tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348694442024-02-07T08:45:09.751+01:00Frozen Five5 European friends taking off for a 1000km ski expedition to Spitsbergen in the high Arctic!Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809119286852680717noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-22385386172667812792010-08-25T19:46:00.002+02:002010-08-25T19:49:12.819+02:00WLTDO online!!Thanks to Polarisen and Mats' effort, you can now view "Who let the dog out" online:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.polarisen.se/multimedia/frozen-five">http://www.polarisen.se/multimedia/frozen-five</a><br /><br />DVD versions still available - email Kim for details.globosapienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842016665406598230noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-72015964818085421832009-02-12T13:49:00.001+01:002009-02-12T13:49:32.819+01:00Who let the dog out - ordering informationThe educational movie “Who let the dog out” is now available, free of charge to all Norwegian educational institutions and for a nominal postage-fee of 50NOK to international institutions. To place your order, please email kidsonsnow@gmail.com or call 0047 40449110.<br /><br />Kimglobosapienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842016665406598230noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-84133731360970231462009-01-21T23:30:00.002+01:002009-01-21T23:38:28.184+01:00Arctic FrontiersThe Frozen Five Kim and Ulli are partaking in this week's Arctic Frontiers conference, one of the main events celebrating the success of this year's International Polar Year (IPY). <br /><br />It is a good opportunity to expose the educational movie "Who Let the Dog Out?" to more people than just the 10 year old students that it's intended for, and we're very happy by the positive feedback it receives. <br /><br />If you're a teacher interested in receiving a copy of the movie, or organise a presentation in your school, you'll find the <a href="http://www.energicers.com/files/FrozenFive_EducationAspect.pdf">Education Leaflet</a> useful.<br /><br />Happy New Year from the Frozen Five.<br /><br />Kimglobosapienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842016665406598230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-71540446151699979322008-12-08T17:16:00.001+01:002008-12-08T17:16:19.379+01:00Frozen Five photo exhibition in PragueAnother fabulous Frozen Five photo exhibition will be held in Prague from today, 8th of December 2008, to the 31st of January 2009. The exhibition is held in the gallery of the town hall of Prague 2, náměstí Míru 20/600, 1st floor. The exhibition is open to the public Monday and Wednesdays 8-17:30, Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:30-16:00 and Fridays 7:30-14:00. Hope to see you there!globosapienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842016665406598230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-10322591054709465972008-06-11T16:24:00.003+02:002008-06-11T16:27:08.064+02:00Frozen Five Photo ExhibitionThis Friday, 13th of June, the Frozen Five Photo Exhibition will be opened in Longyearbyen. Almost exactly to the day of our return to Longyearbyen, the opening of the exhibition will be complemented with the world premiere of the educative movie "Who let the dog out?" and a slideshow by Frozen Fivers Ulli and Kim.<br /><br />The exhibition will be in Longyearbyen's Science Park (Forskningsparken, a.k.a. UNIS) until end of July 2008, after which it will be moved to the Gallery in Nybyen. It's never been a better time to visit Svalbard :)globosapienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842016665406598230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-18422687348942048772008-04-16T19:36:00.002+02:002008-04-16T19:43:00.161+02:00Who let the Dog OutAlmost half a year after the last post we're back! To report that the educational movie filmed by the F5 on Svalbard is in its final review period. This movie, aimed at 12-year old kids around the world, aims to highlight some of the issues that make the Arctic a special place.<br /><br />At this stage, we're looking for volunteer reviewers of the film. If you're willing to have a look at the movie for us and give us some feedback please get in touch with Kim (senger.kim@gmail.com). We especially look for younger reviewers that have none of that perfectionism that the adults accumulate over the years ;)globosapienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842016665406598230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-47872168812146123052007-10-14T13:05:00.000+02:002007-10-14T13:10:34.222+02:003 months after...It's been more than 3 months since we got back to civilisation, and I guess we all agree that the 3 months after the exhibition have been harder than the months during the actual expedition. How does one adjust to living in a place with 4 walls again, a roof on the head and also the joys of being able to make a cup of tea with a press of a single button. Yes, it's difficult to adjust.<br /><br />But looking back through the movie footage filmed en route, sorting out pictures and giving F5 talks (there was alreasy several at UNIS, plus the F5 Oslo base - UiO and the Czech Embassy of all places) brings back some of the Arctic magic. I hope this will be transmitted to you as well if you attend any of the F5 post-expedition events. These are currently being intensively planned and will be presented on this website soon. Keep checking back in the next few weeks!<br /><br />Take care out there in the wild wild world, have fun and catch ya around!