Part One

Coal Mine Towers

Long lines of coal buckets would have moved along the towers.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, September 10, 2016

2016-09-10#4200

Larry L. Jackson

Houses

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, September 10, 2016

2016-09-10#4210

Larry L. Jackson

Snowmobiles

It seems that there is one of these for everyone in Longyearbyen.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, September 10, 2016

2016-09-10#4219

Larry L. Jackson

Roald Amundsen

F311, Norwegian Naval Vessel - although a demilitarized zone, supplies sometimes arrive via warships.

Longyearbyen Port, Svalbard, Norway, September 10, 2016

2016-09-10#4227

Larry L. Jackson

M/S Stockholm

First view of our home for the next two weeks.

Longyearbyen Port, Svalbard, Norway, September 10, 2016

2016-09-10#4230

Larry L. Jackson

Ship's Builder

The ship is 63 years old, but very well cared for.

M/S Stockholm, Longyearbyen Port, Svalbard, Norway, September 10, 2016

2016-09-10#4231

Larry L. Jackson

White-beaked Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus albirostris - not long after leaving port we encountered about 200 dolphins feeding in the bay.

Isfjord, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 10, 2016

2016-09-10#0294

Larry L. Jackson

White-beaked Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus albirostris - repeated jumps gave me an opportunity to get some airborne photos.

Isfjord, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 10, 2016

2016-09-10#0437

Larry L. Jackson

White-beaked Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus albirostris - we spent considerable time with the dolphins, a great start to the trip.

Isfjord, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 10, 2016

2016-09-10#0570

Larry L. Jackson

Sunrise

Our first morning found us in this interesting fjord.

Smeerenburgfjorden, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#4370

Larry L. Jackson

Smeerenburgbreen

A fairly active glacier with noise and calving.

M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#4393

Larry L. Jackson

Black-legged Kittiwakes

Rissa tridactyla - feeding near calving glaciers seems to be good.

Smeerenburgbreen, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#0611

Larry L. Jackson

Calving

By the time you hear the sound of calving, much has already happened.

Smeerenburgbreen, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#4404

Larry L. Jackson

Smeerenburgbreen

M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#4428

Larry L. Jackson

View

We spent quite a bit of time at the bow taking photos.

Smeerenburgbreen, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#4430

Larry L. Jackson

Atlantic Walrus

Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus - a quietly approached group of males.

Amsterdam Island, Smeerenburgfjorden, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#4432

Larry L. Jackson

Atlantic Walrus

Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus - appropriate approach allows close observation and photography.

Amsterdam Island, Smeerenburgfjorden, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#0642

Larry L. Jackson

Atlantic Walrus

Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus - back in the water for a little while.

Amsterdam Island, Smeerenburgfjorden, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#0680

Larry L. Jackson

Atlantic Walrus

Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus

Amsterdam Island, Smeerenburgfjorden, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#0712

Larry L. Jackson

Dead Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus - if available, this whale will provide a lot of food during the coming winter.

Smeerenburgbreen, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#4460

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - near the dead whale.

Zodiac, Smeerenburgfjorden, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#4509

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus

Zodiac, Smeerenburgfjorden, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 11, 2016

2016-09-11#4530

Larry L. Jackson

Laponiahalvoya

Leaving the mainland, heading for the ice edge.

M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 12, 2016

2016-09-12#4539

Larry L. Jackson

Parryoya

We passed Sjuoyane (7 Islands), a small group of islands on our way North.

M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 12, 2016

2016-09-12#4551

Larry L. Jackson

Ice Floes

The beginnings of the Polar ice.

80.8 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 12, 2016

2016-09-12#4553

Larry L. Jackson

Ice Floes

80.8 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 12, 2016

2016-09-12#4559

Larry L. Jackson

Ringed Seal

Pusa hispida - unfortunately my only photo of a Ringed Seal out of the water, almost missed as the ship passed by.

80.8 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 12, 2016

2016-09-12#4569

Larry L. Jackson

Ice Floes

80.8 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 12, 2016

2016-09-12#0750

Larry L. Jackson

Atlantic Walrus

Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus

80.8 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 12, 2016

2016-09-12#0842

Larry L. Jackson

Relikbukta

Due to an approaching storm, we had to hurry back to a mainland fjord to get shelter from winds.

M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4624

Larry L. Jackson

Relikbukta

M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4626

Larry L. Jackson

M/S Stockholm

Headed to shore in a bit of fog.

