person. It was a real pleasure to climb with him and under his supervision.