The equation for a pair of Gold Coast adventurers attempting to break the record for a crossing of Greenland is simple - stick together or die.
Geoff Wilson, 46, and son-in-law Simon Goodburn, 27, depart for the frozen island on Sunday aiming to complete a 2700km journey from south to north in under 42 days.
Mr Wilson, who completed the fastest solo crossing of Antarctica in 2014, says there will be little margin for error as the pair use kites to pull them across the huge ice sheet that covers most of Greenland.
"If we get separated on the plateau then we've only got one tent between us so someone is going to die," Mr Wilson told AAP.
"It's absolutely paramount we stay within a close distance and within each other's threshold of endurance.
"It's just a matter of trying to push as hard as you can but not exhaust your partner. That's probably a dynamic we'll have to work out over the first couple of weeks."
As well as extreme cold with average lows of around -30 degrees Celsius during their journey, the duo will also have to avoid hungry polar bears and hidden crevasses.
The success of the adventure will also rely on favourable weather, especially as the pair have to climb from their start point to the ice plateau some 2000m above sea level.
"The storms that come off the Arctic Ocean at the south of Greenland are pretty ferocious this time of year," Mr Wilson said.
"We'll wait until we can see a three or four day window and get helicoptered in to our start point."
Both men have spent 16 weeks training, including dragging tyres across local beaches and camps in sub-zero temperatures in New Zealand and Norway.
As well as aiming to become the first Australians to complete the south to north crossing of Greenland and break the record, the pair have set a goal of raising $100,000 for breast cancer charity the Jane McGrath Foundation.
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