Svalbard Expedition 2018
Mar 23
#3: Tempelfjorden
Published at 20:34
The March temperatures have been much milder than the last couple
of years where we had -35c and colder. Personally I like those cold temps but for the uninitiated they are a huge challenge if not dangerous.
Usually my trips experience 24-hour daylight but Svalbard this time of year is still dark at night, a nice change. A month from now though and we’ll be back to perpetual light. Overnight we cocoon ourselves in thick synthetic sleeping bags, hat, thermals and thick socks on together with a hot water bottle, and lying on double mattresses.
After a late start due to a stove problem we skied over 12km across the flat fiord ice of Tempelfjorden, one of the most spectacular locations on the polar planet. Lined with jagged mountains and a glacial ice face at its head there is no better place to spend a day ski touring. We stopped each hour to feed and water, and to patch up some blisters on DeNise’s feet. Everyone is doing great and it’s awesome to be in the company of adventurers.
We are now camped near Tunabreen (Tuna Glacier) and will tomorrow make our way up Von Postbreen and into the highlands.
What a place.
Eric
Pics:
1. Ant and Matt stride out on the frozen fiord.
2. Twilight view from my tent towards Von Postbreen
of years where we had -35c and colder. Personally I like those cold temps but for the uninitiated they are a huge challenge if not dangerous.
Usually my trips experience 24-hour daylight but Svalbard this time of year is still dark at night, a nice change. A month from now though and we’ll be back to perpetual light. Overnight we cocoon ourselves in thick synthetic sleeping bags, hat, thermals and thick socks on together with a hot water bottle, and lying on double mattresses.
After a late start due to a stove problem we skied over 12km across the flat fiord ice of Tempelfjorden, one of the most spectacular locations on the polar planet. Lined with jagged mountains and a glacial ice face at its head there is no better place to spend a day ski touring. We stopped each hour to feed and water, and to patch up some blisters on DeNise’s feet. Everyone is doing great and it’s awesome to be in the company of adventurers.
We are now camped near Tunabreen (Tuna Glacier) and will tomorrow make our way up Von Postbreen and into the highlands.
What a place.
Eric
Pics:
1. Ant and Matt stride out on the frozen fiord.
2. Twilight view from my tent towards Von Postbreen
- Name: Camp 2
- Elevation: 5 m
- Latitude: 78° 25’ 12” North
- Longitude: 17° 21’ 27” East
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