Global Adventure - Backpack the Fjords of East Greenland

Arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland anytime on Saturday August 9^th, 2025.  Depart from Reykjavik anytime on Tuesday August 26^th, 2025.

We will fly round-trip between Reykjavik and Kulusuk, Greenland as a group using Icelandair, departing Reykjavik on Monday August 11^th and returning to Reykjavik on Monday August 25^th.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation between home and Reykjavik, both before and after the adventure.  Icelandair offers widely-available daily nonstop service between Seattle (SEA) and Reykjavik (KEF) – approximately $1000 round-trip.

Participants are also responsible for the cost of flights between Reykjavik (KEF) and Kulusuk (KUS) – exactly DKK 8,352 / $1250 round-trip.  Because flights between Reykjavik and Kulusuk are infrequent and often fully booked up to a year in advance, our flights have already been reserved; participants will need to reimburse our travel agent for the ticket cost.

Itinerary Highlights: This adventure offers intense physical challenge and an opportunity to explore some of the most vast, remote, and untouched landscapes on Earth – the fjords of East Greenland.

After 2 nights in Reykjavik for exploring, waiting for any late luggage, and a group welcome dinner, we’ll fly to Kulusuk, Greenland. After an overnight in Kulusuk to meet our guide, have a gear audit, and pick up our shared gear and first supply cache, our backpacking trek starts with a boat transfer to the shores of Karale fjord, near the Karale glacier. From here, we’ll trek east along the southern coast of the Karale fjord to Nuuaartik Point, where we’ll be treated to views of the Knud Rasmusen glacier across the sound.

Lisa Germany Photography

Turning south and following the coast of Ikatek Straight, we’ll then reach Bluie East Two, an abandoned WWII-era American airfield. From there, our route crosses a collection of streams at Suunigajik and passes through the Tunup Kuua valley – with peaks in all directions.

Lisa Germany Photography

At the end of Tunup Kuua valley, we’ll reach the very deep Tasiilaq fjord. We’ll then head north, along the fjord’s eastern shores, with the spires of Fox’s Jaw towering in the distance.

Lisa Germany Photography

Reaching the head of Tasiilaq fjord, we’ll trek inland, into the valley at the foot of Fox’s Jaw and the Caledonian Alps. After several days spent traversing this valley, we’ll arrive at the extremely remote head of the immense Sermilik fjord. With three massive glaciers – advancing up to 60 meters per day – calving thousands of icebergs into this fjord, we’ll be treated to an isolated landscape that few ever get to experience.

We’ll then head south along the eastern shore of Sermilik fjord, with the Greenland Ice Sheet – the 2^nd-largest ice mass on Earth – directly across the fjord from us. Covering 80% of Greenland, the ice sheet is 1.9 miles deep at its thickest point.

Pirhuk Greenland Mountain Guides

After trekking several days along the Sermilik fjord shoreline, we’ll head inland, tackling Sun Gate Pass as we make our way down a valley to Qíngertivaq fjord. After a final night along the shore of Qíngertivaq fjord, a boat transfer will take us back to Kulusuk for showers, a celebratory lunch, and our evening flight back to Reykjavik. After an overnight at a Reykjavik hotel, we’ll be free to return home or pursue other adventures.

Maps:

Our gateway village of Kulusuk, Greenland
Commercial boat transfers are used between Kulusuk and the beginning and ending of our trek.
Details of our route

Itinerary Details:
A total of 18 days, the adventure includes 2 days for arrivals in Reykjavik, 1 day for flying from Reykjavik to Kulusuk, 13 days of backpacking, 1 day for flying from Kulusuk to Reykjavik, and 1 day for departures from Reykjavik.

During our 13 days of backpacking, we’ll cover 81+ miles and 11,800’+ gain, with a maximum elevation of 1,500’. Our daily mileage will vary between 5 and 10 miles per day (with an average of 7 miles per day), and our elevation gain will range from 300’ to 2,000’ (with an average of 1,000’ per day). On much of our itinerary, our proximity to shoreline will enable participants to exit via charter boat if required. On other days, a hike of up to 10 miles could be required to reach the nearest boat-accessible shoreline.

