Nuuk to Kulusuk

Wake up nice a fresh and get to breakfast before Peter but after the Fosters.  Picked up my laundry from the front desk which included an extra pair of socks (they were Peter's).  

After breakfast we take some photos with the Fosters before Jen's picks us up.   In the tower we pay our dues and make our way to the helicopter.  The weather is a little foggy but good enough for a SVFR takeoff.  The fog is sea fog and the ice cap is clear.

So we head off and climb towards the east.  The ice caps are around 8,500 ft high so me make a steady climb over yet more glaciers and icebergs.  Over the ice cap the light is harsh on the eyes and the horizon, though clear, can be confusing.  We have little depth perception so can never be 100% sure how high we are above the ground, we have to rely on our GPS data.

About half way we lose contact with ATC and have to start making satellite calls to report ops normal.  It is also here that we intend to land at Dey3 or Sob Storey, an old disused US nuclear warning base on the ice cap.  

I first spot the base some miles out but think that it is just dirt on the windscreen.  As we get closer it becomes more obvious.  As we approach we start our descent and view the possible landing.  First we circle the site before attempting to land.  We find a good spot and set down.  We are cautious, we do not know the condition of the snow and ice.  As we set down the snow gives way, we stop!  We are not confident of the surface below us, we decide to abort the landing, no point in risking things this far in.  It is a shame but looking at the abandoned site we are not sure how,we would have made it in in any case.

After the base the ice cap the terrain starts to recede and the given way to the sea.  Further glaciers and and icebergs are enjoyed.

We approach Kulusuk and fly over the settlement of 290 people and land at the airport where we are fuelled by to local brothers before being taken to the Hotel Kulusuk.  Not a bad hotel for the location and the buffet dinner was actually OK.  

A short walk to the Center just to get some air.  On the walk we pass a few drunk locals around 2% of the population.  


































Back at the hotel we settle down for our trip to Iceland tomorrow.

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