Preparing for Spitzbergen

July 19th we are flying in to Longyearbyen (Spitzbergen) the northernmost town in the world. Ahead of us a 4 weeks journey around the exposed northwest corner passing majestic glaciers and landing on the most remote beaches. The  kayaks and will be shipped by boat. The team is Per-Thore Hansen, Hege Hansen, Petter Thorsen and Josh Barns.

Last time we were up here  (april 2009) was for another purpose – the NORUK north pole expedition. 4 friends in the team: Bob Russel (adventurer, UK), Ceri Williams (mountain guide and paddler, UK), Per-Thore Hansen (musher, NOR) and myself (skier – testing the thin ice for the boys…). The expedition was cold, fun and successful.

The NORUK-team on the top of the world (April 11. 2009)

Preparations for the Spitzbergen kayak expedition is going well with training trip in Norway, north of the polar circle. Hamarøy is a great place to be. The midnight sun is here now and we have lots of white beaches to land on.

As always, when the expedition is approaching all the small details are on your mind day and night. Even if the planning has been going on for months,  suddenly there is so much more to sort out!  How much fuel and water and how much toilet paper do one really need for a month?…