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Kim</span>globosapienshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03842016665406598230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-6784243122197790022007-06-24T16:46:00.000+02:002007-06-24T16:56:31.250+02:00pictures from the trip - version 0 !Well, if there's one thing that is NOT easy after coming back from a long ski trip, it's to sit in front of a computer. I think I became totally allergic to it!<br /><br />After hours of strugling, I finally managed to setup a small <a href="http://frozenfive.senger.dyndns.org/photo-gallery/">photo gallery</a>. Enjoy this few pictures, captions will soon follow!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />LucasLucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809119286852680717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-83040260148736950542007-06-17T13:26:00.000+02:002008-12-10T02:26:51.738+01:00Home sweet home!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7SGVKv6zVuG16qLwn4c7wQ8XuPyfISvVdVTvQXCeHEtn2hh4IEnPzVmmmbfCfinzOAdCURa7CQnIJmA8sa2Y0AybN2mj2M8VUrl0kX-BzUzg4_RvPEPm__NUweqMACiIvjKB/s1600-h/f5-small-c3+207.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7SGVKv6zVuG16qLwn4c7wQ8XuPyfISvVdVTvQXCeHEtn2hh4IEnPzVmmmbfCfinzOAdCURa7CQnIJmA8sa2Y0AybN2mj2M8VUrl0kX-BzUzg4_RvPEPm__NUweqMACiIvjKB/s320/f5-small-c3+207.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076996921224883474" /></a><br />We made it back home! Hard to believe, but the trip has come to an end as we reached our point of departure, after 77days of travelling! Mission accomplished, we have been around Spitsbergen exploring over 1000km of arctic wilderness.<br /><br />As soon as we reached the small road leading to Longyearbyen, we were first welcomed by the local press, for an interview. Then many friends joined us to walk the last hundred metres together and share a few beers.<br /><br />It's actually been 3 days that we have arrived but we have been very busy celebrating until now :) (Great party at the beach yesterday!!)<br /><br />Thanks everyone for a great welcome home! and thanks for all the mails! Pictures will soon follow (to be choosen among 5000 of them)<br /><br />The big project is over, it's a bit sad in a way. But is it really over ? No I don't believe so, this is only the beginning! We came back from this long trip with a lot of experiences and it's now time to share them with friends and public. My head is full of new projects and ideas. I don't feel like I have seen it all, I know there is much more to experience and discover out there! No seriously, nothing is over, it's only beginning!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Lucas for the FrozenFive<br /><br /><a href="http://www.unis.no/NEWS/news_pages/NEWS_1.HTM#frozenfiveback">A link to UNIS news about us</a>Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809119286852680717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-18714636469854048162007-06-12T22:55:00.000+02:002007-06-12T23:49:53.234+02:00Enjoy the momentAt this moment, the stove is running, soup is ready and Kim is trying to tell me tomorrow I reach home. Then the question comes to my head: Shall I enjoy the soup or focus my mind on something which might happen tomorrow?<br /><br />Well, easy answer, I enjoy Kim's soup instead of waisting thoughts on something which hasn't even happened: future.<br /><br />What would future be without Kim's noddles and tomato clumps? Kim just tells me the presence is the key to the future and I think he is bloody damn right because if I don't get my soup, I'm not going anywhere tomorrow.<br /><br />Kim agree with cheese we could overeat tomorrow and trick everybody in Longyearbyen by not arriving tomorrow. Or is it all the other way around? Future is the key to the past??? Hei, I'm getting confused now.<br /><br />What I really like are clear orders from Kim.<br />First: Ulli, eat your soup now! <br />Second: Ulli, walk home tomorrow!<br />Third: Ulli, enjoy the moment!<br />And because I don't have any smart arguments against Kim's saying, I will enjoy the moment: eat soup, macaroni, chocolate mousse, sit on a stone, keep on joking and let the rest to the future.<br />If you believe me or not, I loved to write this blog.<br />I thank for the opportunity as I thank you for reading them. I hope it make your moment enjoyable. Have a great day!<br /><br />The most happy UlliFrozenFivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718928711201495123noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-15889405444497413482007-06-11T08:51:00.000+02:002007-06-11T20:34:26.155+02:00The HangoverYesterday we meet up with some friends to leave our pulks. They also brought some signs of not so far away civilization. We had a lovely dinner, our second this day. A stew of reindeer and carrots and onions and potatoes and more, cooked in four hours and with some salt (just on the right site of the thin borderline between enough and too salty).<br /><br />We had a nice evening with bonfire at the beach and with some other signs of civilization. They made this day to something special.<br /><br />Thanks guys, we loved it, even if some of us suffered a bit today.<br /><br />PS: we still have our skis and tomorrow we have a big open river to cross.<br /><br />MatsFrozenFivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718928711201495123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-46647321568522030072007-06-11T08:45:00.000+02:002007-06-11T20:37:28.854+02:00The Sound and The SilenceThere is something that's hard to imagine when you are back home, things, that makes us, make so much of our daily life up here without even us noticing it and when you notice it, you suddenly understand, that it is special. Sounds are one of these things. The sound of the skis on hard snow, in soft snow or in molten snow. All are different sounds, even my left and right ski makes different sound. The sound of the ski poles and the knirkling sound of the pulka shaft. The wind that makes your jacket to vibrate or makes the snow drift. Or the sound of the stove that sometimes tells you that you need to come up the trasher again. All these are different sounds that make our daily life such that wouldn't have been noticed in a city or a place where human activity is high.