First Full Day On Trail

The team broke camp for the first time this morning. They were treated to another beautiful day on Svalbard. They had a great day skiing through gorgeous, snowy valleys underneath a bluebird sky. The winds were light and the temps were chilly (-5 F / -20 C).

So, back to beginning. Where is the team exactly? They are on Svalbard, an Arctic archipelago under the sovereignty of Norway. The team is on the largest island of the archipelago, Spitsbergen. And they spent the days leading up to the journey in the town of Longyearbyen.

Longyearbyen is the northernmost settlement in the world with a population larger than 1,000. Despite it's high northerly latitude (78.22 degrees), it is a remarkably comfortable town both in terms of climate and conveniences.

The West Spitsbergen Current envelopes the area in relatively warm water which greatly impacts the air temperature. Longyearbyen is roughly 36 degrees Fahrenheit / 20 Celsius warmer than similar latitudes in Canada and Russia during the winter months.

Longyearbyen also offers quite an array of nice hotels, restaurants, and shops. That comes in handy for expeditioners who forgot to pack any essential gear items. And that first shower after the trip is extra nice in a cozy hotel room.

Thanks for following and check back for more updates from the team!