Remote Control?

Well I guess it has been a while since the Ruskay Adventure Blog has been updated. I could make up several excuses, but the main reason is that I have simply been adventuring! I have recently landed back in Fernie, BC after a long and rewarding summer season. The quick stat being 11 trips in 15 weeks! The highlight for me by far was guiding a Sea Kayak Expedition in Greenland.

The Inuit community of Ittoqqortoormiit is located on the northeastern coast of Greenland, and marks the entrance to the largest fjord system in the world. As Ittoqqortoormiit is northern most community on the east coast, surrounded by 3000 meter mountain peaks, and has no airport, it is considered to be the most remote inhabited area in the norther hemisphere! Simply traveling here was an adventure in itself, but nothing when compared to actually getting to my expedition start point.

I landed at the Keflavik International Airport just outside of Reykjavik Iceland at 6am after a red-eye flight from Toronto. I was met by a friendly Icelandic chap, who didn't speak a lick of English. He handed me the keys to a tiny European car that was to be my transportation around Reykjavik while I prepared the last details for the journey to Greenland. Driving standard through the narrow one-way streets, with foreign signs is quite the experience... I found the Domestic Airport of Reykjavik, and hauled three weeks of groceries, and kayak equipment to the baggage check counter. It was about 300 pounds over the limit, but was checked onto the flight any way.

Flugfalag Islands is the Airline that exclusively services Greenland. The First stop on the largest island in the world, was the southern most town of Kulusuk. From there a second flight brought me to Constable Point, an abandoned aerodrome from the second world war. This being the nearest airstrip to Ittoqqortoormiit, another 50 nautical miles away. This airport consists of a truck, a garage, and a picnic table as a waiting room. Soon enough the thundering roar of a Bell 212 Helicopter fills the arctic sky, and all equipment, food, passengers, and town supplies are shuttled to Ittoqqortoormiit.

This 30 minute helicopter flight was one of the coolest experiences of my life! The Danish pilot flew between icebergs the size of cities, and over glaciers that seemed to go on forever.

And this was just the beginning.

I hope you will enjoy hearing more stories from, literally, a world away. Stay tuned, and keep seeking adventure!

About the Author

Steve Ruskay

Recreationologist

Guide, photographer, and author at large.