<br /> <br />Then we have the silence, the silence, that suddenly appears when there is no wind and everyone is sleeping except you. The overwhelming silence, that makes your own blood circulation to be a high sound within your ear. This silence is hard to find anywhere else. It's a complete silence, so nice, it feels like vacuum.<br /><br />I hope everyone one day will have the pleasure to hear this silence and also the sound, that skiing create.<br /><br />MatsFrozenFivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718928711201495123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-13096064717602784432007-06-07T09:55:00.000+02:002007-06-10T15:19:56.299+02:00A Spring to rememberMy first blog entry on this trip, written almost precisely 2 months ago amid the classic week 14 storm, dealt with the enjoyment of skiing, everything the step of it. Since this is highly likely to be my final entry while on lead, I consider it almost duty to report on whether it's still truth. How did, in my eyes, the trip evolve? Is skiing still fun?<br /><br />Let's begin with the obvious physical changes around us. No more night and stars for start, though our very own eider ducks keeping us company 24 hours a day. So we switched to eerie time (GMT +12) work at midnight, sleep in the day and ski when Europe sleeps. .. even fast, ski ice forms only to be broken up again when temperature soars by at least 30 degrees to a comfortable 0°C. Since blue weather from the all the corners of the compass road yet, like the inhabitants of California anticipate the great earthquakes, we are still waiting for the real big storm. This now transformed compound making track, making a real battle of frictional forces, often almost lifting the pulkas of the ground. In every conditions our sledges only followed our skis since like I maintained 2 months ago, being able to enjoy these short, far steps, that bring you to the point when you want to vomit out of exhaustion is the key, and yes, I still enjoy every minute on my skis.<br /><br />Then there is our group, undergoing its own internal transformation. Over the week the initial keen spirit was overprinted by the development of unofficial coalitions. This natural breakup was far from unexpected. For our group is made up of great individuals operating at specific wavelengths, that was bitter at times and sad nonetheless. In a way I guess we'll all remember this trip in different ways, each personal magic moments in memories. ... the majestic ... in front, the towering peaks of the lifting clouds that turn white out into blue sky, we've been very fortunate to see Spitzbergen from this side, step after step.<br /><br />Finally the time has come to take off the skis, leave challenges hide behind the corner and extract tundra, falling rivers, captivating swamps and all the unfamiliar motion of hiking, all conspired to make the last week up here one to remember. At least it's how I feel now. I guess you can ask me in a week if I was right.<br /><br />As I said before, this trip is a realized dream for me. Now that the time has come to wake up, I wish I could snooze the alarm clock a few times. On the other hand, opening your eyes to a new day you see there is something to look forward to.<br /><br />Greetings from our last snowy camp,<br />KimFrozenFivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718928711201495123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-38444377602910876572007-06-04T12:47:00.000+02:002008-12-10T02:26:51.944+01:00Newton takes a restIt's 8:30 pm. I just got up. I have no clue what day of the week it is and can hardly remember that we are some day in early June. But all that doesn't really matter, what is important is that it is a rest day. That means that today we forget about our nomadic tradition of eight hours skiing, we'll sleep, relax, read and enjoy the day as we want.<br /><br />Well, I have to admit, that the initial plans for today were not only about the relaxing. We happen to be camping just next to the highest peak on Svalbard Newtontoppen. I bet you know how keen we were to go to the summit. But the weather decided differently (snow and low clouds).<br /><br />Unlike my companions, who can sleep three to twelve hours flat in a row, I'm not really a long sleeper and to keep myself entertained on rest days like today, there is nothing better than The Place Names of Svalbard book (limited edition, ?? , 4kg).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ovV9eiyi4vePGF5SrcuC9SCRvh-vXXLoM2rYkD2Bsp4kazY2Net1lXfrSSeDvEu7uuKMDoZipiH1JcfN_I-bPsJoXuaclKV2xfau9IC3rUyavqcag6GajsOUOra-Rl0R7nHwew/s1600-h/book.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ovV9eiyi4vePGF5SrcuC9SCRvh-vXXLoM2rYkD2Bsp4kazY2Net1lXfrSSeDvEu7uuKMDoZipiH1JcfN_I-bPsJoXuaclKV2xfau9IC3rUyavqcag6GajsOUOra-Rl0R7nHwew/s200/book.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072174811918501938" /></a><br /> This rather heavy, but very informative book, that Ulli and Kim have been nicely carrying since Longyearbyen, tells the origin of all place names of the island. These names come in an incredible variety, they can be great storyteller as well as they can be extremely boring. I would for example not recommend you to look up what the book has for Flatbreen (glacier in southern Spitzbergen). Well, it just says it's a flat glacier. But I was really excited to know that Spitzbergen also has a peak called Mt.Blanc (only 485 meters high though). Or a mountain ridge named after the French polititian Jean Paul Pierre Casimir Perrier (anyone knows what he did?).