The next morning the weather was fantastic again. However, with the weather the bull fly plague was back again. The situation was very similar to the one on my final approach to Kangerluk a few days ago. Ahead of me were a mere 25 km till the camp ground of Qerqertarssuaq. I knew that final of my hike well as I have walked it two years ago. It starts with a moderate ascent from sealevel to about 300 to 400 meters. This climb is not too difficult if taken slowly with appropriate breaks every now and then. In the upper part the ground is basically dry gravel and loose in some places which makes it sometime difficult too get further up.
Following that climb up to an elevation of about 350 meters the course is rather flat and good progress is made. Bull flies were still accompanying me for quite some time until it got windy. After having walked about half the way to Qeqertarssuaq I passed some lakes on their western side. The terrain now turned down slowly. I had to cross a few smaller creeks but managed without any problems. On the west side there was now a gap in the mountain range with glacier tongue reaching out.
I had to traverse big moraines with again lots of loose gravel and lots of ups and downs. This quite strenuous as the ground does provide a good grip -actually not any at all- when going down or up. In both cases every step you step causes a small avalanche going down. It is somewhat like going up and down a sand dune except for that it is not sand but dark greyish red gravel and stones and boulders of all sizes.
I actually planned to approach Qeqertarssuaq on the east side of Rodeelv. I knew that the terrain later on will become rather difficult especially close to the camp ground particularly because of a deep canyon that needed to be traversed. At the point of time, I was looking for a suitable place to cross Rodeelv the river was already far too mighty to be crossed. I decided to continue the final part of my hike on the west side of Rodeelv hoping for the best, thinking, “I did manage the last time as well”.
I walked the final kilometers along the riverbanks of Rodeelv until the river entered a canyon. I continued to walk on the top of the canyon along the canyon’s wall. I soon approached the place of which I knew that it is tricky. To my surprise, the difficulty of crossing the canyon coming from the west and joining with the Rodeelv canyon was recognized by someone. The canyon to be crossed was about 5 to 10 meters deep and about 2-3 meters wide with straight walls of slippery rocks on both sides. On the bottom of the canyon was a fast flowing white water river.
The difficulty to cross this dangerous spot was recognized and somebody has placed a laminated plywood made wooden door across the canyon acting as a kind of bridge. This was complemented by a wooden pole acting as another support structure when crossing the canyon. The intention was surely great. The result was however far from less dangerous than before. Anyway, this was a good start and the first and only place I ever came across in Greenland where some man-made assistance was offered to overcome some natural difficulties. Usually, you are left to your own devices (unlike in the German Alps).