** ICECAP MOUNTAINEERING **

PAUL STERN LAND AND SAVEN RANGES
Ski touring and mountaineering on the edge of Greenland icecap
Ski exploration and First ascents of unclimbed peaks

Paul Stern Land lies on the edge of the Greenland icecap at a latitude of N70'30 and to the west of Milne Land and the inner fjords of Scoresbysund, the largest fjord system in the world. The region encompasses three separate mountain ranges in the vicinity of the vast Vestfjord and Rolige Glaciers which poor down from the inland ice. The central Paul Stern Land range was climbed for the first time by a Tangent group in 2008, which provided a great reconnaissance opportunity for the more compact "Snehorn" region to the south. Known as "The Devil's Hand" the area explored in 2008 offered some wonderful ski touring and climbing opportunities as can be seen by the accompanying photos on these pages. Between these two ranges lies the imposing mountain of "The Ark", well named due to it's dominant position in the middle of the huge Doede Gletcsher and ice stream, which it forcibly splits with it's Ark like shape and presence. The Snehorn region contains a wealth of fine mountain peaks at various levels of difficulty with easy access from the Doede glacier. To the north of The Devil's Hand can be found the Saven ranges, a fine chain of largely easy summits lining the northern edge of the Rolige Glestcher, close to it's source on the edge of the icecap. A few outlying nuntatak summits pierce the inland icecap to complete the picture and this whole group of remote ranges and massifs rise to 2600m and stretch approximately 60km north to south, by 40km east to west. Situated on the edge of the Greenland icecap these peaks offer superb views of both the inland ice and out towards the east coast and the ice packed inner fjords of Scoresbysund. To our knowledge there has been no mountaineering or ski touring exploration or mountaineering activity whatsoever within the ranges we intend to explore.

Aerial reconnaissance photos have identified many good peaks of all grades that will allow several expeditions to maximize the opportunities within this region. The area is extremely remote and difficult to get to and requires the private charter of our Twin Otter ski plane. In order to allow groups to explore this region we are linking together the logistics of two Tangent expeditions with that of a private group to make it cost effective for all. The private expedition will be heading further north to Hinks Land whilst we focus our expeditions on Paul Stern Land and the Saven ranges. Our initial reconnaissance flight and expedition of 2008 showed numerous fine peaks.

All peaks climbed will be first ascents.                                                       We will also attempt the First ascent of "The Ark" c.2500m