Climbing by Kayak: A Photo Essay of Greenland's Tallest Sea Cliff

On the team's first attempt, bad weather prompted a retreat. The team traversed into what proved to be a much more technical couloir descent than what they had expected. Lacking ice axes and crampons, the team was hampered by crevasses, waterfalls, stuck ropes, and cold temperatures. The descent took six hours. High seas precluded the use of the kayaks, so the pair was forced to bivy sitting on their ropes, with plastic bags held over their heads as impromptu rain protection. [Photo] David Kaszlikowski

Eliza's hands after the unpleasant couloir descent. Wet weather was a constant problem for the climbers. [Photo] David Kaszlikowski

The pair was surrounded by the sounds of creaking and crashing ice as the icebergs settled, shifted and collapsed around them. Icebergs, without the support of surrounding ice, and constantly nibbled by saltwater, are in a constant state of disintegration. Kayaks allowed for much easier navigation through the ice than a larger craft would have. [Photo] David Kaszlikowski

A series of very wet rappells brought the team down from their first attempt. [Photo] David Kaszlikowski

Eliza Kubarska and David Kaszlikowski in front of Maujit Qaqarssuasia after the completion of their new route. "What we found in the fjords is undoubtedly one of the best granite areas in the world." [Photo] David Kaszlikowski