<br /><br />Now get back to Newtontoppen. I bet you know that the peak is named after the renowned mathematician and physicist Isaac Newton. There is even a small knob nicked to the peak called Eplet an allusion to Newton's apple!<br /><br />Greetings to all of you, dear readers!<br />A few more ice caps and valleys to cross and we'll be back in the civilization.<br /><br />Cheers, Lucas<br /><br /><br />(note from the support team: searchable version of the book is provided on the net by the <br /><a href="http://miljo.npolar.no/placenames/pages/searchE.asp">Norwegian Polar Institute</a>)FrozenFivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718928711201495123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-6328938292653489072007-06-03T21:56:00.000+02:002007-06-03T21:59:26.179+02:00Diary from AsgarbfonnaAn other day on Asgarbfonna<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">On this icecap in the north of Spitzbergen, it is our third day of progression<br /><br />In my last blog I wrote about the summer, about walking in T-shirt, and laying in the grass…<br />Well, now we see another side of svalbardian summer. Blue clouds hanging above the island, and since we are on one of the highest area, we are in the middle of the cloud.<br />The humidity together with the wind blowing over this endless white area makes everything else then T-shirt well come.<br /><br />The whiteness is only broken by some view a few times otherwise the only thing that are introducing some variety in this continuous infinity are some shout like “one step to the left !” and “ppc” and “five minutes brake !”<br />These shouts are the most strandard words for us now after 2 months of skiing out there: every half hour the Pole Position Change (this is what ppc stand for), the first one, le leader making the track in some time heavy snow changing to the back and every hour we have a five minute brake lasting about 10 minutes in average and the other shout are for navigation from the first person in the row who check the course with the compass and direct the whole group. Like this we walk for hours and hours in the cloud on our way home. My thoughts wander out in the past as well as in the future, thinking of people that I met, thinking of my life with day dreaming on the future of how it will be nice to get home, to have a cup of coffee with my family at home or a beer with my friends or other trips I will make in the summer.<br /><br />But now I am here on Asgarbfonna and even if the skiing is heavy some time and we are stuck in clouds, I am happy to be here and the thought of wishing to be somewhere else is absurd; and after every bad weather follow good weather and the midnight sun warms us and when the cloud disappear we can see the beautiful crown of mountain.<br /><br />Hella<br /></div>Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809119286852680717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-56666725705903615752007-06-02T16:09:00.000+02:002008-12-10T02:26:52.114+01:00Only the winner wins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX__uX_6pajTw8FmqhCauDeJqYNfbWyb3oXmHZTDQa6Wm_WW0g_x1tQVkLVdVK3Gb1xqjhvHHWpK80lf4UoCo7UulcaEHRTpoe2shWv6Jh_8Pn8jUsgc1eN3NwQWXl0juTrA21HQ/s1600-h/Obraz+159.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX__uX_6pajTw8FmqhCauDeJqYNfbWyb3oXmHZTDQa6Wm_WW0g_x1tQVkLVdVK3Gb1xqjhvHHWpK80lf4UoCo7UulcaEHRTpoe2shWv6Jh_8Pn8jUsgc1eN3NwQWXl0juTrA21HQ/s200/Obraz+159.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071479147475634178" /></a><br />First of all, thanks for all the insights into Andre's mind. They were truly inspiring. As with all competitions however only one winner can emerge.<br /><br />In this case it was Karolina's entry, which elegantly, yet bluntly, combined Andre's only wishes: food, cuddle, food, cuddle, food, cuddle, food ...<br /><br />However unfair it may be to let Andre's owner herself participate, the jury decided her entry fitted our friend best and are presently seeking a suitable peak to be named Karolina toppen.<br /><br />Thanks again to all for all your help and have a nice day.FrozenFivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718928711201495123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-66648285309300644212007-05-30T22:51:00.000+02:002008-12-10T02:26:52.275+01:00From Beach Boys 2 Frozen ToesLast week we stood on this spot in boxer shorts. Today the same outfit would mean certain death within half an hour. A cold day, that's for sure, but not in absolute temperature. For Summer is almost here (though some may argue, that there are no Summers on the Svalbard (ice caps)). More than keeping yourself in harmony with the elements through elegance process of thermo regulation. Arguably the most relevant of all aspects of Arctic travel, thermo regulation is about keeping you warm and dry by adjusting clothing. Sounds simple? Well, it ain't.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRTuawTbOJX0ddnTOrgNjvF5p2iwT0EPs-5X_1v5CEpFzODedrRDkkLiWisi3NFKD7BbhgQXlne4-iHtPLRRnhxQndk5xPYEk_9GIQo6KJywu0qF_93YQwkrCLCsjZ2qsSparog/s1600-h/Obraz+113.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRTuawTbOJX0ddnTOrgNjvF5p2iwT0EPs-5X_1v5CEpFzODedrRDkkLiWisi3NFKD7BbhgQXlne4-iHtPLRRnhxQndk5xPYEk_9GIQo6KJywu0qF_93YQwkrCLCsjZ2qsSparog/s320/Obraz+113.