Greenland
Hiking the Dolomites
We try once again
Yes, Julia and I are trying for the third time to make landfall and explore Greenland. We first attempted to visit this remote place back in 2013 but were thwarted by ice floes. Then, in 2017, we tried again but couldn’t land due to severe weather. So, here we are, planning our third attempt to visit this elusive place.
We decided to combine our long-planned trip to hike the Dolomites in Italy with this Greenland adventure. What follows is our planned itinerary. Let’s hope everything goes according to plan this time.
Oakland, USA
Oakland stands out as an important industrial port city in California and one of the most significant centers of African American culture. With its large downtown area and industrial charm, Oakland is somewhat reminiscent of East Coast cities like Pittsburgh or Baltimore.
Gatwick, England
London’s second airport also serves a large spectrum of destinations worldwide. It is the world’s busiest single-runway airport and is split into North and South Terminals, linked by a free shuttle train.
Reykjavík, Iceland
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland. With an urban area population of around 200,000, it is home to the majority of Iceland’s inhabitants. It serves as the cultural and economic center for the Icelandic people and is a major focal point for tourism in Iceland. The city itself is spread out, with sprawling suburbs, but the city center is a compact area characterized by eclectic, colorful houses, offering good shopping, dining, and nightlife.
Neerlerit Inaat Airport, Greenland
Depart Reykjavík for a flight to Constable Point (Neerlerit Inaat Airport) in Greenland, a small airfield west of Hurry Inlet in Jameson Land. Embark the sailboat and receive an introduction and safety briefing from the crew before sailing towards the village of Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the world’s most isolated villages. There will be a brief visit, allowing passengers to stroll around and experience the tranquility associated with its remoteness.
Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland
Ittoqqortoormiit, formerly known as Scoresbysund, is a settlement in the Sermersooq municipality in eastern Greenland. Its population was 452 as of 2013.
The former name, Scoresbysund, derives from the Arctic explorer and whaler William Scoresby, who first mapped the area in 1822. The name "Ittoqqortoormiit" means "Big-House Dwellers" in the Eastern Greenlandic dialect. The region is known for its wildlife, including polar bears, muskoxen, and seals.
Hekla Havn, Greenland
Sail west amidst veritable palaces of icebergs that drift gently on Arctic currents after calving from glaciers originating on the Inland Ice Sheet. Anchor at Hekla Havn, on Denmark Ø, the site of an old Inuit settlement and the wintering camp of the first scientific expedition to Scoresby Sund more than a hundred years ago. The day concludes with a short evening walk exploring Hekla Havn and its surroundings.
Rødefjord, Greenland
Sail west through the narrow Føhnfjord, with the majestic basalt mountains of Gåseland to port and 2,000-meter-high sheer granite cliffs of Milne Land to starboard. After getting up close to the peculiar-looking Red Island and possibly making landfall on its red sandstone shore, the tour continues north through Rødefjord, often filled with larger icebergs and brash ice from breaking bergs. Arrive and anchor in Harefjord in the late afternoon.
Harefjord, Greenland
We’ll ensure our hiking boots are ready, as the entire day will be spent ashore in Harefjord, scouting for muskoxen, snow hares, grouse, geese, and other wildlife that typically graze on the south-facing slopes. This easy-to-moderate, approximately 6-hour hike leads to a ridgetop offering breathtaking views over Harefjord, with terrain dropping off on each side and glacier tongues descending into the sea. Lunch will be served with this view. Those preferring less exertion can stroll along the coast or relax on board, enjoying the scenery.
Øfjord, Greenland
The sailing continues eastward through the awesome Øfjord, one of the most spectacular parts of the trip. Terrific mountain peaks and granite walls tower 2,000 meters from the sea, reminiscent of Cerro Torre and Mount Fitz Roy moved from Patagonia to the Arctic: truly a feast for the eyes. Typically, the mid-day sea breeze in the Øfjord allows for sailing under canvas. We will get a close look at some of the most amazing cliffs and a glacier front before anchoring in Jyttes Havn in the late afternoon.
