Enjoy nature when you study at Svalbard. At first sight (especially in January) it may seem quite tough to go out there in the complete wilderness. It is not a good idea to push beyond your physical limit or your experience. Turn back if you are not comfortable. Be careful! Polar heroes are quite unpopular nowadays, and usually cost a lot for the SAR helicopter. If you know what you are doing, Svalbard can offer incredible nature.
As a new student you should ask if you could join in on a trip. There is no reason to go alone. Pull people up from the sofa. Bring a windbag. During your first month on Svalbard you may hear lots of wild polar bear stories. It may seem that people are eaten each week. This is not true. If you are out in the wilderness, carry a rifle. The risk of getting attacked is very little, but there have been some brutal incidents between people and bears each year. If you don't bring a weapon you may die (Bamsemums..). It is a good idea to bring a signal pen in addition to a weapon. Camping requires a trip wire attached to a flare, that you should have around your tent. Be careful, the explosive may ruin your face and eyesight if handled carelessly!
Living in Nybyen offers many outdoor challenges. The autumn and spring term are quite different when it comes to what to do outside. What to bring depends on why, when, and where you plan to go. In each barrack there is a green trip book. In this book you MUST specify where you are going, who is participating, what equipment you are bringing and when you should be expected back home. This is very important in case of an emergency situation. You may also leave a note in your kitchen or on your door. Make sure that someone you can trust knows where you are!
The most important aspect with trips up here is that the weather can change with astonishing speed. A Sunday morning in late November some students were walking up to the caves in Longyearbreen. It was warm weather, incredible moonlight, and dead silent. After a couple of hours they came out and could only see 5 metres ahead. There were strong winds and snow. Be prepared! If you don't know what to bring outside, ask another student or the safety experts, from logistics. If in doubt, bring extra stuff rather than go with the minimum possible weight. Personal equipment you need during winter is a facemask and some goggles. If you don't have all the right equipment, borrow the student welfare outdoor equipment (see students' section for a up-to-date list).
Larsbreen and Longyearbreen Glaciers
Glaciers cover 60 % of Svalbard. Glaciers are in constant movement and crevasses may be hidden beneath the snow. Driving scooter or skiing past such areas may be hazardous. Therefore you should know were to go. Larsbreen and Longyearbreen (breen = glacier) are small glaciers moving only a few centimeters a year. Therefore there are no crevasses. There are some drainage channels that can be up to 15 meter deep (marked A on the map). This may be very dangerous, and you should know were these channels are. There are also a few deep crevasses on the top of both glaciers (marked B for "Bergschrund") You should be aware of this on the pass down to Fardalen during the late scooter season. In the moraine beneath Larsbreen there are some holes which are 10 meters deep, marked C. A few years ago a scooter went into one of them. On the upper part of Larsbreen, beneath Trollsteinen there is a large deep meltwater hole (marked D, position unclear). You should be very careful in this area. On the Longyearbreen-Larsbreen map you can also see the scooter track over Longyearbreen and ski/hiking trips in the area.
This probably sounds all very dangerous - and in fact, it can be. But if you go on you first trips with older students, you are in good hands and they will tell you where to go and, more importantly, where not to go.
Scooter
During the spring when the light returns, Svalbard turns into a snowscooter (=snowmobile, ski-doo, beltemotorsykkel) paradise. This is a huge problem for us students, because it is terribly expensive. There is a lot of traffic on Longyearbreen - perfect for short afternoon trips. People drive like crazy, but you should remember that the maximum speed is 30 km/h on road and 80 km/h in the terrain and that several persons have lost their driving license.
Since 2003 a helmet both for driver and passenger is obligatory. Don't bring a regular motorcycle helmet, it won't work. The visor will get foggy all the time. You can bring skis over Longyearbreen and ski Telemark in the powder valley Fardalen or on Larsbreen, which is great for beginners. Unfortunately this is something everybody knows. There are some scooter-free areas just around Longyearbyen. They include Larsbreen and an area west of Drønbreen. Be sure to check the map, and stay out, so the skiers and dogsledgers can enjoy these local areas. This map can be found at the bulletin board next to the UNIS front desk and on the site of Sysselmannen, the governer of Svalbard.