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070458959598847938" /></a><br />For the start, you need lots of layers of clothing like in onion. As the body is pretty much drowned with the stink after two months of constant wear like Devold thermal underwear, the so called base layer. Its major purpose is to divert sweat away from the skin. A friend from northern Norway once told me that "If you sweat, you're dead." and I'm sure she wasn't referring to a game of squash. Out in the hills, sweat is the first thing to freeze and try running around in an armour of ice. You'd be dead or at least really miserable before you can say "Ice is nice".<br />But let's get back to our onion, the insulation layer(s), the essence of thermo regulation. The second layer is meant to keep you warm, so anything from a woolen sweater to a fleece would be great gear. You can have also more layers here, but remember what happens when you sweat.<br /><br />Last but not least, the shell layer. Keep the snow, wind and cold out while still letting your sweat out. In practice, under our condition, all shell layers become armours of ice sooner or later, but as long as they still keep the cold out it's ok.<br /><br />So how is all this relevant? 1000 metres below, on the Mediterranean beaches of Wijdefjorden, flowers blossom and reindeer graze yet up here we have substituted sun cream and sun glasses for face masks and goggles. To put it bluntly the reindeer below don't have to give a damn about thermo regulation since nature has designed them to live up here. In contrast, we are just 5 (and a half) tiny aliens in an environment that's capable of pushing you to the knees with a single snowstorm. Granted, pulling pulkas uphill in half a metre of fresh yet heavy snow is nobody's idea of fun. At least it's easy to see who to build up a respect up here, the snow queen and her environment. To end this pitiful entry with its very beginning ??? to the nature only, for you need to thermo regulate. Or else you know what ...<br /><br />One of the truly frozen fiveFrozenFivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718928711201495123noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-57756452537094701182007-05-29T09:40:00.000+02:002008-12-10T02:26:52.404+01:00Lost, found and forgotten<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2Y6wgeHvdoTE4uuy4QqoWXnJayUW2-EglczKqGbgf-oXItSXCHLqH9kBnspgUGkLXF3LrmaZ97-DH4_oNvjHKuAT7sdvuzWUd3AsaHIE3FZMILoqGO5OYldR7UfzaNMjsCYLMQ/s1600-h/Obraz+254.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2Y6wgeHvdoTE4uuy4QqoWXnJayUW2-EglczKqGbgf-oXItSXCHLqH9kBnspgUGkLXF3LrmaZ97-DH4_oNvjHKuAT7sdvuzWUd3AsaHIE3FZMILoqGO5OYldR7UfzaNMjsCYLMQ/s320/Obraz+254.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069915903933941650" /></a><br />Hey, have you ever wondered about what I have and you don't? Which make me going skiing and writing this and you don't? Well, if you haven't you get the answer anyway. I'm forgetful, that's all.<br /><br />I tend to forget what I learned from the last journey and this makes me go on another. Or in other words, I forgot how nice it was so I better do it again.<br />I also forget other things and there this seems to become superstitious.<br /><br />On expeditions you try to select your gear carefully, just enough, but not too little. But I still want to get rid of something, my gloves for example. Down south I ski glass and Lucas turns around in front of me asking what this black thing is behind me. Dog shit, I answered, but I better check it. Two minutes later I got my glove back.<br /><br />One week later: I just want to grab my hat since it is getting cold. No hat, but my pocket wide open. At least I remember having it an hour ago. Result? Andre and me go for a reconnaissance trip. After 2 hours we join the team. The hat was found in a good condition after being run over by a few skiers and pulkas.<br /><br />Meanwhile I totally lost my gloves. There remain the right question to the glaciologist and archaeologist in a few centuries.<br />My camera fell out of my case resulting in another reconnaissance for Andre and me.<br /><br />The best last week, lunch break. Usually this means I bring my lunch bag out of my right pocket from the jacket. Not this time. No jacket on either in the pulk. Again, good old Ulli remembered that he took a jacket on this trip. That leaves another 2 hour reconnaissance.<br /><br />I like the travels where you can see things twice.FrozenFivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718928711201495123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-26666217544079618672007-05-27T21:37:00.000+02:002007-05-27T21:45:40.624+02:00The missing listExpecting a poem ? or maybe a philosophical reflection on a journey across the biggest icecap Svalbard has to offer ? Well forget it!<br /><br />Perhaps I am just not inspired by ski endless miles along a skidoo track or perhaps I just want to raise a few smiles in the computer script, and what is more suitable to make the world a happier place then my top ten list of the small things I miss on this trip?<br />Things so common it is hard to imagine they may be missed.<br /><br />10) fried cheese, French fries, and infinite supply of mayonnaise; it would be a big lie to say good food preferably with a good (Czech) beer is not missed. <br /><br />9) After sun lotion :It is easy to get sunburned with 24 hours day light especially if you ski around in boxers like me, but where is the pharmacy when you need one?<br /><br />8) A chair : You would not believe how nice it is to sit down, lean back and enjoy the view. Next trip, I am taking a chair with me!<br /><br />7) A good library :After 2 months of Stephan Gay Gould’s “Natural History essays”, my eyes begin to roll when I see the worlds “Darwin” or “evolution” one more time. will I say anymore?