Wednesday, 18 August 2010

back on svalbard :)

I arrived safely back on Svalbard last Friday (13th), but really haven't had much free time (hence my neglected blog!). That said, I'm so happy to be back!

Where to start then ... ? Well, I somehow managed to get all my bags and clothing stuffed with overweight items onto the plane. At Oslo aiport, I spotted a few people with fancy outdoor equipment (who would become my new class mates). Flying over Svalbard wasn't very spectacular though as it was completely covered with mist and clouds.


First sightings of Svalbard (South Cape)


Bedroom view


The summer heat at home was killing me! This is much better :)

Before leaving Svalbard last time, I can remember telling myself that it wasn't goodbye and that I would be back soon. I wasn't trying to find a way to re-create what had already been an amazing experience, but instead put my life on hold for one year (while I finished my degree) and would resume my Svalbard life later. And that's how it really feels. It's as if I had never left the island.

Anyways, at the weekend it started snowing, and there was a good couple of centimetres of snow on the ground and mountains. A few days on and most of it has melted away, but it was quite surprising to get so much snow so early in the season.

I am once again living in student halls with my fellow class-mates. So far everyone seems nice. 90% of my class is Nowegian, and the others speak Norwegian so I seem to truly be the only foreign student but oh well. I'm trying to learn some of the language, but most of our activities and class work are in English anyway.

Although we are strictly speaking not UNIS students, we still took the UNIS safety course which was lots of fun. Once again, back at the rifle range and lots of theoretical and practical knowledge about the harsh Arctic climate, first aid, emergency camps etc. As ANG students, we will be getting a lots more practice in these fields over the coming months.

Back at the rifle range ^^


Next week I will be heading out onto the Nordenskjoldbreen for 10 days of glacier training and crevasse rescue. All very exciting. And then we'll be learning about how to handle zodiac boats at sea and operate them by ourselves for a few days. So yeah right now not much to say as I settle back into Arctic life, but photos and stories from my upcoming trip will come ! :)

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 22:10

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Wednesday, 11 August 2010

1 day to go !

This time tomorrow I will be on a flight to Oslo, the first leg of my journey. Then on Friday morning I'll be flying out to Svalbard.


Right now I'm slightly anxious when I look at the size of my bag. I have already shipped 3 X 25kg boxes to Svalbard (don't ask). Although it's still the middle of summer, I will probably be wearing many layers at the airport and then take them off as soon as I pass the security checks.

Right well that's all I can write today, as I have many things to get sorted :(

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 11:08

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Tuesday, 3 August 2010

Just over a week now ...

Here I am typing my latest blog entry from a hot, sweaty and crammed London tube on my way back home from work. I leave in just over a week - but haven't had much time to think about what the next year will be like.

I will voluntarily be trading the comfort of city life to once again live on one of the world's most far flung islands. Sometimes I wonder why I'm going back ... After all city life brings many perks. And having been back to civilisation for the past year, you somehow get used to it...

The last time I went to Svalbard was for only a set time (just over a year during my year abroad) whereas this time I have no idea how long it will be. Maybe I just won't enjoy the course and then I'll back in a month or two. Or perhaps I'll end up living there for a few years.

I can't specifically remember what keeps drawing me to the Arctic, but I can remember telling myself that I must come back. And right now there isn't much telling me to stay/come back to the city.

Anyways, I just wish my bags were packed. What a contrast I'm sure next week will be ...

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 19:41

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Saturday, 12 June 2010

hat-trick of my life !

Wow what a week it’s been....

Last Saturday I got the news that I had been accepted onto the guiding course (mentioned on post below). Of course I was ecstatic about it, but in a sense I didn’t feel I could celebrate because I had a few obstacles in my way, notably the fact that I didn’t have a driving license.

You see, going back to Svalbard without a driving license is a bit annoying - more so when you are on a guiding course. This means you are not allowed to drive snow mobiles for going out on excursions. But this morning, I retook my driving test for the third time (after a two year hiatus) and passed. I had been such a nervous wreck this past week, but to me this was the most important exam ever and now I feel incredibly overjoyed to have passed.

Throw into the mix that I have also just passed all my university exams (which was a requirement to be fully accepted onto the guiding course) means I can now breathe… at least for a short while as I start a summer job this coming Monday.

The next thing I must worry about is how to get my endless hoard of kit and junk up to Svalbard by August …

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 20:44

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Saturday, 5 June 2010

:) :) :) :) :) :)

It's been just over 9 months since I got back in the UK, and I have been reluctant to post anything on my blog as 1) it would make me depressed and 2) because I'm not actually in the Arctic anymore (but things are soon to change so read on!).

