Sisimiut, Greenland
Carefully trying to alternative my way across a marsh, I sink into a deep pocket of mud upward to my shins. This moisture terrain is a regular run a hazard on the Arctic Circle Trail.
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DAY 9: Innajuattoq to Nerumaq
Hiking Distance eighteen km (11 miles) | seven hours
The Greenlandic morn is black & moisture with heavy fog at 8am when I laid out packing my gear for the side past times side leg of the Arctic Circle Trail. Luckily most of the solar daytime volition survive hiking downhill out of the mountains.
Stuffing dry out kindling from my failed burn endeavour nether a stone for the side past times side hiker to use, I gradually brand my way into a valley lined with small-scale lakes in addition to cotton fiber grass blowing inward the wind.
Eventually the fog clears in addition to I spot reindeer grazing inward the hills beside me. Then some other arctic hare. There are in addition to thus many wild animals roaming Greenland!
Nerumaq hut is non far away, in addition to I halt to get got a curt nap due to lack of slumber the black before. Today volition survive a long solar daytime on the trail in addition to I’ll involve all the unloosen energy I tin give notice get.
Moving quite fast now, at this stride I should complete past times tomorrow evening. My backpack is exponentially lighter having eaten most of the nutrient I began with.
Willow Tree Forest
The Arctic Circle Trail threads through a piece of dwarf willow trees, the tallest are solely close six feet high. It’s the largest wood I’ve seen since arriving inward Greenland in conclusion week. Trees don’t grow good inward the arctic tundra.
More in addition to to a greater extent than rivers ophidian their way downwards from the mountains across my path, some with small-scale waterfalls. Most are easily crossed past times rock-hopping.
The trail becomes moisture & swampy again. The weather condition worsens.
In fact right away it’s raining. I yet haven’t constitute the side past times side hut. Fog moves inward in addition to the heaven darkens. While I’d dearest a dry out house to slumber tonight, it looks similar I’ll get got to pitch military camp inward the rain.
I coil into my sleeping handbag in addition to snack on dried fish — washing it downwards with the in conclusion of my strong Greenlandic schnapps inward an endeavour to remain warm.
DAY 10: Kangerluarsuk Tulleq to Sisimiut
Hiking Distance 22 km (14 miles) | 8 hours
The side past times side morn I educate for what volition hopefully survive the concluding solar daytime of trekking. Right away my feet are sucked deep into bog mud, upward to my shins. Not a goodness way to start!
Climbing a loma I before long uncovering the Tulleq hut I’d been searching for the black before. Ahhhhh! Only 10 to a greater extent than minutes in addition to I would get got enjoyed a solid roof over my head.
The trail rises dorsum into the mountains through a high rocky valley, with views of snowfall covered peaks on either side. I detect the remains of domestic dog sledding equipment scattered about.
Hiking through boulder fields amongst a small-scale river, crossing it a few times before coming to a broad opened upward valley called Nasaasaaq. Jagged mountains tin give notice been seen inward the distance.
Musk Ox Surprise
Trekking downwards into this beautiful valley, I spy something large, shaggy, in addition to brownish moving across the trail. It’s a musk ox!
The musk ox is Greenland’s largest state mammal weighing upward to 400 kilos (880 lbs). These huge shaggy creatures are related to goats, only await to a greater extent than similar buffalo to me.
I watched a grouping of them from a distance before that week, only this bull was solely l yards away — blocking the path ahead. The Greenlandic mention for them, Umimmak, agency “the long-bearded one”.
Musk oxen are an of import origin of meat in addition to wool for native Greenlanders. You get got to survive careful non to acquire besides unopen or they tin give notice charge.
Eventually this i smelled me & ran upward a mountain. I don’t blame it.
After passing an out-of-place ski lift, I circular a corner to detect the Arctic Ocean. Perched on the border is the colorful line-fishing town of Sisimiut.
Fishing Town Of Sisimiut
Success! I made it! I hike into town past times hundreds of barking sled dogs feeling on top of the world. My feet ache. My trunk is exhausted. Yet I can’t halt smiling.
Trekking for 10 days across the Arctic Circle Trail inward Greenland’s wilderness was a rewarding adventure go experience.
I’d lived off the state eating berries & mushrooms; saw all kinds of cool wildlife, camped nether the stars, in addition to spent fourth dimension solitary with my thoughts surrounded past times nature. It was my personal version of Into the Wild.
To celebrate the halt of my long journeying I checked into a fancy hotel, boots yet caked inward mud. Jumping into a hot shower for twenty minutes with a mutual coldness beer.
Followed past times a delicious musk ox steak dinner with Greenlandic coffee.
Damn it felt goodness to survive dorsum inward civilization!
The side past times side four days were spent walking around Sisimiut, hanging out with other hikers & a grouping of theatre actors from Kingdom of Norway & Denmark. We danced to Greenlandic hip hop & learned close Inuit culture.
Hiking the Arctic Circle Trail inward Greenland in addition to reconnecting with nature inward the wilderness has been the highlight of my go twelvemonth in addition to thus far. ★
Watch Video: Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail
(Click to scout Hiking the Arctic Circle Trail – Greenland on YouTube)
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Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assistance yous commencement packing for your trip. Pick upward a go backpack, photographic idiot box camera gear, in addition to other useful go accessories.
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Book Accommodation
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Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget go insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than close why yous should ever ship go insurance.
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