Pointing out the benefits of carbon infused antiflatulance underwear.
Polar bears? Bring’em on.
TO modeling a Spitsbergen sweater.
Casting off on the good ship Arctica II while flying the Ice Axe flag.
Anne heading down to the Zodiac for the first trip of the day.
Willy schralping pow.
Dinner is served. Way better than hanging out in a moist tent!
Storming the beaches with Helga, Scott and John.
John in the open bowl above a nice couloir.
One of the few people who can make you laugh while checking your beacon…
An incredible day of touring and skiing.
Topping out on one of many beautiful peaks.
JC heading up a valley. A few minutes later we crossed Polar Bear tracks.
JC skiing down.
On the beach with Arctica II in the background.
Hiking attire Svalbard style.
TO and JC walking next to a large ice fall.
Booting up sustained ridge.
What skiing in Svalbard is all about.
Evening light, although “evening” is a relative term up here. At night, you can hear the seals howling through the steel hull – it kind of reminds me of coyotes, except the seals have a long, low “OoooooOOOooooo” sound.
Alex, Willy and EK in the cockpit.
JC with the Tre Kroner (Three Kings) in the background.
JC skiing.
Anne looking fresh after three laps.
Apre ski Svalbard style.
Barentsberg with an old phone and a very cool boat. I really wanted a tour of this vessel.
TO versus Scott at the Barentsberg arm wrestling table.
Lenin looking over Barentsberg.
Willie chatting on the phone while a huge red bear sniffs his, uhmm, pants.
Back at the dock after the first week.
I think I blew my shoulders out trying to hang off of Nick (left) and Scott (right).
Welcome to Longyearbyen – please don’t bring your guns into the bank.
Beachside filming.
EK, aka Annie Oakley of the far north.
Skiing in a white-out.
Topping out on the high point of a small island.
About to drop in with the Arctica II below.
Helga and Stein serving up apps.
Bergie bits.
Random cool artwork in Pyramiden.
The last bucket of coal taken from the Pyramiden mine.
New friends at the Pyramiden bar.
Doing our best to look serious and professional.
Gary leading the pack.
Matt and Todd in a summit cloud.
Heading back to the boat after lap one.
Jeremy topping out.
EK topping out.
Paul topping out.
Skip topping out while wearing his trademark smile.