Scott-Turnerbreen Ice Cave and Snow Pits

Setting off

On the scooter

Ladder in

Walkway

Looking up

Walking in a glacier

Waterfall formations

Me in the cave

Fun digging

Digging the snow pit

Finished pit

Scooter suits

View from Scott-Turnerbreen

Scooter-park

Our first course excursion was to Scott-Turnerbreen, a glacier about an hour away by scooter. This time, I was a passenger and so got to enjoy the scenery as we drove, but also was the one who got their leg stuck under the scooter when we tipped over! Thankfully it was just bruised.

We arrived at the glacier and found ourselves in the first group into the ice cave. After a short slide in and a ladder down, we were in the main meltwater channel, twisting and turning along inside the glacier. Above our heads were some amazing ice formations, and plenty of icicles. The majority of the time we could walk along, but parts were shallower and so we were on our knees or sliding along on our bums! The cave was amazing, not like anything I have seen before.

Next, we had to dig a snowpit to get some data for mass balance calculations later on. The pit we dug was about 1.3m deep, 1m wide, and 2m long. Big enough for the three of us to hide out of the wind. Digging kept us warm, although I have to say I probably did the least digging!

The Old Mine

First views

The climb

Reindeer I

Reindeer II

Allen and Longyear

Pink over the fjord

Sam, Anne-Marie, Alba and Allen

Me

On the first Sunday here, we climbed up to the disused mine above Longyearbyen. The going was pretty hard as it was so steep you had to bash footholds in with your boots. However, it gave us a much better view of the town spread below us. We also got up close to some reindeer.