Woodfjorden
In a land full of pointy peaks and dramatic wildlife, it was never going to be difficult to appreciate this wonderful island. Dutch explorer Willem Barents named it “Spitsbergen” for the many sharp mountains that litter the land here, and today some of us managed to scale one of the modest hills that overlook Woodfjorden. Our efforts were rewarded with sweeping views of the neighbouring mountains, the verdant tundra below, and the wide expanse of the fjord in front of us. We could even see that some ants were paddling kayaks along the shore. Or, so it seemed from our perch. But this first day of our journey has brought more than strenuous climbs – we have also enjoyed kayaking excursions along placid shores, Zodiac cruises amongst the seltzer of ice near a strenuously calving glacier, and enough polar bears (six) to make us believe the coast is crawling with the furry devils.
In a land full of pointy peaks and dramatic wildlife, it was never going to be difficult to appreciate this wonderful island. Dutch explorer Willem Barents named it “Spitsbergen” for the many sharp mountains that litter the land here, and today some of us managed to scale one of the modest hills that overlook Woodfjorden. Our efforts were rewarded with sweeping views of the neighbouring mountains, the verdant tundra below, and the wide expanse of the fjord in front of us. We could even see that some ants were paddling kayaks along the shore. Or, so it seemed from our perch. But this first day of our journey has brought more than strenuous climbs – we have also enjoyed kayaking excursions along placid shores, Zodiac cruises amongst the seltzer of ice near a strenuously calving glacier, and enough polar bears (six) to make us believe the coast is crawling with the furry devils.
