Kullorsuaq/Devil’s Thumb, Greenland: A favorite among many of the Arctic adventure
Adventure Canada:
Day 5 — Monday August 24, 2015
Kullorsuaq/Devil’s Thumb
The Devil’s Thumb (Djævelens Tommelfinger in Danish) is a prominent geological landmark in NW Greenland located on the island of Kullorsuaq (the big thumb in Greenlandic) in the vast expanse of Melville Bay. The Devil’s Thumb is a volcanic rock pinnacle rising 546m/1800ft above sea level and dominates the local area. 3km to the south is the small settlement of Kullorsuaq (purportedly home to 436 souls in 2010). The nearest settlement to the north is Savissivik, near Kap York, some 184 nautical miles away over Melville Bay – formerly renowned as a major whaling ground.
This area was visited by Roald Amundsen on his historic first traverse of the Northwest Passage from Greenland to Alaska in 1903 in his sailboat Gjøa. His crew was amused by the pinnacle which they thought looked like an old thumb.
Kullorsuaq/Devil’s Thumb
The Devil’s Thumb (Djævelens Tommelfinger in Danish) is a prominent geological landmark in NW Greenland located on the island of Kullorsuaq (the big thumb in Greenlandic) in the vast expanse of Melville Bay. The Devil’s Thumb is a volcanic rock pinnacle rising 546m/1800ft above sea level and dominates the local area. 3km to the south is the small settlement of Kullorsuaq (purportedly home to 436 souls in 2010). The nearest settlement to the north is Savissivik, near Kap York, some 184 nautical miles away over Melville Bay – formerly renowned as a major whaling ground.
This area was visited by Roald Amundsen on his historic first traverse of the Northwest Passage from Greenland to Alaska in 1903 in his sailboat Gjøa. His crew was amused by the pinnacle which they thought looked like an old thumb.
Inuktitut word of the day:
Quuriasuktunga – I am happy
Quuriasuktunga – I am happy
"Believe me my young friend there is
nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much
worth doing as messing about in boats.”
This is another gorgeous day. The staff are beginning to marvel at our streak of extraordinary weather and calm seas (spoiler alert - this would continue for the whole trip - best ever weather for a Northwest Passage trip.). Devils Thumb was one of my favorite locations - icebergs, views of the Greenland icecap, beautiful fall colors, and spectacular weather. Adventure Canada had never landed at this site before, and the bay was iceberg choked as we wound our way in - I was on the deck th who time, and frankly didn't think we'd be able to get back in, but the captain did an admirable job (interesting side note: The captain lives in Westcliffe Colorado near the Sangre De Christo mountains when he is not out sailing the seas.
I must rat on Brad here - he had a bathroom emergency while ashore - found a discreet place behind a big rock, and then managed to dislodge some rocks and start a mini slide. A staff member (Bernadette) goes rushing over concerned someone might be hurt only to discover Brad in the bathroom act. She came back and told me "He was taking a dump. He needs to be more careful"
On that note let's see the photos.
—Kenneth Grahame, Wind in the Willows
—Kenneth Grahame, Wind in the Willows
This is another gorgeous day. The staff are beginning to marvel at our streak of extraordinary weather and calm seas (spoiler alert - this would continue for the whole trip - best ever weather for a Northwest Passage trip.). Devils Thumb was one of my favorite locations - icebergs, views of the Greenland icecap, beautiful fall colors, and spectacular weather. Adventure Canada had never landed at this site before, and the bay was iceberg choked as we wound our way in - I was on the deck th who time, and frankly didn't think we'd be able to get back in, but the captain did an admirable job (interesting side note: The captain lives in Westcliffe Colorado near the Sangre De Christo mountains when he is not out sailing the seas.
I must rat on Brad here - he had a bathroom emergency while ashore - found a discreet place behind a big rock, and then managed to dislodge some rocks and start a mini slide. A staff member (Bernadette) goes rushing over concerned someone might be hurt only to discover Brad in the bathroom act. She came back and told me "He was taking a dump. He needs to be more careful"
On that note let's see the photos.
—Kenneth Grahame, Wind in the Willows
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