Helicopter inspections of glaciers
This fall, the Governor flew by helicopter over glacier areas where there is a lot of traffic, especially in winter. In addition, the Norwegian Polar Institute has inspected the glacier systems around Ny-Ålesund.
In October, a glacier inspection flight was made with observers from the Governor, tourism operators and the Longyearbyen Red Cross Corps. The flight route was:
Adventdalen – Foxdalen –Fleinisen – Dahlburgbreen – Plogbreen – Kokbreen – Rugaasfonna –Slakbreen – Gustavdalen – Kjellstrømdalen – Agardh – Von Postbreen – Burn Murdochbreen –Boltonbreen – Florabreen – Nordenskiöldbreen – Ebbabreen – Mittag-Lefflerbreen – Wijdefjorden –retur opp Mittag-Lefflerbreen – Ragnarbreen – Adolfbukta – Longyearbyen.
Ny-Ålesund
The Norwegian Polar Institute had inspection flights in September over the following glacier areas:
Kongsvegpasset – Ny Ålesund – Austre Brøggerbreen (Skaret) – Engelskbukta – Comfortless (nedre del) – Arthurbreen – Avatsmarkbreen – Krullfonna – Comfortlessbreen (hele) – overgang morene til Uversbreen – Uversbreen - Jensebu (mot Ny-Ålesund) – Dronningpasset – Kronepasset – Exilpasset – Exilfjellet – Holtedahlfonna – retur Ny-Ålesund – Kongsvegpasset – Vegvaktaren.
See photos and maps in the attached documents.
The Governor emphasizes that pictures and maps do not say anything about the conditions elsewhere than those mentioned. In other words, it does not mean that it is safe everywhere else.
As always, those who are out in nature on Svalbard are encouraged to take precautions and be careful. Conditions may also have changed after the overflights. Safety is the individual's responsibility.