<br /><br />6) Colours :Lucas’s bright green trousers, 20 different shades of white, and the red of Ulli’s down jacket, won’t quite cut it for a sensual frenzy, hey will they?<br /><br />5) An electric kettle (with diesel generator). If I could spend my evening time thinking of how to save the world instead of melting snow our problems would have been solved twice over and the sound a kettle makes is so elegant.<br /><br />4) Jakusi :Showers are boring but a Jakusi to soothe the muscles and warm the body wood be heaven sent. I wonder if there is one at Verlegenhuken.<br /><br />3) Oxford English dictionary :At a non native Punch it is often tricky to decide which words are still real and which are not. You could always make a campfire if it gets too heavy.<br /><br />2) Something else then porridge for breakfast. However lovingly prepared the porridge is in the morning even if delivered right in the sleeping bag (thanks to Lucas + Ulli) it is still porridge for the 56rd day in a row…<br /><br />1) Innebandy (also known as unihoc or floorball):Last but not least, all that know me well will understand that being without a plastic stick and a ball for an extended period is down right torture. <br /><br />Have a great time, cherish this huge list needs of mine and I will keep myself busy with enjoying the things of here that I miss when I’m home like snow, porridge, and a spiritual connection with nature.<br /><br />Until next time,<br /><br />KimLucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809119286852680717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-29838751940612465682007-05-27T02:31:00.000+02:002007-05-29T11:54:18.932+02:00So far(the blog about what changes we experienced and a bit more)<br /><br />There have been blogs about white outs, shitting business and periods, poetic blogs about the midnight sun, questions have been put and even Andre has managed to make his voice heard. Today's blog is an attempt to be a bit less poetic and we'll try to explain what we have experienced so far.<br /><br />In the beginning, the weather was cold, we lived our life in dawn jackets and with the face masks. Then we were dreaming about the warm weather we would have in May. Slowly the temperature increased with the usual stochasticity, that's mild weather and warm wind can create even during the mid-winter.<br /><br />Now, when we are soon entering June, the weather indeed is less cold, but the air is more humid and the comfort of a dawn jacket is still a blessing from time to time.<br /><br />When we started, it was ..... part disappeared in the air while transmitting ..... , ducks and geese. We have even seen ivory gulls that's a Norwegian polar institute fails to find. Spring has arrived to the Arctic! Both seals and polar bears has cubbed and some days when the sun is shining we ski in only t-shirt and long johns.<br /><br />Around us the landscape has changed and we pass alpine areas with high and steep mountains, massive glacier fronts that carve into the ocean and fjords with their special feeling of homeliness.<br /><br />But we have also experienced changes within our small group. We have had arguments and disagreements, we have rearranged tent partners and managed to be rather annoyed by each other. To say something else would be to lie. However now when we passed our northernmost point on this journey I have the feeling that we all have find our own ways to enjoy the trip. More individually than as a group.<br /><br />We have now turned our skis homeward and we can feel the smell of home. More changes are to come. Spring will turn to Summer and skis and poles will be changed to backpack and hiking boots before we finally reach Longyearbyen less than 3 weeks from now.<br /><br />MatsFrozenFivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718928711201495123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-72060835149277722162007-05-25T17:31:00.000+02:002008-12-10T02:26:52.677+01:00Svalbard Skiing Scientific Expedition completes crossing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj4kKJYaz0MLOHpV70cmCx9JOn5S0iZq7seNs0Kl-TGJ7_kINHuRbgfZgMoWpgw1DE8AZMarP92-kKCoqu3aTwOha2Jmhg1rGiJ8TcOrFgrac0FUGQ7cmnC4US-RARTEL6V2w4w/s1600-h/NorwayII+065B.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj4kKJYaz0MLOHpV70cmCx9JOn5S0iZq7seNs0Kl-TGJ7_kINHuRbgfZgMoWpgw1DE8AZMarP92-kKCoqu3aTwOha2Jmhg1rGiJ8TcOrFgrac0FUGQ7cmnC4US-RARTEL6V2w4w/s400/NorwayII+065B.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068789870883112770" /></a><br />On 24 May 2007 at 9:00 pm local time the five members of SSSE reached the northernmost point of Spitzbergen - Verlegenhuken.<br /><br />The group reached the point exactly 8 weeks after leaving the island's capital Longyearbyen in late March. To the best of our knowledge this is the first Svalbard på langs crossing this year and probably the first crossing by such an international group ever. The team comprising Czech Kim Senger, Lucas Girard from France, Swede Mats Bjorkman and Germans Ulli Neumann and Hella Garny was not the first to reach Spitzbergen's North Cape this day. Fresh polar bear tracks prevailed along the coastline and the northernmost point itself.<br /><br />The expedition is far from over since 3 weeks of skiing and walking remain before the team arrives in Longyearbyen in mid-June. <br /><br />Frozen Five<br /><br /><br />Notes from the support team:<br />To reach the northernmost point it took 56 days and approx 760 km from the start of the expedition.<br />The trip from the southernmost to the northernmost point was approx. 470 km long and took the group 32 days (incl 5 days of rest).<br />Further information can be found on 'Daily Progress' page on <a href="http://www.frozenfive.org">www.frozenfive.org.