Today, part of the team went hiking to another part of the ice cap, while I stayed at Base Camp 2 and completed some work. SOLITUDE... for the first time, I am completely alone in this vast landscape. One would expect the silence to be deafening, however there is constant white noise of melting water rushing down the cliffs. Moving water has always been a soothing sound to me, however, here in Greenland I find it to be unsettling; creating an urgency within to make a difference.
Base Camp 2 -- beautiful glacial blue water
While here, I have been reading two books simultaneously, both by Gretel Ehrlich. The first, The Solace of Open Spaces is about the author's time spent in Wyoming and the solace she finds in the borderless prairie. The second, This Cold Heaven, is about the time that Ms. Ehrlich spends exploring Greenland as well as historical accounts of Knud Rasmussen. I could not have chosen better selections to read while in Greenland.
Me trying to read outside with the tundra gnats
Greenland is a land of extremes: sharp cliffs, rolling moraines, continent sized ice sheet, etched ice caps, disappearing glaciers, deep valleys, glacial blue lakes, sky high waterfalls and lush vegetation wherever roots can take hold.
This is quite common to see near the edges of lakes. The mud is firm and has a lava flow appearance.
Arctic harebells -- these flowers will sprout wherever there is a bit of soil.
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