Kapp Linne on a shoe string

After three months of winter here on Svalbard, one thing is clear: student life in the Arctic is hard. But hopefully I (Felix) will be able to show how we lack no comfort on our student budget.

At Kapp Linne, a 100km scooter ride from Longyearbyen, a tourism company has taken on the history 'Isfjord Radio Station' and transformed it into a luxury hotel, with rooms in the high season going for as much as some of the best spa hotels at home.

The tea room a Isfjord Radio Hotel

But fortunately, Norwegians love their cabins, and in a place like Longyearbyen, where the average stay of a resident is only four years, clubs have taken on the responsibility and ownership of cabins all around Spitsbergen. Anka, Sam, Vanessa and I took the opportunity and rented such a cabin at Kapp Linne.

The cozy 'Russekeila' cabin

The cabin was situated about 10min from the luxury hotel, so we enjoyed a cup of coffee/tea as well as the diverse bird life at Isfjord Radio. Migratory birds are coming back to Svalbard with snow buntings, common eiders, king eiders, northern fulmars and kittiwakes being common sightings around the shores. We also went for a walk on Linnevatnet, the largest lake on Svalbard. The lake ice is currently about 1.5m thick, underneath hides a population of Arctic Char. Without a rod and ice drilling equipment, we missed out on the fishing. But a pot of homemade Chili and some card games in the cabin concluded a wonderful day out at Kapp Linne, with great impressions the landscape and wildlife on the outermost tip of Isfjorden.
The sea ice in Grønfjorden (contrary to the lake ice) was not thick enough to travel on, and we stayed well clear of it when going back to Longyearbyen. When we went to Barentsburg on a field trip one week later, all the ice had broken up.

Grønfjorden with the ice edge on the right side and the Russian settlement of Barentsburg on the opposite shore

After such a great cabin trip, we had gathered enough energy to face the period of report deadlines and exams. Who knows, maybe hardship will finally get to us with all the academic work of the next weeks.

Field work At -205

Field trip to Svea for AT – 212 Rock Mechanics

This field trip started with an amazing trip across Svalbard by plane to Svea the view was amazing:

The accommodation was lovely and the food was amazing (we didn’t have to cook!) It is also very good food. With a lovely view across the fjord. For those of you who have been involved with SAMS for a while you may remember Carl Ballantine, who is currently working in Svea for Aquaplan on an experiment in the fjord. The next day we began at 8 am for safety briefings and to be issued all of our equipment:

Once in the mine the work begun looking at all different supporting systems and faults in the mine.

Of course paying special attention to new construction and the types of bolts used in a coal mine:

Comparing old and new technology’s and the 2 long walls, the old long wall the mining was carried out 80cm for the control stations and you can walk easily the whole way. The new long wall is remote controlled with in the mine and is very complicated I can just about stand in between the panels whilst every one else has to crouch:

The day in the mine was brilliant, the white suits did not stay white for long at all. The next day was more of a geological day, looking a core samples.

The final day was spend learning about the cleaning facilities for the coal and a tour of the whole of Svea. Before flying back to Longyear.