If you want to go on longer journeys you need one (or usually more) of the student sledges. By scooter you can cover huge distances and reach lots of cabins around Spitsbergen, see the last section. Never drive alone, a scooter is not a very reliable means of transportation. If you drive for an hour you will need at least one day to return by foot. You need permission from Sysselmannen to drive in the national parks. Most other places you can turn psycho maniac if you feel for it. The local club of two-stroke engine fanatics, 'To-takteren', is useful if you need a garage or if you are very fond of scooters. There are new rules concerning scooters.
The environmentalists have succeeded in getting motorized driving banned in the outset (with the possibility of dispensation). Some areas are scooter free after beginning of March every year. There is map available from Sysselmannen with a short overview of the rules and the scooterfree areas. Get it before you go out on trips.
Skiing
Telemark skiing and snowboarding on Larsbreen, in Fardalen and on other slopes. You may use your skis uphill or ride a scooter (not on Larsbreen). Downhill, watch out for other scooters. Not always the best snow conditions in the world. Be aware of dangerous drainage channels and moraine caves on the glaciers.
Cross country mountain skiing wherever you like, depending on conditions and personal wishes. Be aware of long distances. See further down for trip suggestions. Uphill it is a good idea with skins, "skifeller," which only glide one way. For longer trips it may be a good idea to bring one of the student ski pulks. Then "skifeller" are also a nice thing. For summits far away you may go with scooter and ascend the top on skis. Svalbard is a windy place. The snow is therefore often very "slow." Keep this in mind planning ski trips.
There is a lit cross country track for high speed action beside the road, from Huset to the church. It is possible to do summer skiing on the glacier ice for especially interested and qualified skiers. You will have a terrible ride and your skis will not enjoy it very much. Wait for the snow...
Caving
The meltwater from Larsbreen and Longyearbreen create caves both in the moraine and in the ice itself. They may be dangerous for skiers or scooters, but you may enjoy them by entering. (See map previous section) Bring a headlamp, working clothes and a helmet! Go with someone who has been there before, but definitely go! The closest cave is Larsbreen where you can enter in the front, and come out in the outer part of the moraine. On Longyearbreen there is a non-climbing morraine cave on the right side. You may have to do some snow digging to enter the left part of it. In the center of the moraine there is a cave, which soon ends up in a vertical section. Don't go here without experienced climbers and the right equipment.
On the right side, a bit up on Longyearbreen glacier is the biggest ice cave. There is usually a tent or temporary structure covering the entrance where Spitsbergen Travel is guiding. They are using the section from here and upwards and have left some ropes in a few one-meter steps. If you go there , you need crampons. If you enter the cave at the Spitsbergen Travel tent and continue downwards there are 2 x approximately 7 metre verticals, which can be rappelled by one rope. Then you enter a nice, large icecave. If you want to enter you should be aware that there is only this one entrance, so you need to climb up again. Go only with experienced climbers who have been there before and bring general climbing equipment and iceaxes or rope clogs for the exit. 2 icescrews on rappel! Last winter some students slept down there for the night. There are surely other cave entrances as well.
Don't go in the caves before it has been frost for a little while. Always watch for melt off rockfall from the roof. There is also a morraine cave in Mälarbreen, and a glacier cave in Drønbreen. Especially the latter one is very hard technically (unless you like falling 30 m vertically downward), so be sure to go with someone who has the right equipment and experience. You should not try to enter any mines. The barriers may be passable, but there may be lack of oxygen or dangerous gasses in there, and the mines often collapse.
Winter climbing
Dog sledging
Some students get in contact with dog sledging (there are 3 local companies and a lot of private dogs at the dog club 'hundeklubben') and usually get addicted. Try it yourself! Definitely something to do with your par-ents or other visitors. If you don't enjoy living on the edge we will warmly recommend to sledge down the hill behind brakke 13. Making snowangels is a polar ritual. If you use a saw you can cut through the windblown snow and make yourself a snow cave or an igloo. If you don't like winter you can sit at UNIS watching some surfing videos in Møysalen, or stare at your screen surfing the internet, like you are doing now...
