The last time we sailed through Hinlopen Strait, on the east side of Spitsbergen Island, there was no pack ice to be seen at all. Now we come back here and there is lots of pack ice... lots of pack ice and lots of polar bears! This is the third bear we encountered this day between lunch and dinner, and the ninth in three days. It was curious and approached the edge of the ice floe closest to the ship, then walked away, giving us great views all the while. What a day!