Thursday, 11 September 2008
Back from Svea ... and first Polar Bear sighting !!!
I went to Svea for the past couple of days on fieldwork - as part of the Arctic Technology course I am doing out here (around 50km down south).
Last time I came to Svalbard for 3 entire months and didn't get to see a single bear, even though we were in the middle of nowhere at times. Out of the entire expedition I was one of the only ones not to see one. Therefore I was so please that this time it finally happened, and from a safe distance
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
2 more to go!
Yesterday afternoon after lectures, Siv and I set out to bag another peak, as part of a competition the local gym is organising (only have 7 and 8 left).
The aim is to climb 10 of Longyearbyen's surrounding peaks by October. Those who sign all the guestbooks at the top of each mountain may win a prize.
I have noticed that there are actually quite a few people who have completed the challenge, and so I guess there is very little chance I win anything, but it's still a fun challenge.
So yeah, about yesterday's peak - we left at 3.30PM by bike down Longyearbyen, past the airport, round the coast and into Bjorndalen. Then by foot up the valley and up the mountain - and back down again (peak 10 on the map). Unless I am mistaken and measured it all wrong, we covered just over 44km in one afternoon ! All that and back in under 6 hours. We didn't stay long at the top as it was absolutly freezing - in fact there was frost and frozen puddles (winter is on it's way).
On the way down we passed a fresh dead reindeer that had recently collapsed in a stream, and it's eyes had been eaten by gulls! Always be careful what you drink!
The other day I volunteered to be the Tresurer this year so I am responsible for managing the student budget this year. I also put my name down for the student equipment along with three other people - so I should soon be getting the keys to the treasure trove!
Other than that, I really must get along with a project I have been assigned.
On Friday I leave for Svea by plane as part of the Arctic Technology fieldwork. How cool is that - by plane! I'm sure it will beat the Edinburgh minibus ;) .
Monday, 1 September 2008
UNIS pictures
Finally, some pictures of my beloved university ! Compare this to for example Appleton tower in Edinburgh; and I quote from Wikipedia:
The geneticist Steve Jones has nominated "the ugliness of the Appleton Tower" as one of the wonders of the world for a BBC2 TV show. Early in 2005, a student newspaper launched a campaign to nominate it for the Channel 4 series Demolition – a series about the "worst buildings in Britain". The Tower did not make the final twelve. Later, in the same year, Historic Scotland considered giving the building listed status, but after opposition it was removed from the list.
(ok I'm being a bit harsh. Edinburgh does have *some* nice buildings ...)
random
(much nicer than my first year at Edinburgh)
Sunday, 31 August 2008
back on svalbard (again)
I have spent the past few days back in London and have just returned to Longyearbyen. It was so nice seeing friends and family again. It felt like going to China or something, since it was so hot and humid - or at least here is cold and dry.
I also made sure to eat as much as possible: I was literally stuffing my face with cake, doughnuts, puff pastries, croissants, lattes, chocolate eclairs, fruit salad ... basically all the things I crave for but cannot get hold of in Svalbard.
I also (finally) bought a bike which means going to lectures in the morning is not so difficult.
What's really silly is that the flight to Svalbard are NOT compatible with any other flight i.e. you leave Oslo either very early in the morning or very late at night. And whatever connection you have to Oslo, you will still need to wait a long time. And so there I was last night in Oslo airport, waiting for my next flight which would be leaving 12 hours later. I basically listened to music the whole time and got no sleep at all.
When I finally arrived in Longyearbyen, I was asked if I wanted to play water polo in kayaks at the pool, which I of course agreed. I kept toppling over but it was still lots of fun - can't wait to try again. So yeah - a non-stop day :)
I still have those three peaks to conquer though ...
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
1 month so far ...
I have been here exactly one month now. Can't believe how quickly it's gone (let's hope it doesn't go too fast!)
The other day marked the end of the midnight sun :( It will soon get dark very quickly. That said, there will be a period of continual sunset and then a period of twilight.
Poor Svalbard has the shortest summer ever. In Biology they want us to appreciate how abundant life is during the summer - and now it will all go away. I don't think I will even be able to go on many excursions during the night.
Yesterday I went swimming in the local pool. It was so much fun, and I swear the pool is bigger than the one next to my house in Edinburgh. There weren't many people which was cool (I doubt it gets any busier) and above all, it has a sauna!
I am going home tomorrow for a few days which will be nice. I can't wait to eat proper food and lots of it! I also hope to fill my bag up with goodies.
Sunday, 24 August 2008
4 days, 4 peaks
The next day we went over Plateaufjellet which wasn't too hard but really enjoyable nonetheless. At the top we got to see an arctic fox.
That's supposed to be a fox ...
Day 3 was the best day by far. I was so determined to get over Trollsteinen again that we took a completely different route (which happened to be the longest) but it didn't matter. We had awesome views from the top.
View of Adventdalen from the top
The final day we set off for Nordenskioldfjellet, the highest mountain around Longyearbyen (1050m - not that high but still). It was a really easy plod along a ridge that kept going up and up and up. We got over the cloudline but rapidly came down because of the cold.
So far I have conquered 7 of of the surrounding mountains. There is a small competition which involves climbing the 10 surrounding mountains - and we have until October to participate. I have three more to do, which are all quite far away. Hmmm....
