Welcome to Tangent Expeditions!
The World's leading operator of mountaineering and ski expeditions to Arctic Greenland!
The Only 'comprehensive' website guide to mountaineering and ski-touring expeditions to Arctic Greenland.
20 years of research, planning, guiding and expertise; unrivalled experience, focus & attention to detail.
Gunnbjørns Fjeld 3693m & Watkins Mountains
Gunnbjørns Fjeld is the highest mountain in the Arctic and is situated in the Watkins mountains of east Greenland. Gunnbjørns Fjeld was first referred to by the old Norse sailing expeditions as Hvitserk and then first seen in modern times by Gino Watkins on 1st September during the 1930 British Arctic Air Route Expedition. The first ground sighting was made in 1934 by Martin Lindsay's British expedition before receiving it's first ascent on 16th August 1935 by Wager and Courtaulds' Anglo-Danish party.
In March 2006 we made the first ever successful winter ascent of Gunnbjørns Fjeld. In March 2010 we will be returning again to attempt the first winter ascents of Cone and Dome; a superb opportunity to make true Arctic mountaineering history! The Watkins Mountains - The ultimate ski mountaineering venue in Greenland!     Until Summer 1988 there had been just two further ascents by Alistair Allen's 1971 Anglo-Danish party and Stan Woolley's 1987 expedition. There then followed a succession of four more ascents during July 1988 as a result of the first ever ski landings of the Twin Otter aircraft in this area. Since then there has been a fairly small but consistent number of between one and three expeditions climbing the mountain each year. At the turn of the Millennium the total number of ascents is believed to be just twenty eight. The Watkins Mountains also contain all ten highest mountains in the Arctic which can all be ascended by largely non-technical climbs via their easiest routes. These and other unclimbed peaks in the area also offer a range of difficulties including technical snow and ice routes. The Watkins Mountains are unsuitable for mixed climbing due to the poor basalt rock.
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