In the mountains, the air is cleansed of stress and political unrest: – You are a completely different person when you come home

Lene Kleist sits in the doorway to the trunk of her car, while she puts on a pair of chains with spikes underneath her shoes.

- It can be slippery, she says.

More cars are streaming into the parking lot by the ski lift in Nuuk.

- Hey!

Lene Kleist greets a small group of people who are walking around in hats, warm jackets and practical shoes. She herself is wearing a red Fjällraven jacket, a small waist bag and a hat that says 'Walk away from cancer - life is a gift'.

That is the name of the group that meets every Tuesday at the foot of Quassussuaq - better known as Lille Malene - in Nuuk to climb the 440-meter high mountain.

- There are no bad days. We also go up in a snowstorm, says Lene Kleist.

The walks are arranged and maintained through Facebook. The group was established in 2020, among other things, to get more people to exercise outdoors together.

When we are physically active, it helps us to keep most forms of cancer away - so be active, the group description on Facebook says.

Lene Kleist herself lost her husband to cancer in the summer of 2022.

- After that, I spent a lot of time out in nature alone. That's where I get my strength. I met the group at the top of Lille Malene several times, and then I was invited to participate, she says.

And have you continued?

- Yes. Every Tuesday. You get bitten by it.

In addition to being cancer preventive and a source of sweat on your forehead, the Tuesday walk also serves for many as an energy boost and a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Just a month ago, it was the fear of war and annexation that filled Lene Kleist's consciousness – and that of many others.

- I have tried not to be influenced, but you can't avoid it, she says.

- But I let go of everything when I start walking with this group. I don't think about the chaos in the city or in life at all.

She grabs a pair of hiking poles in the trunk and stands up.

- Well, now they're starting!

She sets off to catch up with those who have started walking up the ski lift towards the top.

The chains jingle under her shoes and the snow crunches.

You become more robust

The man and initiator behind the hiking group is Jan Erik Pedersen. Through his work with some of the city's most vulnerable young people, he has taught a lot about running and sports.

And then one day his mother got sick with cancer.

- I started using the mountains a bit more, among other things to clear my mind – and then people slowly started to join in, he says.

That's where the idea of ​​getting more people to go hiking came about. He could see that something was happening to the people he hiked with – and to himself.

- The more you hike in the mountains, the more you push yourself, the more self-awareness you gain, says Jan Erik Pedersen.

- It's easier to turn difficult things into something positive. And it also makes you more tolerant of your fellow human beings. You can handle a lot more – both at work and in your private life.

When Jan Erik Pedersen – long before Facebook even became a thing – first started his hikes up and around Quassussuaq, it was often just a few people or a small group that went along. Today, the Facebook group has 2.8 thousand members. Similar hiking groups also exist in some of the other towns along the coast.

Among other places in Sisimiut, Qaqortoq, Kangerlussuaq and Ilulissat.

In Nuuk, it varies how many people usually go on Tuesday – it often depends on the weather.

- In November, December and January it tends to be pretty dead, says Jan Erik Pedersen.

- When we get to the light time, we fluctuate between 15 and 45 people on a trip.

Last year he stopped counting how many people went each time.

- There we rounded 14,000 who had been to the summit since we started.

It's no use thinking about Trump all the time

The road to the summit is starting to get steep and several people are staring intently into the snow as they trot upwards.

Those with energy rush ahead, turn around and run back to the rear.

- Young people!

Jan Erik Pedersen comes running down, cheering and greeting energetically.

- Hello! Qangami! Good day-good day.

There is a sniffle from runny noses here and there. People chatter – although conversations take longer and more pauses as breathing becomes heavier.

A group of about ten people has reached a plateau, where they are taking a break.

One of them is Tony Street, who is standing and polishing his fogged-up glasses. He has been with the walking group for three years, he says.

He is busy with his day job at one of the country's IT companies.

- It can be stressful. It's always nice to get out - you forget everything else but just being here right now, he says.

However, being in the present has required a little extra for Tony Street the last few months, while the drama with the USA has been going on.

- I've tried to stay away from the news for several days in a row. And tried to close my ears to it when people have talked about it - because it's no use going and thinking about it all the time, he says.

