A breathtaking encounter with the Store Glacier in Western Greenland left us in awe of nature's raw power. As part of a documentary crew, I witnessed a colossal block of ice, the size of a truck, narrowly missing our helicopter. This experience underscored the sheer force of the Store Glacier, one of the world's fastest-moving glaciers, capable of advancing up to 20 meters per day.
In 2016, I joined Director Adam Chapman as the aerial film crew, aiming to capture a dramatic calving event where enormous ice chunks break off from the glacier. However, our plans were disrupted when our helicopter was stranded in Kangerlussuaq due to bad weather, hundreds of kilometers away from our intended location.
Despite the setback, we persevered, spending nearly two weeks at the airport, playing cards, and sipping tea. Thankfully, no major calving events occurred during our unexpected delay. As we finally took off, the sheer scale of the Store Glacier became apparent. Stretching over 11 kilometers in length and towering 100 meters high, it resembled a scene from Game of Thrones. The glacier's 'foot' extends some 400 meters below the surface, and during calving events, it can break free and surge to the surface, unleashing chaos.
The glacier's constant groans and cracks kept us on edge, and the Midnight Sun's unique lighting conditions added to the surreal atmosphere. We joked that the calving would likely happen on our last day, but it didn't materialize until the afternoon of the final day. As we played Top Trumps, the glacier's 'nose' shifted, signaling an impending calving.
With adrenaline pumping, we sprang into action. The ground crew sprinted to their cameras, while Adam and I headed straight into the heart of the event. The first shot I wanted was from above, looking down the face of the glacier. As we positioned the helicopter, the edge collapsed, sending a tidal wave of water and ice our way. The experience was surreal, like witnessing a monster from the deep.
The second shot was from the face onto the wall, and the ice responded perfectly. However, the resulting plume of water and truck-sized ice chunks soared beyond the ice wall, forcing our pilot to make evasive maneuvers to avoid being bombarded by the ice. It was a wake-up call, reminding us of the glacier's immense power.
As we dodged between icebergs, rolling in mist and snow, the calving event unfolded before our eyes. It was a mesmerizing spectacle, akin to witnessing the birth of a new world. Later, we realized our luck in surviving such an event, a stark reminder of nature's unpredictability and power.
This encounter also taught us the value of language, as the French Canadian pilot, overwhelmed by the situation, learned a plethora of swear words in just 20 minutes. It was a memorable and educational experience, leaving us with a profound appreciation for the forces of nature.