It's no secret to say that I have found the past academic year (in Edinburgh, finishing my degree) extremely difficult. Surprisingly it wasn't the work load or courses that I found particularly challenging, but the fact that I was no longer on the magical island. This may sound ridiculous or perhaps even obsessive, but I reckon I have been reminiscing about my time spend on Svalbard about every other minute of every single day.

When I returned to Edinburgh last September, I somehow knew very few people in my class. Typically, I was the quiet one at the back of the room with no friends (sorry for the corniness, but I really had gone from hero to zero). But it didn’t matter as I could dream out the window and plan my next assault on the Arctic…

… which brings me onto the amazing news I got this morning: I will be moving back to Svalbard this coming fall. I applied for and have been accepted onto the Arctic Nature Guide program on Svalbard, which is a full year training scheme designed for those who want to guide around the Arctic wilderness in both summer and winter. After this, I should be able to find a job out there/in other polar regions. As always, I’m never too sure what I want to do in life so this is definitely a cross roads for me, and we’ll see where it takes me. I did work as a guide last year around the local mountains of Longyearbyen and loved it – but I also wanted to go out more serious trips, which is why the qualification I will hopefully obtain is so ideal (also, all guides will soon need to be accredited on Svalbard). Now with academia out the way, I can fully focus on all the crucial skills needed for such a job (those I tend to easily forget), such as ropework and first aid.

The course requires a decent amount of equipment (I have most of it) but still there are a few things I will need to purchase such as new walking boots, and a bit more climbing gear. So from now on I will be (even more) living on the cheap.

It hasn’t really sunk in yet though. Unlike the last time I was on Svalbard, I will be staying for at least another full year - if not more (maybe until I get bored of island life). I guess all of this shows you that if you really want something, then there is no reason why you can’t get it.

More importantly however, the reason why all of this is such exciting news is that I can now make use of my derelict domain yanninthearctic.co.uk ! I hope to revamp my website soon.

I’m finally back in business. I’m so excited :)

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 18:03

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Tuesday, 25 August 2009

:( :( :( :( :( :(

I feel as though this will be my very last blog post from "the arctic" ... Yes, the time has come for me to finally leave Svalbard.


I have really left my flight til the very last possible minute, as shortly afterwards I'll be on the train back to Edinburgh for my final year of study.

When my semester was over in June, I went on a quick holiday and then returned up here. I had one small job lined up and that was it ... but I've been here ever since! My last job has been doing some lab work at UNIS as well as guiding tourists up the local mountains. It's all been really fun, and I was surprised at how easy it was to find a job up here.

As you can probably guess, I really really really do not want to go back. I really cannot believe this year is over.

If I could do it all over again. And so I will. Next summer I'll be back on Svalbard for sure - don't know what for yet, but I will.

If ever I update my blog in the future, I hope to add some more photos and maybe give a few more details as to how it's been living up here for a year ... but right now I must hurry as my plane will leave very soon!

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 12:14

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Saturday, 18 July 2009

back

I guess it's been very quiet on my blog, as officially it was the end of the term a month ago ... but I'm actually still on Svalbard right now so I feel I must live up to the title of this website!


Flying back to Svalbard ... slushy snow storm soon afterwards

So many things have happened lately, that I don't feel I have time to talk about them right now. Briefly, I went back home on the 14th June for a few days. It was really hard saying goodbye to everybody, but I'm pretty sure many of us will keep in touch :). A few days later I went trekking in the Jotunheimen region in Norway, all fun: we went up the two highest peaks, had amazing weather (so warm!) and got eaten by mosquitoes at one point.

On top of Norway - Galdhpiggen, Jotunheimen

I had managed to get myself a small job at the Norwegian Polar Institute, helping with a reindeer survey of Adventdalen. I must say, it was the most fun fieldwork I've ever done. We were so lucky with the weather, and the team was just great.

Trekking through Helvetiadalen

Counting reindeer. Cute yearling



Arriving at the Passhyta hut

After a long day crossing marshlands and streams

Here are a few pics from a BBQ I went to a few days after coming back. Everything was so perfect, and we had brilliant views.



 

posted by Yann Rashid on 15:24

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Wednesday, 10 June 2009

:(

Right well I guess these are my last few days on Svalbard (*although, I will be coming back!) ...

This is the part I hate the most: everybody is leaving and going back to their home which quite often is half way round the world. I kinda forgot this time would come again, and it's difficult thinking that one moment they are there and the next they are gone.

