It's been a sunny day in Spitsbergen and we are enjoying the beauty of this incredible island. The last couple of days have been busy with the arrivals of our team members including all of our last degree skiers who are currently on their Polar Shakedown Training. They have great weather with temperatures around minus 14 C and light wind. It will be colder at the North Pole but this will ease them into their camp routines and sled hauling. As I write this they are likely finishing their dinner of dehydrated food (actually quite good!) and getting ready for a cozy night in the tents. Tomorrow they will ski back to Longyearbyen and enjoy a comfortable bed and showers for a few nights before they depart again for the North Pole.
Several of our other team members have arrived as well. Six of them are spending tonight on a sailing schooner that is frozen in a beautiful fjord far from the hustle and bustle of Longyearbyen. The ship is called the Noorderlicht and it is a delight to visit. There's a good chance of seeing wildlife including reindeer, seals, and possibly polar bear. As I write this they are likely finishing a delicious home cooked meal before retiring either to the ship's library for a night cap or the cozy berths. Or they may opt to take a quick walk on deck to look for polar bear and seals. The sun will set but it will not dip far below the horizon, thus it is unlikely they will see the aurora borealis even though they may be occurring. Rather if they look out their cabin porthole during the middle of the night it will look like dusk.
Tomorrow will be another busy day and we look forward to keeping you posted with our adventures. Thanks for following the blog and check back in tomorrow for another update. The audio dispatches from the teams will start on April 9, tomorrow!