This adventure’s 13 days of backpacking are split into 3 segments – 3, 3, and 7 days long – with food/fuel supply caches delivered to us between each segment. Depending on weather, tide, terrain, and participant conditions, the trek may include one “zero day” where we stay in the same camp for two nights so that participants can rest.

Participants will carry all required backpacking gear (shared 2-person 4-season tent, shared stove/cookware, shared polar bear flares, mug/spoon, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothing, batteries, toiletries, 10 essentials) and all food/fuel (3 days of food/fuel in the 1^st segment, 3 days of food/fuel in the 2^nd segment, 7 days of food/fuel in the 3^rd segment, as well as an emergency food supply in case of unanticipated delays). The shared gear (tent, stove, cookware, and flares) will weigh approximately 2kg (4.4lbs) per person.

We’ll have a professional IFMGA Mountain Guide – with 20+ years of trekking experience, 8+ years of Greenland trekking experience, and extensive experience on our selected route – with us during our entire time in Greenland. Our guide will conduct a gear audit of every participant upon our arrival in Greenland, and our outfitter has a gear library that can be used to augment delayed luggage or missing gear.

Polar bears are native to Greenland. They typically migrate north in summer, so an encounter during our adventure is extremely unlikely. Our guide will train participants on polar bear encounter procedures upon our arrival in Greenland; multiple warning flares will be carried by the group (first line of defense), the guide will carry a rifle (second line of defense), participants will be expected to use the latrine in groups (with one person serving as lookout), and every participant will be expected to serve a 1-hour overnight shift sometime between 10pm and 6am every night to watch for polar bears. In other words, the group must always stay together and must always maintain situational awareness. Only our guide will carry or use the rifle.

Is this adventure right for you? You enjoy the challenge of very strenuous off-trail travel, route-finding, wild camping, and high-mileage/high-gain days. You accept and embrace challenges such as weather, wildlife, low-angle snow-free glacier crossings, frigid stream crossings that must be done as a group for stability, overnight bear watches, heavy backpacks, areas of moderate exposure, and steep/rocky terrain where you need to use your hands for balance. You feel a sense of accomplishment as you set up camp, bundle up for a cold night, and enjoy a hot meal after a long, hard day. You’re able to roll with the punches and go with the flow; you accept and embrace the proverbial curve balls that will inevitably be thrown our way. You’re willing to help/support others, and to put the team first.

Time of Year: We’ll be visiting during Greenland’s peak summer, when the likelihood of clear skies and moderate temperatures are highest (though cold, rain, hail, snow, wind, lightning, and other foul weather can arise at any time).  Days are long this time of year – we’ll enjoy approximately 17 hours of daylight, approximately 7 hours of twilight, and exactly 0 minutes of night per day.

Weather: Expect daytime highs around 50°F (could potentially reach up to 60°F), nighttime lows of 30°F (could potentially reach down to 22°F), sunny skies, a few rain showers, no snow, and fierce winds – up to 50mph. Think PNW shoulder-season backpacking but with colder nights, less precipitation, and considerably more wind.

Dietary Restrictions: Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets can be accommodated in Greenland for participants registering by early March 2025.

Provisions: Shopping opportunities are extremely limited and expensive in East Greenland, as all food and provisions are imported from Denmark via ship once every 2-3 weeks. Store inventories fluctuate, product selection can be inconsistent, and very few stores are located in the region – only one small store is located in Kulusuk. Good shopping options are, however, available before our trek in Reykjavik. Participants should therefore arrive in Kulusuk with all toiletries required for the trek, as well as any special on-trail provisions that they prefer (favorite drink mixes/electrolytes, coffee flavorings/additives, or specialty food items – such as peanut/almond butter or dehydrated hummus – that are unlikely to be included in the Denmark-sourced meals provided by the outfitter).

Leader’s experience: Colin Chapman (colindchapman@gmail.com) is an active backpacking, snowshoeing, and winter camping instructor and trip leader with the Mountaineers. Colin has led dozens of overnight backpacking and snowshoeing trips for the Mountaineers, including trips into areas – such as the Enchantments, Wyoming’s Wind River Range, Torres del Paine’s O Circuit, and Switzerland’s Jungfrau region – with extensive off-trail travel, challenging terrain, and adverse weather. Colin has completed the Wonderland Trail (twice) and John Muir Trail, has Wilderness First Responder and AIARE 1 certifications, and serves on the Nordic Patrol (part of National Ski Patrol) at Mount Rainier National Park.

