THE ROUTE
From the summer tundra and alpine plants of the shoreline to tidewater glaciers, high alpine ice-fields and the mountains of the Interior.
ARRIVING IN EAST GREENLAND
We'll meet you at the gravel airstrip and walk 30 minutes over tundra back to our lodge, with kit transferred by ATV. With an evening flight, we'll discuss plans, forecasts, and do what packing we can before dinner and a comfortable night at the lodge.
In the morning, we'll work through a kit check and group equipment, and finish packing before loading our powerful expedition motorboat and travelling north, looking out for icebergs and whales (humpback, sei, fin, minke, cachalot, orca). We set out on foot from Tasiilap Nua.
ARCTIC CHAR STREAMS AND TUNDRA
Heading inland, we’ll make a brief crossing of a dry, or bare-ice, glacier before descending onto land and the lush banks of an arctic char stream that drops to a bay and our first night’s camp. Next day, looking into the high mountains of the range, we’ll find our way through an area of moraines to gain the glacier tongue providing a gently angled ascent inland. There will be time to learn or refine crampon-, axe- and rope- use before we reach the snow line when this kit will be necessary for safe travel.
HIGH GLACIERS AND CAMPS
At the high point of our traverse, surrounded by mountains, we'll set up camp. From here, we hope to ascend a snow summit, something we've previously timed to catch the midnight sun.
THE KARALE GLACIER AND CALVING FACES
Following broad ice fields that link through to the huge east-ward flow of the Karale Glacier, we camp under the 2000m spire of Rytterknoegten. The following day, dropping below the snow line, we skirt around crevasse fields, losing height towards Sermiligaq Fjord and the ice faces of the Karale and other unnamed glaciers that break into the ocean. Reaching the shoreline, we'll aim to set up camp, high enough to be safe from calving events, but with a view of the calving face. We will continue east, following the shoreline and crossing several glacier snouts where meltwater rivers may block our way. If time allows, we aim to cross the headland that leads to Nunartivaq, a day of mountain travel with wild views.
Our boat Aqqaluk will meet us the on last morning for the journey back to Kulusuk for hot showers and lunch before packing bags and walking back to the airstrip for the evening flight out to Keflavik.
OUR LODGE
A traditional wooden cabin we have built ourselves over the years, our lodge is nestled in the tiny Inuit village of Kulusuk, home to 200 people.
A comfortable and practical base to explore East Greenland, our lodge provides cabin bedrooms, running water, hot showers, and flushing toilets, a rare thing in this cold climate. There’s a drying area for kit, a sitting room heated by a stove and a big table we all gather around each evening. Cut off by sea ice six months of the year, our stores and freezers are well supplied to provide a plentiful and varied menu. Whenever possible, we eat locally caught fish, from salmon to arctic char, cod and halibut.
WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR...
A trip for adventurous trekkers or mountaineers looking to undertake an unsupported wilderness journey through a stunningly remote glaciated region. You should be comfortable carrying a heavy pack of around 20kg over rough ground for multiple days of up to 8 - 10 hours. It means a lot to us to help the team learn or refine the glacier travel techniques that we as IFMGA mountain guides use to safely and efficiently traverse these wild regions. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your suitability for this trek, we'd love to talk over what's involved in this powerful journey.
GUIDING
We are a small & dedicated team of internationally qualified IFMGA mountain guides who are also passionate adventurers, skiers and mountaineers. As specialists, we encompass well over 20 years' experience here in East Greenland. We have great respect for this remote region, carefully managing the unique risks this environment presents. Our safety record is a result of this focus.
GETTING TO GREENLAND
To come visit us on this remote coastline, we’re best reached via Iceland, only 1 hr 40 mins away by turbo prop-plane.
Keflavik, Iceland’s international airport is a hub for North America and Europe and also the starting point for flights to our local airstrip in Kulusuk.
Seats on these Icelandair-operated flights are in short supply and book out early. Whilst we don’t organise flights ourselves, travel agent VR Travel aims to reserve tickets for all our trips and can assist with international connections. You can also book direct with Icelandair.