</a>FrozenFivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718928711201495123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-11156863705213024822007-05-23T21:35:00.000+02:002007-05-24T21:31:32.302+02:00Who let the dog outInspiration sought from the outside world.<br />This blog is anything but philosophical, funny or informative, but at least it's interactive.<br />For once you get to do the work for us (we are too busy skiing to reach Verlegenhuken).<br /><br />What's the deal. An educational movie for 12 year old high school students is under construction up here and it needs the great starting scene. For always captivating beginning will keep attention of the class full of kids. For the scene is vitally important we've decided to get all the inspiration we can handle from the outside world - by holding a competition for the best opening introduction.<br /><br />If you are still interested (and you should be) here are the details:<br />The movie evolves around Andre our dear four legged companion. Unsurprisingly the movie therefore starts in Longyearbyen dog yard, from where Andre leaves on his great adventure.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The big question and the task for you is what Andre is thinking at precisely this moment.</span><br /><br />Contacting informations:<br />Andre's thoughts can be submitted via mail (881631578544@msg.iridium.com) provided they don't exceed ~160 characters. Send multiple e-mails if necessary and don't forget to include your name. The winner will be announced from the 1June and a suitable price will be found by then as well - maybe we'll name a mountain after you.<br /><br />However as with the Olympics winning is half as much fun as playing.<br />Thanks in advance for all your efforts.<br /><br />Who let the dog out film crewFrozenFivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718928711201495123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-65117550236395028082007-05-23T10:38:00.000+02:002008-12-10T02:26:52.835+01:00A dog’s diary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5t3xXGY3zBk0_-8ekpDciig6yUm35TIrEKDdkmlweJNnNnDxGe7k5GOufJu8BJ93NLhnp16mi1Ud4CkkHSSRj0iLF6_XX-5YqJg7U8FmWlZM7YUHGPjX57I3stLHGYhH1XkG/s1600-h/Obraz+159.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5t3xXGY3zBk0_-8ekpDciig6yUm35TIrEKDdkmlweJNnNnDxGe7k5GOufJu8BJ93NLhnp16mi1Ud4CkkHSSRj0iLF6_XX-5YqJg7U8FmWlZM7YUHGPjX57I3stLHGYhH1XkG/s320/Obraz+159.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067674039796076450" /></a><br /><br />So here I am, a Greenlander dog on a trip. It seems like a long trip, no one has told me for how long we will be out. But the word expedition seems to be a long word and a long word makes a long trip, I guess.<br /><br />An expedition! Bah, all these guys do is slow motion skiing. If it would be me and my dogyard friends, we would have been at the North pole and back by now.<br /><br />All day long, I have to pull this heavy pulka that someone named Fiffi and this guy Ulli who also pretends to pull this pulka, his bones and legs are always in way of my view. And when you want to have a look in front, he always shouts : “back” to me and I have to go back in his track.<br /><br />It’s good that this girl is with us on this trip. At least someone that cuddles me. Well, the others do as well from time to time but it would be easier if they all could speak in one language. Or do they think I speak all languages of the world?<br /><br />There are some good stuff as well. Food twice a day and small snacks whenever I find some left-over crumbles in the snow. Or when I found a whole “swebar” :yummy, “pure energy for everybody”. So I do not understand why they were so upset.<br /><br />It’s like when they tried to make me bark at the polar bear at Vagabond. The other dogs were barking so I didn’t bother; Of course I would bark if a polar bear would try to steal my food but otherwise, no. I’m not a barking dog at all.<br /><br />Just a few days ago I thought I was in heaven. I had a seal for dinner. The nice guy in Austfjordneset offered me seal meat, the best ever : a seal skull!<br /><br />I have to go now, there is a stone sticking up a bit ahead and I’m going to pee on it! Even if Ulli disagrees since I will drive the pulka the wrong way. It would be easier if he headed for the stone right away.<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />AndreLucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809119286852680717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-23567566479818435702007-05-20T22:19:00.000+02:002008-12-10T02:26:53.234+01:00My family in the Arctic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsSVgczbjqZJLaXZMUpkQVmvyJvNyT_dkLZ8hNHhDpZfjGmnaBEbazk4BaEuVmFY6rNeWxuq8TNMPVbiDCEKvCiOWSE47fDk1Og8x_-WZlOlOJCjodzRhS6VFAH8jzzJCdPHe/s1600-h/Frozen+Five+Preparation+Trip+036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsSVgczbjqZJLaXZMUpkQVmvyJvNyT_dkLZ8hNHhDpZfjGmnaBEbazk4BaEuVmFY6rNeWxuq8TNMPVbiDCEKvCiOWSE47fDk1Og8x_-WZlOlOJCjodzRhS6VFAH8jzzJCdPHe/s400/Frozen+Five+Preparation+Trip+036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066740528654290802" /></a><br /><br /><br />I’m trying to collect my thoughts to find a nice subject for the blog but it’s kind of difficult to think after seven hours fighting gravity and dragging the pulka uphill !<br /><br />Well, I could write about the beautiful landscape of the fjord we just went up, or about the number of polar bears we meet in this area, or again about the colour of seals in the midnight sun, or tell you about our last visit to the local trapper but let’s admit it, all these subjects are rather empty!<br />I’m going to write about something far more important to me and tell you some stories about the five living beings with whom I just spent the last fifty days!