Expedition leader Bud Lehnhausen woke us slightly early so we could get outside and watch a fin whale that surfaced several times at a moderate distance. The morning was spent with the obligatory briefings about how to behave in polar bear country and with biosecurity. After an early lunch, we headed for our first wilderness landing on the southern side of Disko Island. Despite the mosquitoes, we enjoyed a beautiful hike on the lush tundra and marveled at the amazing basalt columns of the nearby mountain face.