this 7 day trip basicly had it all…
it´s getting spring in svalbard and the valleys are filling with melting water making traveling tough. however, as soon as you go a bit higher and into the smaller valleys, you still find great trails to run on. wearing rubber boots and using an older rugged sled would be the choice now. despite the difficulties, it´s still beautiful out there and seeing the team coming together and gaining strength is a rewarding feeling. sure, we had some set backs, since the boys were fighting a few times. having a team of young males, brothers, isn´t easy at times. especially when they are 15 months old and in “high puberty”! but nothing serious. i was running them again in a 2-4 hour schedule, then shut them down for 4-6 hours, to run them for another 2-4 hours depending on the trail conditions. you can over due young dogs fast, so it is critical to find a good balance of rest, so they keep on going and still keep the spirit up. sometimes i caught myself wanting to push on, since i´d prefer seeing more land, traveling more like a race, covering ground. but there is no use for it in this envorment. trails are mostly heavy going and if you just focus on the goal you miss out on the beauty around… so, taking it easy, and simply see it as training and camping trip is what it is in the end. testing out material and methods are secondary things to figure out. my traveling routine is basicly the following, now: getting up at around 8 to let out nipi, putting him on the stake out and say hello to the other boys. then i boil water and listen to some audio book tunes, which most likly will be ALF, the tv series from the 80s. i don´t know why, but i like that show… it takes me about 1hour to boil down the snow for 6liters of water to prepare dog food, 2 thermoses for myself and my morning müsli. then i feed the dogs, pet them a bit and go back inside to eat and relax for a bit longer. breaking camp and hooking up the dogs takes time too, so i get out at 11, approx… running them still involves lots of short stopping, eating cookies and chocolate and drink a cup of tea. especially now since it got warm and progress depends alot on how good the trails are. each valley differs and it´s alot of climbing and decending. this trip had maybe 2.500meters elevation gain, maybe more… if we say i would run them 3 hours, 2oclock would be time to stop. i basically make it depend on the status of the dogs and on the trail ahaid of us, obviously. but also on where i can secure the team and set up the tent. i don´t bother about the stake out and just secure the pulling line. snack them and set up the tent, throw my gear and rifle in and one of the other boys for some quality time, too. 3hours are filled with naps and some reading as i wait to get going again. it´s always nice to have one of the other boys inside. time to bond and see that they all enjoy the time with me inside. starting out is normally around 7 again, to run another 3-4 hours with a little snacking before going again. the biggest issue is to find a spot to set up the stake out line, later, as there are many reindeers in the valleys now. and those guys are curious. not afraid at first, instead coming really close to a bunch of barking dogs from 5km away… find stones, ice to set an ice drill or even some pipes out of mining times makes it possible. using the ankers and the tipped sled for extra security lets you sleep well… after setting up the tent and storing the gear it is time to melt snow for dog food and thermoses again. while listening to ALF again i usually change socks and stuff wet gear in my sleeping bag, check the maps and maybe read a bit about Svalbard history. after feeding the dogs with dry food and some melted butter out of my cooler I will eat myself and bring Nipi inside. he knows when i come out and when i unhook him he right away launches into the tent and lays flat right away next to the sleeping bag with a bit of his front body resting on the insulation mat, every time! he enjoys it as much as i do. he is used to it too, since he used to hike with me alone, sleep in my bed in cabins and apartments. having Nipi next to me knowing that my first bear alarm system is outside safe on their stake out line and the second is in my tent makes me sleep like a stone… until the next day and another travel
Philipp Bergau Polar Guiding 