Great Snowmobile Safari:

Arctic Circle - Arctic Sea

EQUIPMENT GUIDE

SPITSBERGEN 80° NORTH SKI EXPEDITION

 The Participants
This is an expedition for those being experienced skiers, and who’s looking for new challenges. The tour
demands stamina, strength and a sufficient level of fitness. The participants must cope with long daily legs,
approx. 15-20 kilometers per day, carrying backpacks and pulling a pulka. The participants should have
experience from sleeping in tents during winter (snow), and be able to handle somewhat rough, cold and harsh
weather conditions.
The participants are divided into pairs of two and two persons. We share one or two pulkas with shared
equipment like tent, stove, food and fuel for 16 days. We pull one pulka each, or one pulka in turns. Personal
equipment can be packed in the pulkas or in backpacks. The pulkas will weigh at least 35 kilos.

The Tour
We will be taken by Polarcirkle boat to the starting point at the Nordensköld glacier in Billefjorden. From there
we ski for about 250 kilometers to Verlegenhuken, through mountainous terrain (across glaciers. The return will
be by the former coastal steamer, MS Nordstjernen, that will pick us up in Sorgfjorden on the very north of
Spitsbergen.

   WEATHER CONDITIONS IN APRIL/MAY:
   •  Average temperature approx. -10ºC
   •  We may have temperatures down to approx. -25ºC
   •  Daylight around the clock
   •  Normally very little rain, but fog and low clouds are usual - especially early in the period

   •  Cold wind is usual, especially from the glaciers
   • Early in the period there are still snow-covered areas at North-Spitsbergen. On the glaciers there

     are usually great conditions, but the snow can be a little wet.

   EQUIPMENT THAT EVERY PARTICIPANT SHOULD HAVE:
   •  Backpack for personal equipment
   •  Sleeping bag good for temperatures down to -25ºC
   •  1 pair of solid, sturdy and well adjusted ski-boots
   •  1 pair of Nordic Telemark skis (NOT narrow cross-country skis) with steel edges and strong bindings

      (randonee skis are not recommended)
   •  Adhesive skins (to have under the skies)
   •  1 pair of solid ski poles
   •  1 pair of gaiters
   •  Mountain jacket (windproof, waterproof and breathing)
   •  Mountain trousers (windproof, waterproof and breathing)
   •  Warm hat (+ a headband if wanted)
   •  Balaclava
   •  Scarf or fleece tube
   •  1 pair of windproof mittens
   •  1 pair of gloves
   •  2 pairs of mittens (we recommend wool, to have inside the windproof mittens)
   •  2 sets of long underwear (long johns and sweater, we recommend wool)
   •  Warm woolen sweater or fleece sweater- /jacket.
   •  3-4 pairs of warm woolen socks
   •  Down jacket
   •  1-2 sets of casual indoor clothing for the stay in Longyearbyen
   •  2 thermos bottles
   •  1 drinking bottle
   •  1 pair of sunglasses with side protection
   •  1 par of snow-goggles
   •  Sun- and cold block cream (not based on water)
   •  Knife
   •  Toilet articles and small first-aid-kit with sports tape and compeed

   Remember to pack in plastic bags as the equipment may become wet during the tour.

   IN ADDITION WE RECOMMEND:
   •  Thermarest sleeping-mat
   •  Map and compass (you can buy a map in Longyearbyen)

   •  1 pair of down bivouac shoes (to use inside the tent to keep the feet warm)
   •  Down trousers
   •  1 pair of indoor shoes or sandals (to use at the guesthouse and during the meals)

   •  Binoculars
   •  Camera (film is sold in Longyearbyen)
   •  Ski wax
   •  A book in case of bad weather and long days in the tents

   THE TOUR OPERATOR PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT:
   •  Tent
   •  Sleeping-mats
   •  Pulkas
   •  Shuffles
   •  Glacier-rope
   •  Glacier equipment
   •  Stove
   •  Fuel
   •  Cooking equipment
   •  Food

 For questions about equipment or about the trip in general, please contact us for more information. The best
 would be if you talk to the guide in person. If he is not available, please leave a message and he will contact you.

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