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Svalbard: Voyage in the High Arctic Colorado College Travel Study

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Svalbard: Voyage in the High Arctic Colorado College Travel Study Svalbard: Voyage in the High Arctic Colorado College Travel Study This CC Travel Study experience in the high Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, Norway is a unique opportunity to explore the rapidly changing Arctic environment. Svalbard is located about halfway between northern Norway and the North Pole, only ~700 miles from the North Pole. Although geographically separate from Norway, Svalbard is governed by Norway and follows Norwegian customs and law. Longyearbyen is the largest settlement in Svalbard and is the world’s farthest north permanent settlement. Svalbard is one of our planet's largest truly undisturbed wilderness areas. Our trip provides a unique opportunity to travel through and learn about landscapes where few have the opportunity to explore. From the comforts of our boat, Arctica II, we will experience glacier fronts, rugged coastlines, and sea ice all under the midnight sun. During polar summer, millions of birds make Svalbard home and we commonly see whales, walrus, seals, and polar bears on the sea ice. This sailing trip will provide the opportunity to become immersed in the unique and stunning scenery of Svalbard and unplug from the bustle of daily life. Dates: June 27 through July 3, 2020 Cost: 35,000 NOK (check exchange rate for current pricing in USD) How to Book: Contact Dirk Rasmussen by email at [email protected] Your CC Alumni Guides: Dirk Rasmussen & Barrett Donovan The high Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is a second home for Dirk and Barrett, who are excited to share this awe-inspiring place with our CC community. They both work for Poli Arctici, one of the original Svalbard guiding companies, owned and operated by Stefano Poli. 1 Dirk graduated from the CC geology department in 2012 and has a master’s degree in geology from Western Washington University. Dirk first came to Norway in 2006 as a study abroad student. In 2007, Dirk moved to Lofoten, Norway where he studied the Norwegian tradition of friluftsliv (outdoor living) at Lofoten Folk School. Dirk speaks fluent Norwegian and has worked in Svalbard seasonally since 2008 guiding backpacking, skiing, and boat trips. He is well-trained in Arctic wilderness travel and safety, polar bear mitigation, and is a current Wilderness First Responder. Dirk is also an educator at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, CO where he teaches geology courses and helps manage the Natural Resource Management Field Institute. Dirk is fascinated by the Arctic environment and keeps coming back to share it with others. Barrett is originally from Louisville, KY and graduated from the CC Environmental Science Department in 2016. During the school year, Barrett lives and works at the High Mountain Institute (HMI) in Leadville, CO. At HMI, Barrett leads extensive backpacking trips in Colorado and Utah and works as the Alumni and Development coordinator. In the summer, Barrett travels to Svalbard to lead hiking, backpacking, and boat trips. Barrett is trained as a Wilderness First Responder and is a certified Colorado Environmental Educator. She is passionate about bringing people into the wilderness to create connections with each other, and the natural world. Getting to Svalbard: Longyearbyen is the world’s farthest north permanent settlement but is easily accessible by daily commercial flights from Oslo and Tromsø, Norway. Despite its remote location, Longyearbyen has several restaurants and coffee shops to choose from, as well as a wide variety of shops selling everything from local art to hiking boots. We strongly suggest arriving to Longyearbyen at least one day prior to our boat departure on June 27th and departing at least one day after our return on July 3rd. We are happy to provide more information on booking lodging and day excursions in and around Longyearbyen. 2 Itinerary: Day 1—June 27th: Wake up in Longyearbyen and enjoy a relaxed morning. You will have time to make any last-minute preparations before being picked up by your guides and shuttled to the Port of Longyearbyen. At the port, we will meet our boat captain and review safety protocols. We will then have time to load our bags and supplies on to the boat, Arctica II. Arctica II is very comfortable 62-foot steel hull sailing vessel equipped with a diesel engine as well as a Zodiac boat for landings. Arctica II has five cabins, each equipped with a private bathroom (including a shower, sink, and toilet) as well as comfortable beds and individual storage spaces. Arctica II has hot running water in each bathroom and a fully equipped galley (kitchen). The upper deck of the boat consists of the wheelhouse and a heated saloon (gathering space) with panoramic windows to enjoy the