Zodiac, Relikbukta, Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4639

Larry L. Jackson

Relikbukta

Zodiac, Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4642

Larry L. Jackson

Coastline Rocks

Very clear water and no algae growing on the rocks.

Relikbukta, Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4648

Larry L. Jackson

Prehistoric Beaches

A view of the many beaches left over the ages and cryoturbated rock in the foreground.

Relikbukta, Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4663

Larry L. Jackson

Panorama

Made from 4 hand-held photos.

Relikbukta, Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4668-71

Larry L. Jackson

Relikbukta

From the highest point near the coast.

Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4690

Larry L. Jackson

Permafrost Seams

Relikbukta, Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4697

Larry L. Jackson

Rocks

Relikbukta, Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4701

Larry L. Jackson

Coastline

Moving across the bay, we had a beach of smaller rocks.

Relikbukta, Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4719

Larry L. Jackson

Rocks

The dark rocks at one end of the beach had interesting patterns.

Relikbukta, Svalbard, Norway, September 13, 2016

2016-09-13#4721

Larry L. Jackson

Duvebreen

Part of the largest icecap on Svalbard.

Firkantbukta, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 14, 2014

2016-09-14#4743

Larry L. Jackson

Leigbreen

Our day was limited by strong winds to cruising in the shelter of the big icecap.

M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 14, 2016

2016-09-14#4759

Larry L. Jackson

Iceberg

We circled this attractive iceberg several times to get the best photo angles.

Leigbreen, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 14, 2016

2016-09-14#4811

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - wind had created a long ice area where a Polar Bear was spotted resting on the ice.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 15, 2016

2016-09-15#0858

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - despite a very slow, careful approach, the bear moved for a little while.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 15, 2016

2016-09-15#0881

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - deciding we weren't a threat, the bear rested and just kept an eye on us.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 15, 2016

2016-09-15#0909

Larry L. Jackson

Sunset

The sun had started dipping below the horizon as winter approaches and it will stay out of sight for months soon.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 15, 2016

2016-09-15#4825

Larry L. Jackson

Sunrise

The next morning found us in dense ice as far North as we would go.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#4857

Larry L. Jackson

Ivory Gull in early morning light

Pagophila eburnea - rare further South.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#1094

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - our first bear of the day, in the dense ice.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#1120

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - this bear didn't care in the least that we moved close, though very slowly and carefully.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#1194

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - we spent 3+ hours with this bear.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#1221

Larry L. Jackson

Photographers

We were given the opportunity to stand on an ice floe for a few photos of ourselves.

Ice Floe, 81 degrees N, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#4879

Larry L. Jackson

Debbie & LJax

Shortly after this photo, a bear was spotted swimming to our ice floe.

Ice Floe, 81 degrees N, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#4883

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - swimming so low in the water that it almost got to our ice floe before we hastily evacuated.

Zodiac, 81 degrees N, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#4886

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - disappointed that all the 'meat' had left the ice floe.

Zodiac, 81 degrees N, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#4891

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - we stayed just out of leaping distance to take photos.

Zodiac, 81 degrees N, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#4902

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - he is a big male and disappointed that we left the ice floe.

Zodiac, 81 degrees N, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#4990

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus

Zodiac, 81 degrees N, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5002

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus

Zodiac, 81 degrees N, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5035

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus

Zodiac, 81 degrees N, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5071

Larry L. Jackson

Ivory Gulls

Pagophila eburnea - juveniles with black spots and a couple of adults.

Zodiac, 81 degrees N, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5106

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - our third close bear of the day, shaking off water.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#1404

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - swimming to another ice floe, closer to our ship.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#1444

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - shaking off a bit of water.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#1462

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - cautiously curious about the ship and us.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5147

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - belly sliding across a ridge in the ice floe.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5155

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - seeming to rub off excess water or maybe it just feels good.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5168

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - having a close look at the photographers lining the rail.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5207

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - walking around on the ice floe beside out ship.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5211

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - big paws.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5216

Larry L. Jackson

Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticus

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5219

Larry L. Jackson

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus - moving on from the encounter with us.

81 degrees N, M/S Stockholm, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#1496

Larry L. Jackson

Sunset

Heading South to a fjord to avoid some approaching rough weather.

M/S Stockholm, Sjuoyane, Svalbard, Norway, September 16, 2016

2016-09-16#5225

Larry L. Jackson