A few more photos of the northern lights for you to enjoy...
Monday, March 15, 2010
Pingos and more
Our third excursion was much shorter, but very beautiful. We stopped to look at a pingo, a 'lump' of sediment and ice formed from water fountaining out of the glacier surface, which once climbed gave a good view over the surrounding scenery. We then continued to another glacier, to look at 'icings': areas of ice in front of the glacier formed by outflow of englacial water from the glacier during the winter. We drove up into the accumulation zone to have a look at an experiment being conducted up there, before heading home.
The drive home was stunning. It was the first time we had really seen the sun, and we drove straight into it for a good proportion of the drive. With it low in the sky, beautiful shadows were formed against an otherwise almost entirely white backdrop of snow, glaciers, valleys and peaks. Unfortunately the lack of stops, the cold, and the fast driving speed allowed no photos of this. It is not something I will forget for a while though.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
First Time Skiing
Today was my first attempt at skiing. After eventually finding enough skiis, boots and skins for all of us on Thursday and Friday, we were disappointed to find we couldn't go on Saturday because of a storm. Today (Sunday) the weather seemed to have cleared somewhat, so off we set!
With skins attached (like carpet for the bottom of your skiis), and some tips from Allen, Sam and Anna-Marie, I soon got the hang of going uphill. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't pretty, but I was moving! In fact I found it easier than climbing on foot as we did last week. Again we climbed longyearbreen as it has a shallower descent, but it was still fast enough for me. We turned round half way up the glacier as we could see the weather closing in. There was a light snowfall all day, but at times the katabatic winds picked up, and we got snowblasted, so felt it safer to make a descent in the light and before the visibility got too poor.
Downhill was rather faster, and there was a lot more to learn at a quick pace. Allen and the others had some great tips and I soon swung from falling over every other second to once every 30 seconds! The breakthrough was when I eventually got the hang of standing straight in the body and bending my knees, not leaning forwards, and found it is possible to make turns without falling down and skidding along scooping snow up. The final part of the descent I made without a fall, and were it not for the weather I would have wanted to go up and try again. I may ache tomorrow, but for now, all is good!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Northern Lights
And so I have seen them. The Northern Lights. So I thought I would share them...
northern lights I
Northern lights II
Longyear Life
Living out here is a bit different to home. I thought I would note a few things down:
1. Going anywhere that involves going outside is a mission. At least 5 minutes extra time is needed just to put on boots, ski pants, down sweaters, jackets, scarves, hats, gloves...
2. You burn off way more food just staying alive here...which gives a great excuse to eat copious amounts of chocolate.
3. Wind is way more of a problem than temperature in keeping the frostbite away. You look like a terrorist or bank robber when the wind blows as everything is covered up. 
Mostly covered
Completely covered
4. Food costs an absolute fortune. 6 pounds for a red pepper anyone? Or how about 10 pounds for a block of tasteless cheese! I have eaten proper meat only once while being here. And I have never eaten so much pasta- what a good job I like it.
5. Your hair cannot ever look good. Hats do dreadful things to freshly washed hair.
6. I miss the sun.
7. I like dry snow to walk on, but you can't make snowballs with it.
8. Ice caves are stunning (although you wont get me down too narrow a cave).
9. Scooters are far too noisy and smelly, but are essential to travel any distance here.
10. The view never gets boring- it is always different even though it is always the same.
11. There are no trees. Or much of anything other than snow and ice, and a few rocks, and in places a few buildings.
12. Live ammunition freaks me out. Polar bears are even worse. Always be with someone with a gun.
13. Nostrils can freeze shut.
14. The Arctic is beautiful.
15. So are the northern lights.
16. Cheese and ham mixed in a tube is wrong. There is just nothing right about it!
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