Svalbard Part 2

| May 19, 2011

Noah Howell and I have returned from Dicksonland where we found some, uhmm, firm, skiing and unfortunately almost no wind for kiting, which was a shame as the area is a kiter’s dream.  We started on a glacier, then work our way down towards the sea-ice, camped for a few days, then crossed the sea-ice and spent about four days at the abandoned mining town of Pyramide.  Shut down in 1998/9, there was something about hanging out in a town that use to have 2,000 people in it that made it very, very creepy in a Stephen King kind of way.  But, the skiing was good.

After being just the two of us so far on this trip, it is fun to see other people starting to arrive from all other parts of the world (with a strong emphasis on the Tahoe7Truckee area) and get psyched up to go out on another aventure.  The boat is a Challenge 67, which was built as one of 16 identical boats for a “wrong way” around the world sailing race.  It is steel hulled and capable of bounching off of ice and should hold our crew comfortably.  Out plan is to head up to the north and see what kind of mountains there are to ski in the area.  With 24 hours of BEAMING sunlight, the schedule is wide open  and the plan is to take things as they come.  It should be fun!

Category: Random

About the Author ()

Andrew McLean lives in Park City, Utah and is a gear designer, writer, photographer, ski mountaineer, climber, Mountain Unicycle rider and father of two very loud little girls.

Comments (3)

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  1. Jimmy says:

    This comment has nothing to do with your trip. I just wanted to say the book you’re currently reading (Go the F**K to Sleep) is the best F%@king children’s book I have ever read. A must own for parents with youngins!

  2. Terry says:

    Great to hear what’s going on Andrew. Hope you can post up some pics when you are near hi speed access.

    Have fun!

  3. Andrew says:

    :) Yes, it’s a good one, eh? I’d love to see a follow-up entitled “Eat Your F**king Food.”

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