The 4th of May our expedition ship M/S Quest left the harbour of Bodø to head out on a 10 day adventure along the dramatic coastline and magnificent fjords of northern Norway, via the seldom visited Bear Island to the pearl of the Arctic: Svalbard. We have now received the first report from Svalbard!
Day 7 – 10th May
Mighty misty mountains
In Hornsund we find some of the most jagged and impressive peaks of Spitsbergen, and at the foot of one of them, Gnålodden, we made a morning landing. Under this huge bird cliff there was a trapper’s cabin that we could go into and get the feel of what it was like to be a Norwegian trapper in the early 20th century. We also took a short hike under the bird cliff and encountered some remains from the Pomores. They where russian hunters from the white sea, that lives simple trappers lives, living off rain deer, walrus and belugas.
After that beautiful landing we continued into the fjord, to a place called Brepollen. There was still fast ice there, with lots of Ringed seals all the way into the mighty galciers. We did not see any Polar Bears on the ice, until we boarded the rubber boats in a fjord called Eastern Burgerbukta. There we we encountered a real heavy female Polar Bear, walking slowly along the ice edge looking for food, and then eventually laid down as we drove towards the glacier front in another little bay.
A wonderful day in Hornsund ended with a glacier lecture and then we headed far north since the weather forecast predicted strong winds down south. Our goal for the next morning; the beautiful Kings Bay.
Please note: Depending on the lens used for a photo or video shot an animal may appear to be closer than it is. We always follow strict wildlife guidelines to ensure that we do not cause any disturbance.