Crossing Svalbard South to North

We will meet at 15:00 at Mary-Ann's Polarrigg to go over the plan for tomorrow's packing. We do a round of looking over the individual's equipment and see if anything needs to be purchased for the next day. The planned route is ready, but we take a look to prepare ourselves for the adventure that awaits in the next few days. In the evening we have a joint dinner to mark the start of the adventure (not included). NOTE: Accommodation in Longyearbyen before and after the tour is not included, and must be arranged on an individual basis, but we can of course help with this.

We will meet after breakfast to make the final preparations based on how we agreed to distribute the tasks the night before. Food must be packed, sleds must be prepared, and the last minute purchases must be made.

After two days of preparation in Longyearbyen, the trip starts after breakfast, with an approx. 4 hour scooter transport to the border of South-Spitsbergen National Park. From here and all the way to the south snowmobiles are not allowed, so we start the trip by walking 10 miles to the southern tip of the island before we can turn around and go north. We are soon alone in the wilderness and from here and the next 30 days it is our small team that will work together to get all the way to the northernmost point on Verlegenhuken. The expedition ahead of us is both intimidating and alluring, none of us will return home from this trip without Svalbard's mighty nature leaving its mark on us. We will share the ups and downs. We have few opportunities to communicate with the outside world before we are back in Longyearbyen. The satellite communication we have with us is used to obtain weather reports and to send a log that those at home can read. We plan for long days spent skiing, but we will have a leisurely pace and take breaks along the way. We will plan the route in relation to the weather, and take the path of least resistance- our route can be adjusted along the way. Upon arrival at the campsite each evening, everyone helps to set up camp, dig living walls and cooling pits. Melting water, making dinner, reflecting on the day and exchanging experiences will be our nightly routine. The polar bear is the king of this island and when we stay outside for so many days there is a good chance that we will meet one. It is a powerful experience to meet a polar bear, but ideally we want to see it before it sees us. We carry weapons with us on the whole trip and in areas where there is a higher probability of encountering bears, we will take turns sitting on polar bear watch through the night. Everyone will receive training in the use of a signal gun to scare away the bear if necessary. We take every precaution to avoid an encounter with a polar bear, but in case our paths cross we must be prepared.

These are the four things we will do for a total of up to 30 days and nights. Tour life is characterized by routines and the weather is the boss of how our days turn out. As the days go by, life at home feels far away, and it's nice to live the simple life. No worries about what to wear today or what to remember to buy at the store. You have what you need and the meals for the next month are packed into the sled. We work together as a team to get towards the goal, taking turns to navigate and to be the front plow if necessary. Sometimes you need to help someone in the team with weight from their sled and another day you will need help yourself. On a trip as long as this we will all have ups and downs, no one is just strong or just tired, everyone is both. The landscape in which we move is constantly changing, we cross huge glaciers where everything is flat, we fight our way up long hills, maybe we move down onto the sea ice, unless the ice conditions require us to walk around. In the south we encounter a wonderland of sharp peaks and valleys, few are lucky enough to move in this remote but beautiful landscape. In Svalbard, everything is a little further away and a little bigger than it appears at first glance, but also infinitely beautiful. We move at a time of year when it is mostly light all day, giving us extra energy to go on even if the days are long and tiring. Even though it is bright most of the time, it is not certain that we will see the sun everyday. The weather is capricious and sometimes it is so white with fog that we can't even see the tops of our skis. Then it is important to stick together and contribute to navigation, because it is exhausting to navigate in whiteout. Other days it may be the wind that presents us with a challenge and we may have to have a rest day or two if the wind is too strong to go outside the tent. In any case, the weather helps to color our experience and it is the contrasts that make this trip an exciting adventure. With the knowledge that the nice weather won't last forever, we always appreciate the days when the sun is high in a blue sky and we can eat lunch without mittens.

After reaching the northernmost point on the point of Verlegenhuken on Spitsbergen, we can begin to prick our ears to identify the sound of snowmobiles that will pick us up and drive us the 26 miles back to Longyearbyen. On the way back, we will see parts of the route we have walked. It will be emotional to hear the sound of the scooters coming to pick us up after our trip from south to north in what is the world's best preserved wilderness. In Longyearbyen, comforts such as a shower, bed, clean clothes, food that requires more than just a spoon to eat and the opportunity to connect with the outside world await. In such a long time, it is difficult to know exactly which day we are in position for collection, it may be an extra day or two in Longyearbyen if we have had good conditions during the trip. Depending on the time of day and which day we return to Longyearbyen, we will all gather for a joint dinner and raise our glasses in a toast to the trip. NOTE: Remember to order a flexible return ticket, as it may happen that we are stuck in the weather for a few extra days and there may therefore be a need to adjust the ticket slightly.

After a quiet morning with a good breakfast it's time to say goodbye and go home, now everyday life awaits. The trip is over, but the memories of Svalbard remain forever.