I had my last exam yesterday (let's not talk about it!), and so I've been so preoccupied studying, that I haven't even managed to say goodbye to half the people here. Right now I'm still ok, but I know it will be really tough on the last day. This year has really gone by in a flash, and I would do it all over again.

Summer is on it's way, and there is now lots of life. I can hear foxes, little auks, geese and snow buntings just outside my barrack. A real contrast to what it has been like for the past few months.

*But anyways, maybe I didn't mention this before, but as soon as I get back to the UK next Sunday, I am heading back to Norway (out of all places) to trek round the Jotunheimen region, and then I'm flying back to Svalbard in July to count reindeer with the Norwegian Polar Institute (for 2 weeks). So in a sense I know I will see Svalbard again very soon, but it won't be the same without all the people :(

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 11:59

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Saturday, 6 June 2009

exausted

This morning I completed the Svalbard half marathon. I've always wanted to do it, but somehow hadn't realised how soon it arrived, and so basically did no training at all.

Long story cut short, I arrived 7th overall (out of the 60 men/women running the half marathon), but 4th in my age class (18-39 Men). What's more, the top 4 people in my age class are all UNIS students. My time was ok, 1 hour 42 mins and 6 seconds - but compared to much larger marathons it's not amazing. However what I have learnt from this is that I can run it, and that perhaps with a little more training I could do much better - at least so that I am not in as much pain as I am in right now :S ... also, I need to train loads more this the forthcoming OMM ...

Results :)
The exam on Tuesday is going to kill me. I still don't know much, and I struggling to understand the genetics. Arg. I took some photos from the room I study in - this is why I get distracted.

View 1

View 2

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 23:46

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Thursday, 4 June 2009

aaaaargh, so dead in so many ways :(

I had my first exam the day before yesterday, and have my next one next Tuesday.

The only problem is I don't know ANYTHING for this next exam. It's so difficult revising. It's so sunny outside, and all I can see are snow capped mountains and glaciers flowing into the sea.

What's more is that I have just signed myself up for the Svalbard half marathon. I've been wanting to do it for ages, but somehow I haven't gotten round to do any training :S - and it's this coming Saturday! The way I see it is that if I struggle I will just give up and get back to studying. I tell myself I must go for some practice runs, but I'm so tired everyday - but tonight I will test myself. It's prob quite silly doing something like this, but I've already paid the non-refundable entrance fee. In any case I need some training for the OMM.

Also, right after exams I'm heading off to Norway for a few weeks trekking in the Jotunheimen region. I just shouldn't distract myself too much with this.

Hmm about photos I don't have many from the past few days/weeks. Last week we played volleyball against Barentsburg which was fun, but we lost lol.

Basketball match against Barentsburg

Volleyball match against Barentsburg

UNIS, just another season

avalanche outside Nybyen

Mist outside my window

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 11:44

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Tuesday, 19 May 2009

go Norway!

The past two days have been quite special in Norway (hence Svalbard). You see, on the 16th May they won the Eurovision and then the next day was the  "17th May" which is one of the biggest dates in the calendar, representing when Norway was declared an independent nation.

And so, on the 16th we organised this Eurovision party in my kitchen. I managed to get hold of a projector and a screen from UNIS (this would never happen back at home!), and we streamed the event live from the Internet. We had a really great time and loads of people turned up (some in silly dress, including myself) - mainly because we knew Norway had a good chance of wining. Everybody knew the song which was really nice. After the victory was announced, we all headed over to Husset to celebrate. It was empty when we got there, but we really did bring the party down there and as the night went by more and more people arrived. They must have played that Fairytale song around 5 times, but every time they did everybody went mad.

Waiting for the Eurovision results


Norway wins ^^


Student celebrating Norway's victory on the roof


Students singing along :)


We got out at 4AM, and it was absolutely freezing outside (none of us were dressed appropriately for the Arctic) and the sun was shining in our eyes. I quickly went to bed, knowing I had to wake up at 8AM for the morning celebrations (for the 17th of May) where we organised a massive breakfast :p

Waving the UNIS flag down the 17th May parade


 

posted by Yann Rashid on 22:17

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Sunday, 10 May 2009

last scooter trip :)

Yesterday I went on the most amazing scooter trip ever. This one will prob be my last one since the snow is rapidly melting away. However for the past few days we have had a cold snap meaning the snow was a bit more stable and not disappearing as fast.

Six of us set off on five scooters, and our aim was to reach Vårsolbukta which is situated on the West coast. What's funny is that I actually went there a few months ago by boat during our Biology cruise (it's a barnacle goose pre-breeding site).

