Stjernøy

So, I'm a geology student. I might have mentioned that before, mayhaps indirectly, here and here. And as a geology student you go on a lot of excursions and field trips. The following pics are from a visit to a mine in northern Norway a bit over a year ago. It lies on an island called Stjernøy outside Alta, and they take out a rock called nepheline syenite and make products for the glass, paint and ceramic industry. This is an open pit mine with the primary crusher situated inside the mountain.

Mines are cool. I like mines.

Do you like mines? You should, they're a prerequisite for your modern lifestyle.

Easter - part VII

Last post about Easter 2012 on Svalbard. The weather had been cold and clear all Easter, and this last night was no exception. Instead of spending another night in the icecave we ended up snuggly sleeping nine people in an igloo set up by Spitsbergen Travel on Tellbreen. They didn't need it. It strictly said on a plaque outside the igloo do not enter, Spitsbergen Travel uses this as a lunch stop during day trips. Or something in that general direction. Point is, we knew no one would pop by during the night anyway.

Even with nine people (where two of us had the extra long, extra wide downmats from Exped) there was enough room. I must say, great igloo Spitsbergen Travel! And thanks for the loan. We cleaned up very nicely after us as well.

Yes, this is pulka on snowmobile sledge. Amanda (on the right)  helped the skiing people by driving their one pulka up a steep hill. Afterwards Amanda, Katja, and I went skiing and then snowmobiled home.

Thank you wonderful Svalbard people for a magnificent Easter holiday!

Easter - part VI

After a bad night's rest in the icecave (note to self: inflate sleeping mat more, waking up with arse touching ice cold rock is not very comfortable), we all went for a ski. As far as I can figure out from maps, I think we skinned up Ottofjellet. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Mari and Elena skinning up.

Katja and Amanda sporting their Aklima wool nettings (very much recommended form all of us). I think that should be Tellbreen in the back left there...

Myrull:

Curtis:

Mari:

Getting ready to telemark down. And I'm making faces as always. And btw I don't actally know how to tele. Amanda did teach me some very useful stuff the day after this, but this day I mainly just came down by falling.

Now, that's me on the right there, and about two seconds after this photo was taken, I managed too fall as well, straight from where I was standing.