Longyearbyen is the most northerly town in the world, situated in a group of islands called Svalbard, which is part of Norway. A place where you need to take a shotgun with you, when you leave town, so you can protect yourself from polar bears. I think it is one of the most remote places we have ever been. No wonder they built the global seed vault there.
A trip to a husky camp gave us the opportunity to travel and see just how beautiful a seemingly empty landscape it can be. We were offered the most rustic coffee boiled on a stove which warmed our numb hands and then we were allowed to wander amongst the kennels and cages looking at the hardened tough dogs so keen to get a chance to pull the sled. When there was even a tiny shuffle of the sled leashes, the dogs would be in a frenzy, all hoping to be the ones to run. We saw playful pups bouncing around too and it was so hard not to pop one in our bag to take away with us.
As far as you can see there was just barren mountains, snow capped, bleak and cold. Such a remote village, I just couldn’t imagine what it must be like to live there let alone be overrun by a boat load of tourists for a day. Incredible!