Even though we were on a scooter most of the day (and the weather got rubbish towards the end), we still had many breaks allowing us to appreciate the views.  The mountains were just amazing, so jagged and different to those found around Longyearbyen. For a mini expedition it would be a bit far to reach, but for once it made me appreciate having a scooter.

Setting off in the morning

The long road ahead



We didn't see any polar bears :( but we did cross their tracks ^^

Oooh yeah :D

So cool

Driving up glaciers ...


Arriving at Vårsolbukta - the most incredible landscape. Very very windy though ...


So dramatic

On the way back we passed by Barentsburg, the most disgusting place on the planet.

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 12:02

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Friday, 8 May 2009

visiting BSES

A few days ago I went out by scooter to visit BSES at Tempelfjorden. As you prob know by now, I went to Svalbard with BSES back in 2006. I got an email from them asking if I could pass by with some spare ski bindings, so it was a good excuse to go out before the snow all melted away.

I can remember when I was a YE how some people came to visit us, and gave us some fruit, and how grateful I was. And so this was also the opportunity to keep the tradition, and surprise this year's YE's with a delivery of fresh fruit and chocolate :)

The weather was great, and I was surprised at how much snow there was still left in Sassendalen - nothing like Longyearbyen where everything is melting away like crazy. It was really nice seeing the team again and catching up with them. I think the YEs' were just glad to speak to some new people. Later that evening an Arctic fox came out.

When I was at Tempelfjorden back in 2006, the fjord hadn't even frozen over, and so I was slightly jealous that they had an amazing campsite this year :)

BSES Campsite, looking over to Templet

Mr Fox comes to visit

Looking over the fjord with Wimanfjellet in background

BSES Base Camp 2

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 13:32

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sigh ...

Urg once again so rubbish at this blog. My main problem is that too many things happen, and I just don't have the time to write about them. Also, I need to resize all my photos manually and then upload them on photobucket, make a small HTML code and paste the code for each photo incoorporated onto this blog (if that makes any sense). Reason being is that I don't like the default photo settings on blogspot.


Anyways, I just thought I would quickly upload a few photos from just a few mins ago. Long story cut short: the melt is on its way. Things have already started to melt, however for the past 2 days the temperature has gone down again and we have had crisp, sunny weather, and the snow has managed to be stable again. However the temperature is on the rise again and I know it will soon all disappear :(

08.05.09 Outside my window ... still lots of snow ...

08.05.09 Photo taken at 01.30AM by the way ;)

sigh ...

I promise I have more posts in the works at the moment, and will upload all of them in one go lol.

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 01:28

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Thursday, 7 May 2009

field work part 2 - Billefjorden

Last Monday I went to Billefjorden, my last fieldwork trip of the season. We went out to conduct the same experiment as at Templefjorden i.e. finding out what phyto and zooplankton are living below the ice, and how the ice and sunlight affect their "bloom".

The weather was set to be a bit rubbish, and as some of the sea ice had already disappeared, we took the long way round to Billefjorden. At first I wasn't really looking forward to such a long trip, especially since we had been warned it might take forever and that previous groups got back at 1AM and 5AM (a few weeks before).

However, in the end, it actually went really well. The scooter trip itself didn't last half as long as I expected, and it was quite enjoyable. The scenery (even with the clouds) was amazing but we didn't really get the chance to stop (mainly because we were in a hurry to get things down before the weather deteriorated).

On our way to Billefjorden



When we finally got there, I couldn't believe how much sea ice there was left ... over 1 metre (that's good compared to other places where it's already breaking up). I was responsible for drilling holes in the ice, and then collecting ice core samples (45 of them!). All I can say is that it left me with a very sore back for a few days. Hmmff.

What was silly is that we were right next to Pyramiden, an abandoned Russian settlement. I have yet to visit it, but we didn't have time to scooter across :( ... shame, but I guess I'll see it one day ;) .

Pyramid shaped mountain - giving the name to : ...



On the way back we saw loads of seals, and then later drove through a whiteout. Last time (at Templefjorden) I was falling asleep at the back of the scooter, so this time I ensured to have some headphones in my ears and drink a coffee before leaving lol :)

I was so exhausted that evening, and the following week we had labs ALL day. Very tiring stuff and now I must start working on my report :(

Nordenskioldbreen, Billefjorden, right next to our science base

Cool science

Melt water obstacle to tackle on the way back

What we found in the water

Later on in the lab ... Calanus!
... and Krill! They look evil with those beedy eyes :(

 

posted by Yann Rashid on 12:02

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