Nordenskiöld Summit Hike

This is a full-day guided hike to the top of Nordenskiöldfjellet, which at 1051 m is the tallest mountain in the Longyearbyen area. The route starts in Sverdrupbyen and climbs for 45 minutes through a narrow valley with a small river, where little auks nest in summer. At the top of that first plateau the group enters the moraine of the Platåbreen glacier, then follows a small ridge along the side of the glacier. The last stretch to the summit is steep again.

On the summit the group eats a warm lunch with views over Longyearbyen and Isfjorden. A small cabin there gives shelter in bad weather. In May and June snow may still lie on parts of the mountain. In summer the guide points out plants and animals such as the Svalbard poppy and Svalbard reindeer, and talks about geology, glaciers and permafrost.

The hike is 10 to 14 km round trip with 950 m of elevation gain and lasts nine hours, on rocky, uneven ground. Groups have two to eight participants. Minimum age is 16, and very good physical fitness is required. Guests must be able to communicate in English.

Included are a pick-up at the hotel at 09:00, a return by 18:00, a guide with safety equipment, a warm lunch, coffee and tea, and hiking poles and spikes when needed. Guests bring warm waterproof hiking boots that cover the ankle, wool base layers, a windproof jacket, outdoor pants, an extra warm layer, a hat, a buff, mittens or gloves, a backpack of 20 to 35 litres and a water bottle.