<br /><br />Ladies first, let me start with Hella. She really impresses me with her courage and determination. She takes on perfectly as the woman in our group and she even had the guts to break through the poetic spirit overtaking the blog and to write about our everyday life in its most physical issues. But may be she needed 40 days to understand how to adjust her telescopic poles to the right size…<br /><br />Concerning Mats, our outdoor living expert, he never looses his calm and serenity however bad the situation may be. I will never forget that evening under the tent in early April by minus 30°C. I was shivering in my sleeping bag and praying to wake up alive the next morning, while Mats was unshaken, reading aloud a chapter of his book.<br /><br />Now about Kim : author, poet, scriptwriter and director of the expedition film. Kim is the brain in our group. All the time he spends on his skis, he plans ahead and organises his ideas into what he will do next! His weak point : waking up! In the morning he looks completely drugged for an hour after he wakes up and can not speak more than one word at a time!<br /><br />Ulli is our clown. He has a funny word for every situation. He’s also a true acrobat. He survived a major accident when his pulka ran over him at full speed. Most of the time Ulli has an extraordinary energy but when he is exhausted , he truly is. Some nights, he was so tired we had to feed him with a spoon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrbf4uwGQIAHpq4FffjTyfN6KuXEY_lYrDBCHk_4vlPQL3N_uUuyiWal2nQH54OGFFWpGmx-i208ExFnEJQS1fk6KCrGePeY1IP75d6h-lvDKJc-3HOsNTm1nGWvoMFUKgeQW/s1600-h/IMG_0806.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrbf4uwGQIAHpq4FffjTyfN6KuXEY_lYrDBCHk_4vlPQL3N_uUuyiWal2nQH54OGFFWpGmx-i208ExFnEJQS1fk6KCrGePeY1IP75d6h-lvDKJc-3HOsNTm1nGWvoMFUKgeQW/s320/IMG_0806.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066743655390482306" /></a>Finally, Andre,our dog, who is a full member of the group ! Always in a good mood, Andre is as energetic as ever since Staffan ( the trapper at Austfjord) gave him a seal skull to eat. Andre’s major problem is getting adapted to 24 hours sun light. As soon as we stop skiing, he goes to sleep. One wonders what he does when we sleep!<br /><br />A question for all of you who know my fellow companions better than I do : do you think they behave normally?<br /><br />Our little society gets along rather well. There are at times some stress or clash. Generally bad mood goes along with grey weather or tiredness. Group decisions are not easy to take and one has to be flexible to conclude an agreement with the others. Finally, there lies the real difficulty and challenge of our expedition : getting on all together! The physical challenge is only subsidiary…<br /><br />LucasLucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809119286852680717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34869444.post-91507627737941537742007-05-17T18:02:00.000+02:002007-05-17T18:03:30.989+02:00Things that everyone wonders about but no one talks aboutSummer has come! The down jacket is replaced by a tee-shirt, snow is melting and today we even found first tracks of vegetation! <br />Just now, I was lying in a patch of grass in the sun just next to Austvotnhytta in Wijdefjorden, the first cabin we used on this trip.<br /> <br />And what a nice feeling it is to feel and smell the wind of summer, and even tough to most of you out there it would feel like a day in early spring, to me, it feels like a tropical summer!<br /><br />Just next to the cabin is a tiny melted water stream, the first liquid water we meet after one and half month.<br />And also, the part of our life out here which is left less beautiful and also the hardest part of the day becomes much easier: yes, I’m talking about doing the “big business” to put it in nice words. <br /><br />As unusual and socially unaccepted it is to talk about that in civilisation, as normal it is here. <br />After all it’s only a natural body function and if you are as close together as we are for 24 hours a day, you start to share the pain and the relief of the daily toilet expedition.<br />But as long as it’s nicely warm and sunny as now, it is actually almost better than the toilet at home : you just grab your toilet paper bags, with unused and used toilet paper (we collect the used toilet paper and burn it) and search for a quiet spot in a certain distance from the camp : this distance can vary from 50 meters down to 2 meters depending on how much privacy is necessary and on the urgency.<br /><br />Well, but if the weather is less comfortable, it can be a challenge to try to dig a hole, and build a wind shelter to prevent from being covered by the snow drift, and the toilet paper bags can fly away pretty quick in strong wind.<br /><br />Talking about the “big business”, I want to give an answer to a question that has been asked to me as only female on this trip already several times: how do you handle your periods ?<br /><br />Well, I have to say it is not a big deal at all, you just do the same as at home and the woman’s “rubbish” will be burned along with toilet paper.<br />And as for being in a bad mood I think that it’s only because of the pain you have and no medicine is better against this than movement, like dragging a pulka through deep snow up a steep slope, I can only recommend it!<br /><br />Oh yes, and while I’m on it, to prevent the second question which was predicted to me which is whether it is smelly with all the boys. Sure, they stink, they wear the same clothes since 47 days, they don’t take showers…just as me and it is a pleasure!<br /><br />HellaLucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809119286852680717noreply@blogger.com0