Disko Island, 8/7/2023, National Geographic Endurance
Aboard the
National Geographic Endurance
Arctic
Expedition leader Bud Lehnhausen woke us slightly early so we could get outside and watch a fin whale that surfaced several times at a moderate distance. The morning was spent with the obligatory briefings about how to behave in polar bear country and with biosecurity. After an early lunch, we headed for our first wilderness landing on the southern side of Disko Island. Despite the mosquitoes, we enjoyed a beautiful hike on the lush tundra and marveled at the amazing basalt columns of the nearby mountain face.
Kerstin Langenberger is deeply in love with the Polar regions. Originally from Germany, she lived in Iceland for seven years where she graduated with a degree in environmental science. She later spent a year on Svalbard, Norway, where she became an A...
The sun greeted us this morning as we made our way into yet another of the spectacular fjords of West Greenland. Our last outing for this expedition was upon us and Bud, our Expedition Leader, wanted to give our guests their choice of excursion, between hiking, Zodiac cruising, or kayaking on the beautifully calm water. We were treated to stunning scenery as we spent the entire morning at this special location. We were swept up in its beauty when reality caught up with us and we realized we needed to make our way towards our final destination. At the captain’s farewell gathering we reflected on our very memorable and epic voyage by enjoying the 300 images our guests had submitted. It was clear that this has been an expedition to remember. Until next time!
Today began with a stunning
sunrise as we sailed into the harbor of Ilulissat. The sun crested the horizon,
casting a golden glow over the hundreds of icebergs floating majestically in
the inlet of the fjord. The morning was clear and bright, setting the perfect
stage for our day’s adventures. The long hikers embarked on
the renowned Yellow Trail, a picturesque route from the city along the
shoreline to the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre. They were treated to breathtaking
views of colossal icebergs up close, their sheer size and intricate blue hues
providing a spectacular backdrop. In the afternoon, we took to
small local boats to navigate among the icebergs, some towering over 100 feet
above us. The journey was both thrilling and serene, with the sun shining
brightly throughout the day, enhancing the icy splendor around us. The evening brought a
relaxing recap of the day’s experiences over dinner, followed by a fascinating
talk from our guide on Greenlandic ice formations. The beauty and grandeur of
Ilulissat left a lasting impression on all of us.
The day began with a Zodiac operation of the Inukassaat Fjord, north of Uummannaq. As we were greeted with the grand mountains of the west Greenland fjords, the icebergs made loud sounds of calving and the variety of birds flying over the landscape reminded us how vast the fjord is. For the afternoon activity, National Geographic Endurance proceeded further into the Kangerlussuaq Fjord where there was a landing site with an old hut used by the Greenlandic Inuit. The hikes that followed allowed us to get a clear view of the valley with the glacier and the tundra flora of the arctic autumn, giving us its last display of colors before winter’s descent. After the daily recaps and another lovely dinner, the evening movie, “The Eskimo Experiment”, was shown as our cultural ambassador Peter Freuchen provided some context to the movie.
