Now we have the time to explain to you, what logistic efforts are behind an expedition and why we decided to cancel the expedition by dogsled as it was planned originally.
The preparations for the expedition took more than 2 years. There was the choice and test of the equipment as well as a 14 days stay in Greenland last year to order the dogsled and to care about suitable dogs, to set up depots here in Constable Pynt and so on.
For such an expedition you count with approx. 1 Kg of food, fuel etc. per person and day. The dogs need, depending on weather conditions (that means quite 'normal' weather, no powder snow) at least 500 gr. per day. If the weather gets bad, the dogs need rises up to 700-800 gr. per day for good performance.
The dogsled has a weight of approx. 120 Kg. Our equipment (without food), that means the dogs harnesses, tents, private things, sleepin bags, alpine equipment etc. approx. 120 Kg.
My camera equipment approx. 40 kg
Now you can calculate:
The first leg from Constable Pynt to the glacier was planned for 8 days, 4 days of that period especially to climb the Steward Glacier. Up there, the next depot should be set up.
Ralf took with 60 Kg of food for the dogs for 8 days. Peter had 32 Kg of food and fuel for us.

dogsled	120Kg
food	32Kg
dog food	60Kg
equipment	120Kg
camera equipment	40Kg
total	372Kg

This was the weight we started with. Peters plan was, that in normal weather conditions, we would have reached the foot of the glacier with a quite lightweight sled (the dogs and us would have eaten most of the food on the way). After climbing the glacier (2000 m of altitude), we planned to take food from a depot for the next leg (12 days).
What happened: it took us 4 days to reach the cabins at Cap Brewster - we would have had 2 days for the boulder-field, that means 1 day to get up there (impossible!!!) and we didn't know how to get down on the other side (although it's said: you will get down always!?). And: we wouldn't have been yet at the ascendency to the glacier, between that are still 50 Km to go. Those who calculate a bit will see, that the decision, not to take the risk, was the only reasonable. (who can say, that weather conditions on the glacier would have been better?) And there we had no chance to get out by helicopter.
An alternative concerning food could have been, to get it, before mounting the glacier, but we didn't know, at what time the helicopter could fly again. (Peter and Michael said: "We can't take a joke, if it relates to feeding"). And crossing crevasses with a loaded sled is quite dangerous.
Before we started, Peter said to me, reffering to my camera equipment, "every kilogram counts" - now I know, that he was right.
"Every expedition is risky - but on the edge of practicability and unreasonableness, you should not loose your actual destination - to come back healthy and without major loss (including the dogs)"
quotation: Peter Hüttel

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If you have any corrections concerning
the English, please mail it to me!