Participant requirements: Must be a current Mountaineers member with an up-to-date waiver on file.

This outing is VERY STRENUOUS, and the ENTIRE ROUTE IS OFF-TRAIL.  Participants must have experience and confidence backpacking on steep, rocky terrain including ascents, descents, and traverses of steep scree/talus slopes, boulders, rock slabs, and narrow paths. Some areas will have moderate exposure, and low-consequence snowfield crossings may be required. One low-angle, snow-free, 0.5 mile glacier traverse will be required. Multiple swift water crossings of frigid glacier runoff where we lock arms and cross together for safety will be required (examples of actual stream crossings from the region: Video 1, Video 2). Steep ascents and descents on boulders and rock slabs will require the ability to take tall, extended steps up/down while using hands for stability. All while carrying a fully-loaded backpack.

Participants must therefore be in excellent physical condition and demonstrate their ability to do 10 miles and 2,000’ gain on multiple consecutive days on rugged terrain with a fully-loaded backpack. Participants must also have the endurance, experience, willingness, and flexibility to deal with extended periods of significant mileage, substantial elevation gain/loss, challenging terrain, and inclement weather (cold, rain, hail, snow, wind, lightning). Participants must understand that route adjustments could be required in the event of unanticipated weather, tide, terrain, or participant conditions.

A positive, go-with-the-flow, roll-with-the-punches attitude and a demonstrated ability to get along well in group settings under demanding conditions is required.

Participants must also be comfortable traveling in small, high-speed boats in fjords and open ocean, and must be comfortable transferring between boat and rocky, slippery shorelines without the use of docks or gangways while the boat is rocking up and down and side to side, and possibly by walking in knee-deep ocean water.

Participants are expected to read, understand, and comply with the leader’s Goals, Expectations, and Style for the trip, available at this link.

NOTE: Your leader makes most of the arrangements and provides logistics support during the trip, but is NOT a tour guide! As a Mountaineers group we will operate as interdependent, capable travelers making our way together and helping one another succeed and be safe. You are responsible for your own safety and that of your fellow travelers. At any time, if weather, tide, terrain, or other conditions become dangerous, we will exit early or find a safer, alternate route.

NOTE: All participants will be expected to adhere to the Respiratory Virus Protocols and Requirements for the trip, available at this link.

NOTE: International medical insurance and emergency evacuation insurance are required, and must be obtained by each participant at their own expense. Guidance will be provided by trip leader.

Trip Price Detail: $6500. Please see the Trip Price Detail document for details of what is included and what is not included in the trip price. The trip will be cancelled – and all payments refunded with zero cancellation fees – if fewer than 9 people (including the trip leader) register for the trip.

Registration: Please complete and submit the application form at the button below. Approval to join the roster will not necessarily be a function of your date of application; it will also reflect your experience and fitness. The trip leader will request a phone call with each applicant to review this trip’s unique challenges. If an applicant hasn’t previously trekked with the trip leader, the trip leader may (i) contact other Mountaineers trip leaders who have previously trekked with the applicant or (ii) request that the applicant complete a day hike with the trip leader.

If you receive the trip leader’s approval to join the roster, please pay the 50% deposit to reserve a place on the roster. A place on the roster can only be held with payment of the deposit. Registration will close as soon as the roster fills.  The balance of the trip payment will be due sometime in the spring of 2025.  As soon as you have registered, you’ll be asked to also complete online Trip Agreement and Liability Release forms.

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel 90 or more days before the August 9^th arrival date, you may receive a refund less a $1000 cancellation fee and any other non-refundable expenses incurred up to that time.  If you cancel less than 90 days before the August 9^th arrival date, no refund is available. NOTE: the cancellation fees above may be waived other than a minimum $100 admin fee if someone can be found to take your place on the trip.

Application Form

Trip Agreement

Liability Release

Supplemental Information