BSES SVALBARD EXPEDITION 1993

THE WILDLIFE AND GLACIERS OF THE HIGH ARCTIC

These Photographs are from the BSES expedition to Svalbard in the Summer of 1993. 72 young people and 20 Leaders spent 7 weeks on Svalbard, a group of islands in the middle of the barents sea. The society was founded by Murray Levick, Captain Scotts surgeon in the antarctic

Today the society sends three expeditions per year to various parts of the world...always remote and challenging environments. The expeditions are open to all young people in the age group. The selection process includes references by school teachers and youth leaders as well as interviews

The expeditions involve both scientific field work and a period of exploration. All the young explorers live in small groups and camp throughout the expedition. Living in these small teams is a good experience in itself...you learn a lot about living with other people when you are in such close proximity for prolonged periods.

Everybody who has taken part in one of these expeditions comes back longing to go on another one. These Photographs show just a few images of what it is like.

Kayaking on Isfjord

The great Barnacle goose catch...we caught and ringed more than 300 Geese This is part of a study by Carl Mitchell of the wildlife trust into the ecology of these cliff nesting geese which overwinter in Scotland.

Some members of the expedition spent 2 weeks tracking, counting and studying the endemic Svalbard Reindeer across great tracts of tundra.

Back in Basecamp...Sophie tried to teach her Can't sing choir

A view from a peak down to the fjord.

Up on the glaciers team work and care got you through the crevass fields and on to the ice cap. Everybody did an intensive course in glacier training.

Ready to head off into the frozen wilderness of the Ice cap. All your food and goes into the sledge or pulk. You have to be completely self sufficient.

On the eastern edge of the ice cap...Nunataks stick out from the snow. A wonderful place miles from anywhere

Home can be in an igloo..they are very comfortable in bad weather

Hear is the team on the way home..very weatherbeaten but very happy

Duncan Mackay...Please send me an Email and tell me what you think
ca97@cityscape.co.uk