scenery. Additionally, Arctica II has large outdoor decks that provide excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and sharing meals when weather permits. This vessel is built for polar sailing and allows us to safely and comfortably access remote locations and explore the pack ice. Once onboard, we will travel west out of Isfjord and north through Forlandsundet, the straight separating Spitsbergen (the largest island in Svalbard where Longyearbyen is located) from Prins Karls Forland (an uninhabited island to the west of Spitsbergen). During this first day of travel, we will experience the beautiful scenery of Isfjord and the layered mountains characteristic to the area. For dinner, your guides will prepare a delicious, healthy meal which we will share either in the saloon or on the outdoor deck, weather depending. Walrus often establish colonies in this area, and if we’re lucky, we’ll drop anchor for the night near one. 3 Day 2-6—June 28th-July 2nd: Each day on Arctica II will include breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as snacks throughout the day. As we explore the surrounding area our schedule on these days will be primarily determined by wildlife sightings, sea ice conditions, and desires of the group. The guides will work with the group and the boat captain to make the most of our voyage. During the first half of the trip, we will head north in search of sea ice where we will have the highest likelihood of encountering polar bears. While seeing a polar bear in the wild is a truly humbling and life- changing experience, we will also encounter many other types of wildlife throughout our trip. Encounters with whales, seals, and walrus are common as are visits to migratory bird colonies. While on land, it is not uncommon to spot Arctic foxes and Svalbard Reindeer, a species unique to the archipelago. 4 Spitsbergen is named for the jagged mountains that characterize the northwest part of the island. We will spend several days around this part of Spitsbergen surrounded by peaks soaring high above the fjords and massive glacier that fill the valleys. Experiencing this part of Spitsbergen is truly a special experience as it differs so drastically from the landscapes surrounding Longyearbyen and Isfjord. During the second half of the trip, we will begin our return south towards Isfjord. During this time, we will have the opportunity to explore fjords that we did not experience on our journey north. One could spend a lifetime exploring the complex coastlines and we will determine our exact route depending on weather conditions, wildlife sightings, and interests of the group. Throughout the trip, we prioritize landings every day to explore beaches, desolate human outposts, and mountains that overlook the fjords. In Svalbard, there is a rich history of human exploration and survival. Remnants of historic whaling stations, trapping cabins, and mining outposts dot the landscape and are living examples of human presence in the region. While on land, the nature of our hikes will depend on snow conditions and the overall fitness of the group. In addition to using the Zodiac boat for landings, we can use it for closer wildlife encounters, whale watching, and up-close exploration of fjords and icebergs. Day 7—July 3rd: We will wake up in Isfjord and travel back to Longyearbyen. We will arrive back to the port by late morning or early afternoon and will provide a shuttle back to your accommodations in Longyearbyen. 5 Included: • Evacuation & Search and Rescue insurance • All safety equipment • Professional skipper with commercial licenses • Two guides trained in polar bear mitigation and wilderness medicine • All fuel • All landings and excursions while onboard • All meals once onboard Arctica II • Drinking water & wine • Shuttle to and from the port Excluded: • Personal travel insurance • All flights • Gratuity to captain and guides for exceptional service • Accommodations in Longyearbyen before and after the boat trip • Canned beer and sparkling water (available for purchase onboard) 6 What to Bring (a more detailed list will be provided upon registration): • Pack in a soft-sided duffle bag that can be collapsed (storage is limited onboard, only bring what you need) • Day pack for hikes • Sleeping bag • Sunglasses • Water bottle • Camera (there is charging capability onboard) • Appropriate clothing o Insulating parka/jacket o Warm base layers o Waterproof jacket o Sturdy hiking boots o Boat shoes to be worn indoors (sandals or slippers that are easily slipped on/off) o Warm socks o Hat & gloves Things to Know About Visiting Svalbard: While Svalbard is relatively easy to access compared to other high-latitude destinations, and Longyearbyen has modern facilities, once on board the boat, we will be in remote areas with no access to medical facilities and limited communication capabilities. 7 Participants must: • Be in generally good
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