Føhnfjord, Greenland
The day is spent hiking in and around Jyttes Havn in the Bear Islands, possibly one of the nicest and most picturesque anchorages in Scoresby Sund. Options include a longer or shorter hike within the Bear Islands, or on the northernmost tip of Milne Land, just a short Zodiac ride away. Jyttes Havn offers the adventurous a chance to try sea swimming at 71°N, where water temperatures can surprisingly reach 13°C in summer. If conditions and time permit, we will enjoy a bonfire on the beach and share stories.
Bear Islands, Greenland
Sail the channel between the Bear Islands and Milne Land, enjoying breathtaking views of the spectacular archipelago. As we sail into the final evening and night of the trip, it's likely we’ll encounter some of the largest and most fascinating icebergs of the journey, providing fantastic photo opportunities. When we wake the next morning, we will be anchored at the airstrip in Constable Point.
Neerlerit Inaat Airport, Greenland
On the last morning, we will enjoy a final breakfast together, make entries in the ship's log, and exchange contact information. Then, we will disembark the sailboat for the last time, board the aircraft at Constable Point, and fly back to Reykjavík, Iceland. Back in Iceland, the adventures of the expedition will begin to sink in, and life after Greenland commences!
Reykjavík, Iceland
Spend a few days recuperating from our adventure to Greenland.
Gatwick, England
Fly back to the United Kingdom.
London, England
Spend a few days in London visiting with friends and family.
Venice, Italy
The city remains virtually unchanged from six hundred years ago, adding to its fascinating character. Although Venice has decayed somewhat since its heyday, it experiences heavy tourism (with 56,000 residents and 20 million visitors annually).
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
Cortina d'Ampezzo, commonly referred to as Cortina, is a town and commune in the heart of the southern Dolomites in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. Situated on the Boite river in an alpine valley, it is a winter sports resort known for its skiing trails, scenery, accommodations, shops, après-ski scene, and its jet-set and aristocratic European clientele.
Pocol, Italy
Pocol is a village and ski resort in the Veneto region of Northeast Italy. The village is a località (hamlet or locality) of the comune of Cortina d'Ampezzo, within the province of Belluno.
Carbonin, Italy
Hiking the Dolomites.
Canazei, Italy
Canazei is a commune (municipality) in Trentino, located in the northern Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. Situated in the upper Val di Fassa, it lies about 110 kilometers (68 mi) northeast of Trento. Its name derives from the Latin word cannicetus (reed bed).
Canale d'Agordo, Italy
Canale d'Agordo (known as Forno di Canale until 1964) is a town and comune in the province of Belluno, within the Veneto region of northern Italy. It has 1,230 inhabitants. Pope John Paul I (born Albino Luciani) and the landscape painter Giuseppe Zais were both born here. It hosts a museum dedicated to Pope John Paul I, called the Pope Luciani Museum.
San Pellegrino Terme, Italy
San Pellegrino Terme is a comune in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy. Located in the Val Brembana, it is the source and production site for the S.Pellegrino beverage company and its famous carbonated mineral water.
Nova Levante, Italy
Hiking the Dolomites.
Molveno, Italy
Molveno is a comune (municipality) in Trentino, part of the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is located about 40 kilometers (25 mi) northwest of Trento.
Ponte di Legno, Italy
Ponte di Legno (Pònt in the Camunian dialect) is an Italian comune with 1,729 inhabitants, located in Val Camonica, province of Brescia, Lombardy.
Varenna, Italy
Varenna is a comune (municipality) on Lake Como in the Province of Lecco, Lombardy region, Italy. It is located about 60 kilometers (37 mi) north of Milan and about 20 kilometers (12 mi) northwest of Lecco.
Milan, Italy
Milan, the capital of Lombardy in northern Italy, is the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of 1,366,037, while its metropolitan city area holds 3,235,000 residents. Its continuously built-up urban area extends beyond the metropolitan boundaries, encompassing an estimated 5,270,000 people over 1,891 square kilometers (730 square miles), ranking fourth in the European Union. The wider Milan metropolitan area, known as Greater Milan, is a polycentric region extending over central Lombardy and eastern Piedmont, counting an estimated total population of 7.5 million, making it by far Italy's largest metropolitan area. Milan served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire from 286 to 402 AD and of the Duchy of Milan during the Middle Ages and early modern period.
Venice, Italy
Fly back to the United Kingdom.
Gatwick, England
Rest before returning home.
Oakland, USA
Back to the USA and the land of crazed and selfish Republicans.