When the night has come, and the land is dark and the moon is the only light we’ll see. No, I won’t be afraid, oh I won’t be afraid, Just as long, as you stand, by me… Ben.E.King The last time we closed our eyes and tried to walk in total darkness was in Sept 2018 on...

Where do we actually find peace of mind? Open spaces in the Arctic and specifically right here at Bamsebu (77.55 latitude/15.06 longitude) are a geography of possibility. With the advent of technology and accelerated speeds at which we can literally “connect” with...

It’s a very real and true fact for us here at Bamsebu that we can find almost anything and everything we need right under our beds. For those that have lived in a van, any sort of tiny living or had their most coveted items nearby and underneath - you can relate to...

In the north are quivering arches of faint aurora, trembling now like awakening longings, but presently, as if at the touch of a magic wand, to storm as streams of light through the dark blue of heaven-never at peace, restless as the very soul of man - Fridtjof Nansen...

50 plus years of preparation? Maybe we can say it like that. Seems like everything we have done in our lives, up until now, has prepared us in one way or another for this life at the “edge”. All of our skills developed and experiences gained over time that is...

Its dark here at Bamsebu - our 20sq mtr trappers cabin. The little bit of light we do have we run outside to capture with our camera, our beings and our senses. Black Friday means something entirely different here as we are in the long polar night. A night where...

“How in the world can two women survive an overwintering alone together?” a question that a friend of Hilde’s asked her not that long ago. This might be perhaps a question many ask. And of course there are many stereotypes that enter the scene of this conversation....

We are less than two months into our Bamsebu overwintering, so it was just a matter of time before we had our first polar bear encounter. What a few days it has been. We have seen two polar bears in 12 hours! What elevates your heart rate, we ask? Is it running a...

What in the world is Citizen Science and why do we do it? In its richest form “Citizen Science” has the power to transform science and society. We live in a time where technology and information are abundant so it only makes sense to share information and collaborate...

Much of the suspenseful polar literature we have read around explorers that have endured long periods of darkness, survival and despair points to the necessity of routine, celebration and rituals. We officially lost the sun as it dipped below the horizon line on Sat...

Vulnerability is something we have all experienced in our lives. Some more than others. Vulnerability can show up in in the absence of many of our basic needs - often things we all take for granted. Things like food, shelter, and warmth - all crucial for survival. In...

Bearing witness to a change of seasons is a most beautiful thing. You don’t hide from it. You observe, you experience it and you work to understand its many movements. Harsh weather and winters' blanket are sneaking up on us. Here at Bamsebu in the Van Keulen fjord...

October is mating month for the Svalbard Reindeer and our sightings have been absolutely phenomenal. The strong bulls can defend a harem of more than 10 cows. They are not shy at all and have no predators so perhaps it was not a strange encounter when a large male...

The September 13th departure from the Coal pier in Longyearbyen was sealed with a powerful performance by 14 men from the “Store Norske Mannskor”- sharing songs and folklore from Svalbard’s rich history. All 100 guests were onboard soaking in the moments before we...