CONTENTS
Map key
Overview map
INTRODUCTION
Geology
The ice cap
Wildlife
Plants and flowers
History
Culture
Travelling to Greenland
When to go
Accommodation
Toilets
Health and safety
Food, drink and fuel
Language
Money
Communications
Trekking in Greenland
River crossings
What to take
Waymarking and access
Maps
Emergencies
All change on the trail
Using this guide
The Arctic Circle Trail
Kangerlussuaq
Preamble – ascent of Sugar Loaf
Optional Extension – ice cap to Kangerlussuaq
Day 1 Kangerlussuaq to Hundesø
Day 2 Hundesø to Katiffik
Day 3 Katiffik to Canoe Centre
Day 4 Canoe Centre to Ikkattooq
Day 5 Ikkattooq to Eqalugaarniarfik
Day 6 Eqalugaarniarfik to Innajuattoq
Day 7 Innajuattoq to Nerumaq
Day 8 Nerumaq to Kangerluarsuk Tulleq
Day 9 Kangerluarsuk Tulleq to Sisimiut
Sisimiut
Post-amble – Ascent of Nasaasaaq
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Language notes and glossary
Appendix C Useful contacts
Maps
Three ‘Hiking Maps’ at a scale of 1:100,000 cover the Arctic Circle Trail, published by Greenland Tourism, with cartography by the Scottish company Harvey Map Services. The contour interval is 25m (82ft), which is enough to hide several significant ups and downs. The maps are waterproof, and the reverse is printed with additional useful information. Despite the limitations of scale the maps are excellent, and extracts are used throughout this guide; the route has been highlighted and extra route information added to correspond with the trail description in this guide.
Note the huge magnetic declination in this region before attempting to navigate with a map and compass. Read and understand the notes printed on the maps. Note the provision of blue grid lines indicating the direction of the magnetic north pole. Take sample bearings as early as possible to ensure you understand the system and are confident with its operation – before you find yourself in mist!
Purchase the required map sheets, ‘Kangerlussuaq’, ‘Pingu’ and ‘Sisimiut’, in advance of travel, although they are on sale in Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut. The maps are available from Harvey Map Services, 12–22 Main Street, Doune, FK16 6BJ, tel 01786 841202, www.harveymaps.co.uk; Stanfords, 7 Mercer Walk, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9FA, tel 020 7836 1321, www.stanfords.co.uk; The Map Shop, 15 High Street, Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire, WR8 0HJ, tel 01684 593146, www.themapshop.co.uk; and Cordee www.cordee.co.uk.
The ‘Hiking Maps’ are also available in digital form for use on an electronic device. First download the ‘Avenza Maps’ app, then go to the ‘Store’ and find Greenland on the map. The three maps between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut can be downloaded for a payment, roughly half the price of the printed maps. Using the app, it is possible to enlarge the mapping considerably on the screen, for easier viewing. GPX tracks for each stage of the trail can be downloaded from the Cicerone website.
Several ‘Saga Maps’ are available, with a selection of them covering the whole of Greenland at various scales, www.sagamaps.com. A series of 18 maps at a scale of 1:250,000 cover almost the whole western side of the country between the ice cap and the sea. Four more cover small parts of East Greenland. Sheet number 8, ‘Sisimiut Kangerlussuaq’, covers the area traversed by the Arctic Circle Trail. While it is a useful map in terms of offering an overview of the landscape on a single sheet, the map is not recommended for trekking, and the course of the Arctic Circle Trail is not shown.
Arctic Sun Maps produce a ‘Kangerlussuaq–Sisimiut’ sheet at a scale of 1:250,000, showing the Arctic Circle Trail. There is also a ‘Kangerlussuaq’ map at a scale of 1:50,000. See www.arcticsunmaps.weebly.com or look out for them once in Greenland.
While Google Street View claims to cover the Arctic Circle Trail, this isn’t strictly true. The route displayed is the one used by snowmobiles travelling in winter between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut. Snowmobiles rarely follow the trodden path, and naturally they scoot across frozen lakes instead of following rugged shoreline paths. By all means check Street View, but it doesn’t look anything like the Arctic Circle Trail in summer.