Hike to the Delta

I woke up at four in the morning, lying in bed listening to the sound of my surroundings. At first, it was total silence – then birds chirping, gentle waves brushing the shore, and…glacier rumbling in the distance…

14257619_960732350722418_92633960024435536_o

Was there another calving? I got up and rushed to the window…

14310548_960732344055752_7893843559457136439_o

I couldn’t tell. The water was as smooth as a mirror reflecting morning light.

14581320_984255931703393_3867267294732735230_n

Maybe it was my imagination. Perhaps this was all just a dream…I went back to bed, quickly dozed off.

Next time I woke up, it was almost eight. I had to get ready for my morning hike. As I was leaving the hut, I noticed an arctic fox trotting by carrying, what looked like a small hare, in her mouth.

14595575_984309551698031_4824916215189328349_n

After breakfast, Simon and I set out to the delta.

The trail goes along the craggy coastline with beautiful water view.

We looked down a small beach where the previous tsunami parked many ice shards. It was properly named Suicide Beach.

Simon brought with him a thin booklet of Greenlandic wild flowers, so we could identify them along the hike.

Once we reached the top of the ridge, the delta is at sight.

14231894_960733370722316_5056916871879500425_o.jpg

As we moved around a large rock, suddenly, a pair of eagles took off. They circled around calling apprehensively.

14242314_960735734055413_1458539070209323476_o.jpg

We decided not to disturb them any further. So we sat down, took a deep breath and closed our eyes.

It is AMAZING how much one notices when one stops moving – the sound of running rapids, Lapland Longspur and Snow Bunting singing interchangeably, eagles calling, glacier calving and –  the start of fresh raindrops.

(Click to listen to the sound recording below)

Walt Whitman once said – “Happiness, not in another place but this place…not for another hour, but this hour.”

It was in this remote area of Greenland, where there is no cell phone, no television and no internet, and at this ripe moment, I found my happiness.

Note: This is a continuation of my travelogue of the Eqi Glacier in Greenland.

23 thoughts on “Hike to the Delta”

  8. What a beautiful pristine environment that is and so well captured – reminds me of Alaska – and it brings to mind a day on the South side of Mont Blanc in the European Alps where I sat beside a small moraine lake and watched the glacier calving into the lake: nature in slow motion.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Greenland is being added to our list. I’m thinking of Jackson Hole in winter (maybe), they have winter safaris. Would be so cool to go on a wildlife safari in winter. What was the weather like when you were in Greenland?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment