#8 – Last Full Day – A Precarious Hike

After an early breakfast, we met at the dock, boarded the zodiac boat and crossed over to Narsarsaug where we were met by drivers who took us far past the airport and dropped us off in a narrow valley. From there we continued for several miles where the valley widen and a river flowed through. The entire area there was surrounded by mountains, more or less in a box canyon (as we discovered later, a huge glacier blocked a way through that canyon, that glacier being the destination of our trek on this day). Another group further ahead of us were seen climbing up the far slope of a mountain. Their, and our objective was to hike above and to the glacier higher up in the mountains. 

Before proceeding however, we had some snacks and fueled up for the trek ahead. Not all of our group joined in, and that may have been a wise decision on their parts.

It was soon obvious as we climbed, that this was not a trail for the faint hearted. I have hiked countless trails and this was not a developed trail with safety in mind. It had been drizzling and much of the trail was quite slippery and muddy. This made for some treacherous moments as people were grabbing for vegetation to hang on to or pull themselves up. I had my one hiking pole which offered me more stability as I struggled upwards. Fortunately we all made it to the top, and then proceeded on a more level surface to our destination a short distance away.

Hiking above a small lake on a very narrow path we then came through an opening to see a Immense glacier spread out below and before us. This glacier is a mere outer arm of the extensive icecap that extends far behind it covering most of Greenland.

From this vantage point we marveled at this huge ice mass. It would be interesting to return in several years to see how much this and the other glaciers have shrunk as the Earth’s temperature continues to rise. Here and now though, it was a sight to behold. Another of Roberto’s photos gives an  awesome perspective of the enormity of this glacier by which he framed himself against the glacier in the background. 

After the perilous hike up, I was heated up from the exertion. But as we enjoyed our last “picnic” on the rocks above the glacier the wind kicked up bringing with it an unwelcome chill. Zipping up my jacket, pulling my neck gator up and snugging up the hoody, I was anxious to get moving and return down the mountain. In time we all fell in line and began an equally treacherous trek down. Enduring many slippery and muddy episodes down, we then walked the last several miles back to awaiting vehicles which delivered us to the zodiac boat and thus back across the fjord to the Lief Erikson hostel.

This was the last night in Greenland – or so I thought.