North America, Greenland, Sermiligaq Fjord, Southwast Greenland

Publication Year: 1973.

Sermilik Fjord, Southwest Greenland. On May 10, 1971 our Tyrolean Greenland Expedition set out from Nanortalik by chartered boat for four unclimbed-in ranges on the western shore of Sermilik Fjord, 50 miles away. We were Peter Tataitz, Arthur Haid, Hans Penz, Toni Raich, Alfons Bertsch, Dr. Fritz Geiger and I as leader. On May 28 the polar storms stopped and we could begin the reconnaissance. We managed to make 34 first ascents, although interrupted by bad weather. Though Base Camp was at 165 feet above the sea, climbing difficulties began only at 2000 feet. The walls were mostly between 3000 and 4500 feet high and the summits ranged from 5250 and 7225 feet. Generally ice conditions were poor and the granite rotten. There were difficulties up to UIAA Grade V. In three weeks we had only twelve climbing days. We established no high camps but we did bivouac.

Arnold Larcher, Österreichischer Alpenverein