Svalbar sugestions for One day hiking tours

One-day trips in the neighbourhood of Longyearbyen.

By Martin Neldèn

Suggestions to possible one-day trips in the neighbourhood of Longyearbyen. All times are just

estimations, it might take longer or shorter time depending on weather, snow conditions and your

shape..

In summertime it might be longer since it is easier to go on skis in wintertime then on wet tundra

in summertime.

Nordenskiöldfjellet

This mountain, with a top at 1050 m is a nice and easy trip which will give a nice view over

Isfjorden.

You start by walking up to Longyearbreen, at the moraine you take right up this small valley called

Tverrdalen.

Here is a climb of about 400 m and when you reach the top of this valley are you on the Platåfjellet.

On your left hand side is now a small glacier surrounded by two edges.

In wintertime is it usually a snowmobile track that you can follow to the top.

This track goes on your right hand side of the glacier and then up to the right edge.

This is the way you should follow because the glacier between the edges has crevasses on its left

side where it gets step.

So follow the right side and try to go up on the edge as soon as possible if you are there when

you do not see a snowmobile track.

When you have reached the edge is just to follow it to the top. You will not be disappointed. This trip

will last for about 5-6 hours depending on your pace.

Teltberget/Håbergnuten

If you want to add some more to your trip you can continue after you have reached the top of

Nordenskiöldfjellet to Teltberget and Håbergnuten which is located further east from

Nordenskiöldfjellet.

Just take a look at the map and keep as high as possible. This will add maybe 2-3 hours extra

walking/skiing.

Trollsteinen/Lars-Hierta/Sarkofagen

All these three mountains are possible to reach from Larsbreen, which is located on the left-hand side

of Sarkofagen.

When you start from Longyearbyen you have two routes to choose from.

One is to go up in the valley behind Funken hotell, called Vannledningsdalen,and the other one is to

go straight up to the glacier from Nybyen.

There is no special things about these routes, just head right on until you see the tops.

Sarkofagen is easiest to reach, just climb Larsbreen until you are in the same height as the top of it

and then go out on it. But do not go out on the edge, it can start a rock avalanche and you might

follow it...

If you want to go to Trollsteinen and Lars-Hierta I recommend you to head for the part between

Lars-Hierta and Trollsteinen when you are standing on Larsbreen.

When you reach the top of this edge you can either go to the left to Trollsteinen or right to Lars-

This will give you a nice view of large areas close to Longyearbyen.

If you go to Trollsteinen or Lars-Hierta you will notice that the edge gets smaller and smaller and

last part might feel a bit dangerous.

Instead of risking your life go a bit back and go on the east side of the top to come to the other side

of it.

In wintertime you then have a nice ski-tour all the way down to Nybyen.

In summertime is it a bit more problematic, you then have 2 melting water channels which cuts

through Larsbreen, watch out for these, and also the crave access in the end of Larsbreen where it

leaves Lars-Hierta, the so called Bergschrund.

In summertime I recommend that you go straight up Trollsteinen and keep to the left of the top and

follow the edge up.

Normally you see the melting water channels clearly in summertime but be careful.

A trip to Sarkofagen takes about 1-2 hours, Trollsteinen about 3, and 3-4 to reach Lars-Hierta and

back.

Hiortfjellet

This is easy to visit in winter, just march up the pot, preferably on the right-hand side.

This walk is steep and you should be aware of the avalanche risk. It is also possible to go up between

Hiortfjellet and Adventtoppen and then follow the edge to the top.

But this is further to walk.

In summertime is it much more difficult because you have to get over Adventelva on the way there

so if you don't have a rubber boat, forget this in the summer...

When you are on this side of the fjord is it also nice to take a look at the old buildings from the first

mining here in Adventfjorden. they are all built in the beginning of the 20th century.

This takes about 6-7 hours.

Grumantbyen/Björndalen/Fuglefjellet

This is an old Russian mining town, abandoned in 1960.

You can get here by the same start as you do if you are going to Nordenskiöldfjellet.

But when have reached Platåfjellet you continue on the east side of Nordenskiöldfjellet, you do not go

up on the glaciers, then you just follow the east side of Platåfjellet.

You don't want to go down in Björndalen since this will cost a lot of energy since you have to climb

back again.

At the end of the valley you cross Björndalen and goes down to Grumant. This part might

be a bit tricky.

This part will take about one day. The next day can you home by go down in Björndalen, and follow it

to the sea, and from there just follow the road back to Longyearbyen.

This will take one more day. On the way back from Grumant to Björndalen do NOT go on the

small beach below Fuglefjellet.

To do this is it necessary to know exactly when the tide are coming and it also has to be calm

weather. So do not do this, there is nicer things to do then climb Fuglefjellet or take a swim in

Isfjorden.

If you just want to visit Björndalen it is possible to just go there on the road from Longyearbyen, this

will take about 2 hours.

When you are in Björndalen is a visit to Fuglefjellet is almost a must.

You get there by walking up a small valley about 45 min walk from the beach in Björndalen.

On top of Fuglefjellet will you have 500 m high step cliffs that goes down into Isfjorden.

A sunset in Mars seen from Fuglefjellet is impossible to describe in words.

At summertime all bird interested persons should visit Fuglefjellet .

Plenty of birds and plenty of noise is what they should find there.

During summertime you can rent a bike to get here faster.

Adventdalen, Endalen, Todalen, Bolterdalen, Gruve,7-fjellet

In summertime it can be nice to rent a bike and take a ride on the roads to get there.

You can also climb some of the mountains that is much easier to reach if you have a bike. It is also a

lot of bird activity here in June/July.

For all these trips is it necessary to carry a rifle, signal pistol and/or pen and tripwires for the tent (if

you are planning to stay over night)

Have a nice time at Svalbard / Martin

Also read Martin's Svalbard Outdoor guide!

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