Great day for some exploration Options

[Robert_Oddo]

With the field season winding down, some of us went out to explore the area outside of the valley. The weather was sunny and temperatures were in the low 40's, perfect for a long hike. We went down the coast for about 10 km. The shoreline is relatively flat for about 1 mile in from the water and then these huge jagged mountains pop up with small glaciers near their summit. There was little vegetation, and we discovered some old whale bones and reindeer skeletons. We then cut through a narrow valley and came out near the glacier that we study. We came upon what was left of an old polar bear trap. Hunters here used to rig up a shotgun with a trip wire in a wooden box with some bait and the polar bear would grab the bait and get shot in the head. The hunter would return and skin the bear and then sell the skin. We continued back to Lake Linne and then back to the field station. We ended up going about 30 km in a giant
loop.

We continue to haul materials back to camp from our field sites as well as set dataloggers to record data over the winter. We will be leaving Isfjord Radio late in the day on Tuesday for a couple days in Longyearbyen and then off to the states on Friday.


reindeer skelton found on tundra. Probably died of old age


Keeping feet dry crossing streams is essential. Emily showing off here leaping ablility


Isfjord Radio, our field station


Whats' left of a bear trap!!!