Joseph Gandrieau attacks 3 mythical islands!

Joseph Gandrieau is preparing to travel the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland: 1200km by bike, more than 500km in complete autonomy by ski-pulka in the middle of winter in the Faroe Islands in Iceland and more than 2 months of walking and rowing in Greenland.
Discover in this article his project, his objectives and his preparation to complete this crossing of the 3 islands from south to north.

Who are you?

I am 29 years old, I am passionate about expeditions and outdoor activities. Professionally, I am a PE teacher and have a doctorate in STAPS.

Tell us about your "3 Islands" expedition project.

The Three Islands Expedition revolves around exploring the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland.

Two stages are building this project over the year 2024:
1/ In a first phase, I will set off by bike to reach the North of Denmark, before beginning the crossing of the Faroe Islands and Iceland in complete autonomy, traveling on foot and skis.
2/ Subsequently, I will venture to Greenland with a well-defined objective: to experience progression towards the North over a period extending from two to three months.

How did this idea come about?

For some time now, I've been wanting to embark on a bigger expedition than the last ones, even a little more isolated, a little further from everything. I held back this desire to go for a long time, but I felt like I was missing out if I didn't. So, two years ago, I decided that after my thesis, I would go, no matter what... and here I am!

Why are you embarking on this adventure? What are your goals and motivations?

Expeditions inspire me deeply; reading the stories and watching the documentaries sometimes even make me feel a touch of jealousy! The desire to find myself outdoors, to move forward, to overcome difficulties and to marvel is constant and intense. I particularly appreciate being where "there is nothing", because for me, that is where everything is and where I find myself fully.
The starting point of this expedition lies in this burning desire for adventure, in this dream of the great outdoors.
And the meeting with the Rêve association made me realize that if I had the chance to make my dreams come true, I wanted them to be able, at their level, to contribute to a greater cause. Thus, the adventure will also be marked by the sign of mutual aid, aimed at supporting the Rêve association, notably by making a documentary.

Why these 3 destinations?

I have had my eyes and heart turned towards Greenland for a number of years. This immense, wild island, seemingly beyond the reach of humankind, has always caught my attention. And one day, while browsing world maps, I realized that there were two other 'interesting' islands between Greenland and me: the Faroe Islands and Iceland. And I think that's all... that's how the project was built... out of curiosity and a desire to take on an extreme challenge!

This adventure will be done on foot or on skis, so you will have all your equipment with you. For the "hiking" part in Greenland, what are you planning to bring with you in your own bag?

For the cycling part (France / Denmark), my pulka will be transformed into a bicycle cart, carrying all my equipment needed for the expedition to the Faroe Islands and Iceland (including my skis, tent, food, and clothes)! Then, I will pull it to the first two islands.

For Greenland, the lack of snow on the west coast during the period of my expedition will make the pulka useless. My equipment will consist of a backpack containing all the necessary equipment for an adventure lasting more than two months in the wilderness: bivouac equipment, small fishing gear, video equipment for documentation, a packraft to cross the fjords, poles, and safety equipment to prevent any problems with polar bears (signal gun, alert equipment to secure the camp, such as blanks activated by a wire and a trigger in case of intrusion into the perimeter, as well as a rifle).

Why take poles?

The Guidetti poles will be valuable allies for both phases of the expedition, whether skiing on the snowy lands of Iceland or on foot on the rocks of Greenland. They will be very useful for moving forward efficiently in these varied and extreme environments.

For the ski part, I am lucky to be able to benefit from the latest Snowflex winter baskets developed by Guidetti and which will be released on the market in March 2024. This Snowflex basket clips onto the Fulltrek summer basket. This ingenious and very easy-to-use system allows for a dual material and therefore optimal flexibility on different snowy terrains.

Why choose Guidetti?

Guidetti is an excellent French brand, recognized in the outdoor world. Their principles and operating philosophy perfectly match the values ​​of the project. I am delighted to have received your approval to support this project!

Do you do any special physical training?

Yes, I have been working with a coach (Courir Mieux) for 10 months now, who is specifically preparing me for the challenges that await me on this ambitious adventure! My training is structured around training sessions six days a week. Although I have always been very active and sporty, I wanted to maximize my chances of success for this endeavor by preparing very seriously.

You can follow the various stages of the project by visiting the Instagram account @frissonsaventures. If you would like to support the expedition, please feel free to share this adventure and contribute to the fundraising campaign. Your commitment and sharing will be greatly useful!