NEWTONTOPPEN 2025
TO THE TOP OF SVALBARD
FOLLOW ANDRE, BRIAN, LUCIE, FRANZ, ARJEN, ANDERS & GAUTE
sorry, but there will be no ‘live’ photoes during this trip, but the team will provide an abbum whan they get back to Longyearbyen
day 10 / adolfsbuka & Longyearbyen
We woke up knowing this was our last day on the ice. What we didn’t know was that it would be our longest day…
After packing up, we did the short walk, the last kilometres, down the glacier. Having arrived well and being pretty happy with a job well done, we relaxed, taking lunch. It was then we received news that the boat pickup would have to wait until midnight. Obs
So we put the tents up back on the glacier and waited for a few hours. This being Polar bear feeding ground, we didn’t really want to stay around for too long, and stayed alert 😊
Finally, we did the last stretch down the ice before we carried the equipment to our pickup point. Struggling with some riddles while we waited and listening to the glacier calving into the sea. At last, the boat arrived late at night. A bit tired, but the captain provided some cold beverages, and we cheered for a successful trip!
Super team and a happy guide. All asleep before the last cleanup in town.
Thanks for following, and don’t hesitate to join us next year. This one brings sooooo much to the meaning of adventure ;-)
day 9 / NORDENSKIOLDBREEN / N 78.636736° Ø 17.266302°
Whiteout and light rain most of the day. We made it down the most crevassed part of Nordenskjoldglacier. A lot of snow had melted since we came up earlier and with a lot more visible crevasses all around. Weather cleared up when we got to the blue ice. Camped by an meltwater channel ready for the last day tomorrow.
Day 8 / friday / N 78.747082° Ø 17.660630°
Whiteout the whole day but the whole team put in a super effort and we managed 21km. We are pushing a bit to reach an earlier pick up since transportation logistics in Longyearbyen has been a bit difficult lately. Plan now is pickup late Sunday.
Efficient day today. And as Franz would say, we will sleep like babies tonight.
Day 7 / Thursday / N 78.912874° Ø 17.343314°
Started the day in whiteout with some rain. So it was heads down the first four hours. But gradually the cloud cover lifted. After lunch, as we climbed higher, the sun came out and we pitched camp with an overview of Atomfjella in the distance.
DAY 6 / THE SUMMIT!
We followed the weather throughout the night. The forecasts made it clear that we had to hope for a short window. It had seemd early afternoon was the best option. But an early option emerged during the night. Early in the morning, the weather looked promising, with movements in the various cloud layers and the fog having retreated. After some consultation, we decided to push early for the summit.
Start 0615. Left BC with light packs and heavy prayers.
Reached the summit at 09:15. Our prayers were heard and we were treated to a super view from the top for a super team who have delivered on everything!
Back in camp at 12:30 and enjoyed the rest of the day in camp with cake and coffee. Very well earned.
LATEST: The rain got heavier and with full whiteout the team decided to stay put and hope for better weather tomorrow.
day 5 / monday / basecamp / N 79.016461° E 17.394919°
The day started in the best possible way with great sunshine. But after the first few legs, the fog came rolling in and quickly turned to whiteout. We kept at it, turned more north, and climbed towards what is our basecamp for the summit push of Newtontoppen.
As we neared camp the fog rolled in and out and we got glimpses of the mountain! Pretty inspiring and dramatic.
Now we are camped and searching and praying for og good weather window for the climb - either tonight or tomorrow.
Now it’s time to stretch our legs.
Dag 4 / Sunday / 78.895268° 17.357926°
The day started again in whiteout, but soon the sun had removed the fog. To shortly summarize, It was a fantastic day of skiing! Bright sun and amazing scenery. It was Svalbard as we all dream of.
The slight downside, but we gladly take that, was that we got more and more rotten snow towards the end of the day due to the heat and the sun. We have also had a lot more crevasses. It meant traveling roped up whenever necessary. But that is very much part of summer skiing at Svalbard, and adds a good edge to the trip. It is also a great education in glacier awareness and safety!
Day 3 / SATURDAY / THE PLATEAU / 78.763551 17.640781
We had rain and whiteout in the night, making the polar bear watches not the zen session everybody hoped for. But we woke up to sun and clear skies! Nice to see the stunning terrain around us. After taking it all in, we set out skiing with a joke Brian’s daughter had written for us, filling our heads.
Skiing along the flatter glacier plateau was a nice change, and we enjoyed the increase in pace from yesterday’s uphill slogs.
For lunch, we indulge in a long and nice rest in the sun. Then fog and
whiteout returned. But still, we managed a very good distance in decent skiing conditions, and to our delight, most of the snowbridges are mostly quite thick.
DAY 2 / FRIDAY / 78.6610278, 17.5201111
Everyone was excited, and a bit nervous, as we settled into the mandatory polar bear watches. It is a mix of peace and calm, but with the little feeling of unrest. Last night, Franz was the first actually to see something; he saw an arctic fox! Much preferable to a polar bear. They are definitely better on pictures than live…
Today we climbed further up the rugged glacier. After a few steep hills we reached a crevassed area.
So we tied into ropes, and for the last two legs, we found snow so we could start skiing! Big bonus!!!
Most of the day was cloudy with some fog and without as we climbed higher. But very nice to put our camp on snow.
DAY 1 / NORDENSKIOLDBREEN / THURSDAY / 78.6334, 17.0655
The weather turned out much better than predicted as we boated across Sassenfjorden. We passed by the old Russian mining town, Pyremiden, before landing in Adolfbukta.
We carried everything over the moraine before reaching the glacier. It was a short day and only 3 km done, but we are camped on the ice and that feels great.
Seems like a cloudy and windy day tomorrow, but we hope for a sunny weekend!
Stay tuned.
LONGYEARBYEN / THURSDAY / 10.43 / THE START
Team is all set and ready for departure. Transport across Isfjorden into Billefjorden before heading up onto the glacier. So far nice weather, but forcasted heavy winds.
LONGYEARBYEN / WEDNESDAY / THE DAY BEFORE
Frantic work in Longyearbyen. The whole team is there and packing, checking, planning, and getting ready for tomorrow.
So it is heads down and no lyrics :-)
DAY -3 - HEADING NORTH
Exciting days as everybody is heading almost as far north as you can. They will gather, bond, pack, and go. In a few days, they are on their way!