TWO intrepid adventurers will harness the power of the wind as they snowkite 1,000 miles across Greenland's ice cap.

Celebrated Staveley climber Leo Houlding, 35, is no stranger to the world's largest island, having made the first ascent of the Mirror Wall's north-west face last year.

Next week an exciting new challenge beckons as he returns to Greenland, this time with Kendal's Bruce Corrie, 51, one of the UK's most experienced snowkiters.

After months of intricate planning and research, the pair say they are ready to embark on their first long-distance snowkite expedition.

"My big passion in life is snowkiting," said full-time dad Bruce, a former accountant. "I was hooked 28 years ago and this is a fantastic opportunity to fulfil that passion. We've got a great plan, we've got great equipment and we've hopefully got the appropriate skills."

On Friday, May 6, Bruce and Leo will be helicoptered onto Greenland's ice cap - the world's second-largest after Antarctica - to start their epic journey. Propelled by the wind and lightweight nylon kites, they will glide across snowy wastes at speeds up to 50mph on World Cup giant slalom skis and customised £1,000 boots.

"For snowkiting the wind is extremely critical," said Leo, who is married to Bruce's cousin, Jess. "You really need a reliable wind and wind direction, and Greenland has katabatic winds - cold, dense air falling from the high point on the ice cap down towards the coast - and it's very constant because it's always colder higher up."

Each will haul a plastic sled, or pulk, laden with 135kg kit - satellite phone, spare tents, skis and kites; insulating down suits; snow shovels, ice axes, ropes; and liquid-fuel stoves for melting snow to rehydrate their freeze-dried porridge, tomato soup and chicken curry.

In 24-hour daylight and temperatures of -20C or below, they plan to snowkite for eight to nine hours each day, covering around 60 miles, as they travel from Kangerlussuaq in the south to Qaanaaq, one of the most northerly towns on Earth.

The pair have gleaned expertise from Norwegian snowkiters who have already made the journey, and are grateful to suppliers Head UK, Berghaus and Ozone.

The challenge could take anything from 16 to 26 days, depending on factors such as rock-hard 'sastrugi' ridges in the ice, wind gusts and thinner-than-usual sea ice.

"I've not done anything like this before and neither has Bruce so that adds a layer of a little bit of anxiety because it's something new," said Leo. "I'm ready to be sailing on the wind, on the ice. There's been a lot of preparation and talk, and it's time for some action."

- The pair's live blog will be updated every 10 minutes at community.berghaus.com