CALEDONIAN ALPS GLACIER TRAVERSE

Traverse a lush valley before heading up into the vast glacier system of the Caledonian Alps, descending to the coast in sight of several calving glaciers.

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

Following a valley system 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 extensive moraines to gain a glacier tongue that provides a gently angled ascent inland. This will be a time to focus on crampon, axe and rope use before we reach the snow line when this kit will be necessary for safe travel.

SUMMITS AND HIGH CAMPS

At the high point of our traverse, surrounded by mountains, our plan is to set up camp on a shoulder with views extending from the fjords to the highest peaks of the region – a wild and beautiful spot.  From here, we plan 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 set up camp, high enough to be safe from calving events, but with a full view. In the morning, we continue east along the shoreline - with several calving glaciers entering the icy waters, our final day is spent in stunning surroundings.

Our boat Aqqaluk will meet us the on last morning for the journey back to Kulusuk, where we'll enjoy hot showers and lunch before packing bags and walking back to the airstrip for the evening flight out to Keflavik.