Northeastern Svalbard
We were about to finish a truly memorable day of exploration. We had been sailing close to the ice edge for hours in search of wildlife. By the end of a long day six polar bears had been spotted. We had seen pack ice in abundance, changing visibility and varying light. We had observed ivory gulls and a number of other seabirds, and a Zodiac cruise towards Storøya in the late evening had resulted in a stunning encounter with gamboling walrus on all sides of our Zodiacs. We had enjoyed inspiring lectures on photography and Svalbard´s natural environment, and we had been treated like royals by the Hotel Manager´s Viking team, serving hot chocolate as we chilled in the Zodiacs in search of wildlife. It was by all measures a perfect day in the High Arctic.
On the way back from the late evening´s excursion to the waters near Storøya I asked the guests in my Zodiac what had been their favourite experience of the day. Two answers were as presumed. Some of the guests pointed to the sight of the polar bear who had been performing totally relaxed in all kinds of postures close to the ship. Others claimed that the groups of walrus gamboling in the water around the Zodiacs had been the ultimate highlight. But one answer given by a lady from the southern hemisphere caught me by surprise: the SNOW! A sudden shower of wet, sludgy snow had been hitting our chilled cheeks as were watching the walrus near Storøya. Snow showers occur now and then at this latitude, even in July. Experiencing this phenomenon in the middle of the Arctic summer was the true highlight for this lady. Her statement was a reminder of different perspectives. Experiencing the high Arctic is much more than watching polar bears and walrus. The incredible round-the-clock light, the variety of marine mammals and birds, the tiny, colorful flowers struggling to bloom in the harsh climate of the tundra should all have our attention. Of course we get fascinated by the sight of a full-size polar bear on the pack ice, but we should certainly appreciate the beauty of this pristine environment and all its components—even a snow shower in July. Our great encounters with pack ice, polar bears and walrus will definitely be remembered from this wonderful day. But at least one guest from the other end of the world will go home with a strong memory of falling snow in July.