Hiking
There are lots of great trekking possibilities around Longyearbyen. The distances are longer than you first imagine. Adventdalen, Sassendalen and Reindalen have virtually no end and after an hour no objects has moved. Don't underestimate the distances. Some students realized that it was too far... During summer there is lots of water. Passing rivers is a real science. You may choose narrow and deep or wide but shallow sections of the river. You may take of your shoes or run like crazy. If you enjoy comfort you may buy waterproof outer boots for your shoes, one type is called "Mooseboots." Another important aspect with hiking is the endless amount of loose rocks.
Svalbard is beautiful, but parts of it are actually nothing but a gravel pit. It is important to be careful when walking so you don't break a leg. It may take a long time to be rescued. The glaciers require at least cram-pons, and if there are crevasses you need more equipment and experience in how to use it. Trips on Svalbard will often be quite long. The hours in these trip suggestions are without rests, and at well-trained walking speed. City slickers can usually add an hour or more...
There is also a hiking-wiki with suggestions of different trips which can be found here.
Hunting
The season for reindeer is in September, and you need a hunting license as well as a shooting test. You should go together with some experienced hunter. Ryper, the fearless and funny white ptarmigan, can also be hunted, as well as some goose species. There are new rules coming on this. Seals have hunting-free periods that also underwent changes recently.
Kayaking, Sailing, Surfing
You should definitely join the sailing club (Svalbard Seilforeningen, SSF). It's cheap (100,- NOK/year). You can rent kayaks, wind-surfboards and small sailing boats and wet/dry suits (you don't wanna go without...). There are sailing and surfing courses. If you're lucky Øyvind, the summer help at the UNIS reception, will be working there as well and serve some of his world famous pancakes together with the world famous pancake speech. Lots of bonfire and BBQ activities going on there also. In winter, when the fjord is frozen over, they are doing indoor rolling practices in the swimming pool. If you go for longer trips, you should know how to roll!
From Longyearbyen you may have several wonderful day trips. You can paddle on either sides of Advent-fjorden and reach Isfjorden. On the Longyearbyen side you can paddle to Bjørndalen and Grumant. On the other side you can paddle to old Advent City, Revneset or continue to Deltaneset beneath Janusfjellet. This will take some time and if you want to go further you will need a tent. Paddling to Colesbukta or even Kapp Linné are very nice weekend trips, or Skansebukta/ Svenskehuset, Tempelet (wonderful! Spend a night at Bonahamna beneath the mountain!). Fredheim, Tuna- and van Postbreen, Pyramiden and Ekmanfjord are also nice places in Isfjorden, but somewhat more demanding. You may get a ride with a cruise boat to Kongs-fjorden/ Ny Ålesund to paddle there...
Also, a new activity since this winter is kayak-water-polo, in the swimming pool, quite exhausting and fun. Ask around if you're interested when it is.
Diving
Recently there was a diving course at UNIS and some of the participants plan to reopen the local diving club. They have a club house and some nice equipment (new BCDs and regulators, compressor) and most probably other stuff will be bought soon. There might been a PADI rescue diver course in autumn. If have been diving before, it could be smart to bring your equipment with you and help building up the world's northernmost diving club again.
For the even more extreme ice diving is also available but only experienced divers are allowed to join.
Biking
If you are a mountain biker you have come to the wrong place. There are two roads out of the valley. The one to the left ends in an old mine before you cross the river to the student cabin (or you can go up to Svalsat), and the one to the right ends in mine 7 and Eiscat. Together there are 46 kilometers of road. It is not legal to cycle off track when the ground is not frozen. This will result in tracks, which may be preserved for a long period. During the long period of frozen earth you may bike. It may be possible to do some cycling along the hard-packed scooter tracks in the late winter. Nobody seriously tried yet, though...
Rubber boat/ stable hull boat trips
It is a good way of getting somewhere in summer, like scooter in winter. It is also expensive, noisy and monotonous after a while. Good to combine with some other activity like hunting, diving, fishing etc.
Fun in the Snow
If you don't enjoy living on the edge we will warmly recommend to sledge down the hill behind brakke 13. Making snowangels is a polar ritual. If you use a saw you can cut through the windblown snow and make yourself a snow cave or an igloo. Snowball fights often erupt when the snow starts to get soggy enough in spring. There are many fun and free things to do in the snow so make the most of your time here while you can.
