Selfstrombreen and Skiperdalen, Northeast Greenland, 7/31/2024, National Geographic Endurance
Aboard the
National Geographic Endurance
Iceland
We began the day with an extraordinary, long Zodiac cruise along the face of Selfstrombreen, a tidewater glacier deep in one of this national park’s many fjords. We were able to travel eight nautical miles from the ship and to see several glaciers as we headed inland.
The weather stayed sunny for the entire day, which only improved our ability to appreciate Skiperdalen in the afternoon. Our various hikes took the time to appreciate the incredible geology of this place. We walked over brightly colored sedimentary layers and folds before returning on board for a long evening of extraordinary scenery.
Jennifer Kingsley is a journalist and writer from Ottawa, Canada who specializes in personal stories from around the world. In 2015, she founded Meet the North, a three-year storytelling journey to six Arctic nations. Her work then expanded to island...
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After arriving deep in the heart of Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord in the spectacular Northeast Greenland National Park this morning, guests had the opportunity to explore the icy blue waters by kayak. The most fearless of our passengers braved the cold to participate in an exhilarating polar plunge, some even jumping in the frigid waters multiple times! As the morning progressed, the veil of fog lifted, revealing the stunning Teufelsschloss (Devil’s Castle) Mountain. Following lunch, guests went ashore at Blomsterbukta for a tundra hike, climbing over 400 feet to view the spectacular scenery. Upon reaching a glacial fed mountain lake, guests were greeted by a herd of gentle muskoxen grazing placidly along the shore. After a beautiful day filled with unforgettable memories the hikers returned to National Geographic Endurance for a well-earned supper with breathtaking views as the vessel cruised further through the park’s Antarctic Sound. Flanked by icebergs, wispy clouds, and striking striated mountains lit by near endless daylight, it was hard to tear ourselves away from the observation decks and windows to go to bed. More adventure awaits us tomorrow as we continue our expedition through this beautiful, rugged land at the top of the world.
Although there was fog and rain, we made a landing and enjoyed our walk at Myggbukta. As they say, fortune favors the bold, and indeed, at the end of the day we spotted our first polar bear swimming in the ocean! A very well rewarded moment that will stay forever in our minds. All photos of the polar bear were taken with a 600mm lens from a great distance, according to the established guidelines regarding wildlife.