The Tuesday walks, nature and being active have been a necessity to thrive in everyday life.

- But I would also do this even if I didn't have a stressful job. I love going to the mountains and walking up - and reaching the top of a mountain. You feel great afterwards, he says.

Not far from Tony Street, Einar Tróndheim is standing, laughing with some of the others while enjoying the view. He has to think about his answer a bit when he is asked why he goes along.

- There are many things involved when I take these walks, he says.

His family has been hit hard by cancer – among others, his mother died in 1990 from cancer, and his older sister has had breast cancer.

- That was the short answer, he says.

- But I also know a lot of people who are going along – and the walk just gives a boost.

Einar Tróndheim has the feeling that his inner battery is being charged when he is with the group out walking.

- When you come up here and enjoy the view – you are a completely different person when you come home in the evening. I think that can do something.

From a political perspective, people have been recommending that you go for walks, put your smartphone away – and generally focus more on your mental well-being in light of the unrest of recent months. Einar Tróndheim thinks that makes perfect sense.

- It is nothing more than L.O.R.T. when you open that mobile, he says.

'Prepping' and almost-cancelled holidays

Further up, Lene Kleist walks.

- It is always hard, she says breathlessly and steps one foot in front of the other.

- You never get used to it.

A few meters ahead of her, walks Pia Broberg. She has her hair tied up in a ponytail, has a musk headband around her head and is holding walking poles.

She primarily uses the hikes to keep fit and for her health, she says.

- But it also does so much for your self-esteem to be out in nature, she replies.

- Phew, she says and stops to catch her breath.

Lene Kleist catches up with her and stops too.

While you've been on these hikes, have you talked about Trump and the USA?

- Oh, yes. We have, Lene Kleist replies.

- He (Trump, ed.) was the topic of conversation a month ago.

Pia Broberg nods.

- We discussed at home whether we should go on holiday because of Trump, she says.

The holiday was bought and paid for – and then the Greenlandic government launched their crisis guidance, where they recommended that the country's citizens prepare to manage for five days without electricity, water and heating.

- And it was four days before we were supposed to leave. So we were unsafe and didn't really want to go, recalls Pia Broberg.

- We prepared at home. But that's probably what gave me worries – after we had bought all the rations, equipment and all that, says Lene Kleist.

The walks together in the hiking group have put a damper on the panic mood, she thinks.

- The only thing you think about is reaching the top, says Lene Kleist.

Better than 'office fun' and meetings

After a little over an hour, most people have reached the top. However, a few in the group remind us that you haven't really reached the top until you've touched the big red container up there.

Jan Erik Pedersen walks around handing out sweets from a small plastic bag.

- He always does that, says Einar Tróndheim.

- If you start to freeze, just do angel jumps. We'll just wait for a few, Jan Erik Pedersen shouts out to the gathering.

In addition to the healing power of nature, Jan Erik Pedersen believes that something very special also happens between people when they go for walks together.

- Everything comes naturally – conversations and the topics you bring up are much more constructive, he says.

- All the noise is gone and you get to the heart of what's going on more quickly.

And he is convinced that everyone needs that.

- Meetings should be held outside instead of in offices, says Jan Erik Pedersen.

Pia Broberg stands in the middle of the crowd and looks out over Nuuk. The sun is low and everything is blue and orange.

- I really had to push myself to get started. Right at the beginning it was the worst, but then you just enjoy the rest of the trip and forget that it is a bit hard, she says.

- Now I feel good.

Lene Kleist has also enjoyed the trip. She walks around and takes selfies together with some of the others.

- I am happy. You have reached your goal and are disconnected from everything. Your thoughts have stayed down there, she says, waving her hands in the direction of the city.

Suddenly, Jan Erik Pedersen's voice breaks through the conversation again:

- Young people!

The last ones have reached the top, and a group photo is to be taken. It's tradition. A hodgepodge of red and blue knitted hats, purple, black and white thick jackets are crowding together in front of the red container. A dog is running around, wagging its tail in the meantime.

Including the dogs there are about 43 gathered at the top this evening.

Everyone has found a place, and people smile and raise their arms while shouting in unison:

- Ajugaa!