Glacier travel and technical equipment
GFN's inventory includes harnesses, climbing helmets, ice axes, crampons, technical ice tools, mountaineering boots, steel-toe work boots, gaiters, and low-angle traction for individual and team assignments.
Field Systems & Operations
How GFN helps clients prepare for an expedition and carry out the work in the field
Clients bring GFN in at different points. Some need help working out the route, access, equipment, and local support before they go. Others need GFN to prepare specific systems or take responsibility for technical work in the field. GFN begins by discussing the job and agreeing exactly what it will handle.
Before departure, this can mean checking access and transport, speaking to local providers, and working through communication, power, first-aid, and equipment needs. GFN can also prepare glacier and rope systems, technical equipment, and the cameras and recording equipment needed to document the work.
When GFN joins the field team, it carries out the agreed technical work and adjusts the plan with the team when weather, terrain, transport, or timing changes. After the assignment, GFN checks its equipment and hands over any records, photographs, or video included in the work.
This work is based on several years of professional guiding with Icelandic Mountain Guides and Arctic Adventures, Icelandic search-and-rescue work, Arctic expedition planning, glacier and rope systems, and remote recovery operations.
Read the founder background
Equipment Inventory
GFN's field equipment inventory
GFN's inventory includes field equipment that can be rented as part of a deployment. Equipment rental is scoped and priced for each assignment. Before departure, GFN agrees with the client which items are needed, checks them against the rest of the team's equipment, and packs them for the route and conditions. The list below summarizes the equipment available across GFN's inventory.
Ropes and rigging
Dynamic and static rope systems for glacier travel, hauling, fixed lines, lowering, and rescue, supported by carabiners, pulleys, progress-capture devices, ascenders, belay and descent devices, slings, prusik loops, accessory cord, and V-thread tools.
Snow and ice anchors
A range of anchors for ice, firm snow, soft snow, and camp use, including mixed-length ice screws, snow pickets, large and compact snow flukes, and wide-profile snow stakes.
Snow assessment and field tools
Tools and equipment for snow assessment, excavation, repair, and extended field stays, including avalanche probes, shovels, knee pads, sleeping systems, fire-starting equipment, whistles, multitools, repair supplies, and field water storage.
First aid and shelter
First-aid and shelter equipment for injury management and protection from cold while evacuation is arranged, including field first-aid kits, tourniquets, pressure bandages, compressed gauze, mouldable splints, insulated rescue jackets, field tents, group survival shelters, insulated casualty mats, hand warmers, and weather-resistant dry bags for organizing first-aid supplies.
Cold-weather protection
Clothing and personal protection for movement, technical work, and long periods outside, including waterproof shells, soft-shell and insulated layers, wool base layers, face and head protection, safety glasses, glacier sunglasses, ski goggles, down mittens, guide gloves, rope-work gloves, and waterproof work gloves.
Transport and weatherproof packing
Transport and internal packing for moving, organizing, and protecting GFN's equipment, including large expedition duffels, mountaineering packs, bag trackers, and a range of weatherproof, roll-top, compression, and windowed dry bags.
Communication, power, and light
Satellite messaging, backup power, lighting, and charging for GFN's field responsibilities, using a satellite communicator, a high-capacity power bank, a GPS watch, a headlamp, charging cables, and power adapters.
Photography, video, and audio
Aerial, handheld, and interview equipment for field documentation, including drones, action cameras, tripods, recording media, lavalier and shotgun microphones, multitrack audio recorders, compact lights, and the batteries, controllers, and charging equipment needed to use them.
Data and planning equipment
Laptops, high-capacity external storage, digital notebooks, and connection accessories for reviewing and backing up field material, updating plans, maintaining project records, and preparing reports.
Equipment checks
Each item is inspected, assigned to a bag, and checked against the equipment list before departure. Batteries, consumables, expiry dates, and compatibility are checked at the same time.
Swiss Camp Decommissioning / Greenland / 2026
Removing a research station from the Greenland Ice Sheet
GFN participated in the Swiss Camp decommissioning operation in a glacier and field leadership capacity, supporting preparation, technical equipment, communications, documentation, and work on the ice.
The operation used helicopter sling loads to remove material from a remote, crevassed site. GFN prepared and maintained the glacier travel, self-rescue, first-aid, communications, field power, weatherproof packing, and documentation equipment assigned to its role.
The wider operation removed approximately 80% of the material remaining at Swiss Camp, with thousands of kilograms moved from the ice by helicopter. GFN also maintained equipment records and documented the work through photography, video, and interviews.
Contact
Tell GFN about the expedition
Send the location, dates, team size, work to be done, and any equipment or field-support questions already identified.