Expedition Loap Solo 2006

česká verze Crossing of the largest European glacier Vatnajökull - solo and unsupported

ROUTE OF THE CROSSING OF VATNAJÖKULL GLACIER

The starting point will be area called Laki, where a large basaltic fissure eruption occurred in 1783. It is also the last place accessible by a vehicle. To get on the glacier is another 15 - 20 km though. Considering the weight of the whole equipment, I will be forced to carry everything gradually in my backpack on my back. Starting on the glacier will not be easy either. It is one of the ice flows sourced from the ice cap Vatnajökull itself. Owing to its location (Vatnajökull lies 1200 m above sea level) the surface is interrupted by a number of crevasses. Weight of the sled and possible white outs will make the ascent even more difficult. In these conditions you cannot tell if you go up or down, not to mention recognizing the danger of a crevasse. I will have to cover approximately 200 km over the ice plateau before reaching its other side. I consider this part of my journey most challenging. Perhaps not so much due to existing crevasses, distance or other dangers but mainly for the feeling of isolation/solitude. It will sure have an impact on my psychical state. In contrast, this opportunity to try how I deal with those conditions and how it influences my personality, this is exactly what I'm most excited about.

I should descend the glacier along its other tongue – glacier Lambatungujökull. As well as during the ascent, danger of falling into a crevasse will exist here too. I will certainly be relieved when this section of app. 20 km will be behind me! Approach toward 30 km far settlement Stafafell, the closest civilization, should be a walk in paradise, although I will probably have to do this section twice. Despite the fact that most of food supplies will be eaten by then, the total weight of my equipment will be still more than I am able to carry on my back in one shot.

The whole crossing will be solo and without any support indeed! So whatever I pack into my sled in Czech republic that will be all I will have during the traverse. Of course, that includes the food and fuel for cooking. Any delay resulted from either slow going or nasty weather will be a serious problem.

DETAILS ABOUT THE EXPEDTION

Duration of the expedition: The expediton will last 36 days - 8 days for the trasport to the starting point and then from the settlement Stafafell back to Czech. 21 days will take the traverse itself. I still have 7 extra days in case the weather turns bad and it's not safe for me to ski.
Distance: The traverse is approximately 200 km long, from starting point - crater Laki to settlement Stafafell. However, due to the sections where I will have to make a couple of trips back and forth carrying the whole equipment in my backpack, the distance will increase to almost 300 km.
Elevation gain: There is 1140 m difference between crater Laki and Grimsvotn - the highest point of the traverse. I will be descending from Grimsvotnu all the way to settlement Stafafell located almost at sea level.
Temperature: 5°C to -10°C
Dangers and risks: crevasses, hypothermia, physical and psychological exhaustion.

WHY VATNAJÖKULL AND SOLO EXPEDITION?

I remember my first dream was a solo expedition to South Pole. From today’s point of view, it was very naïve. Expedition of that kind, not only costs millions of Czech crowns but also requires a huge amount of experience, not to mention physical and mental readiness. Obtaining more and more information about polar expeditions, it became obvious to me that I have to start with something more realistic. My first ideas were Greenland crossing or traverse of Vatnajökull. I decided for Vatnajökull glacier in Iceland. It is much smaller in size than the glacier in Greenland and also more easily accessible. There is also no danger of a polar bear encounter.

And why solo? The main reason is that I consider it the purest and fairest way of „fight”. If you want to experience the maximum, there is simply no other way.

GLACIER VATNAJÖKULL

Iceland’s Vatnajökull is the largest ice cap in Europe and the third largest in the world. This huge mass of ice and snow is almost 200 km in length and 100 km in width, of average thickness 400 m. This 8100 km² of ice wasteland has very similar climate conditions to Arctic regions.
Believed to have been caused by volcanic activity and global warming the Vatnajokull glacier has been shrinking for some time now. In some places face of the glacier receded a few km.
James Watts and his Icelandic guide Paul Paulisson made the very first crossing of the Vatnajökull glacier in 1875. In 2002, Paolo Mantovani, an Italian mountain guide, became the first person to traverse the glacier in witner.

MORE TO EXPLORE

TRAVERSE MAP

Check out the interactive map of my route across the Vatnajökull glacier.

The Macromedia Flash Player is required to view the map.

This expedition is not about setting a record or about being first in something. It is much more important for me to give an example that inside, we have strength and abilities to reach our goals. I would like to show that with our own will, our goals can be achieved, even though it may seem almost impossible at the beginning.