Elvar decided to spend a few extra days on board before returning to Tromso. After contemplating a few possibilities, we decided to try and get into the Russian ghost town of Pyramiden. The closest we were able to get was four miles outside the town, as the approach was still frozen solid with sea ice. After inventing an anchorage, Frances and Elvar decided to hike into the town.
It turned out to be quite a trek, taking them over three hours, but well worth the effort. On arrival the town was completely quiet. Then suddenly a ghostly yellow machine appeared and disappeared between two buildings. Were there people? The answer soon came as two men riding on a front-end loader approached. They were surprised that Frances and Elvar had walked in from the edge of the ice and gladly gave them permission to explore the town.
Meanwhile Krystina stayed on board battling sheets of drift ice that were so dense at times she began to doubt if she would be able to retrieve Frances and Elvar from shore. The ice eventually let up enough to lower the dinghy into the water and collect the two tired hikers. Not wanting to spend the night with large sheets of ice banging against Snow Dragon we decided to retreat to the secure anchorage of Skansbukta. Which did prove to be calm and peaceful until the bay filled with drift ice, making it necessary to push more ice in order to get back to Longyearbyen.
After Elvar left, we made another attempt at getting into Pyramiden.The ice was more broken than the previous week and we decided to try and push through. Once Snow Dragon entered the pack ice, our friends Willem and Ingrid, on Twinga radioed to tell us that watching Snow Dragon in action was more entertaining than TV. After making a few exploratory pokes at the ice, we decided to turn around and join Twinga in her anchorage.
We were fairly sure the ice would move out with the tide and decided to wait until morning before committing to pushing miles of ice. Sure enough the ice cleared and we were able to get into the bay and explore the town. The only obstacle this time was the pier, which was a good climb from our dinghy with virtually no footholds.
Meanwhile Krystina stayed on board battling sheets of drift ice that were so dense at times she began to doubt if she would be able to retrieve Frances and Elvar from shore. The ice eventually let up enough to lower the dinghy into the water and collect the two tired hikers. Not wanting to spend the night with large sheets of ice banging against Snow Dragon we decided to retreat to the secure anchorage of Skansbukta. Which did prove to be calm and peaceful until the bay filled with drift ice, making it necessary to push more ice in order to get back to Longyearbyen.
After Elvar left, we made another attempt at getting into Pyramiden.The ice was more broken than the previous week and we decided to try and push through. Once Snow Dragon entered the pack ice, our friends Willem and Ingrid, on Twinga radioed to tell us that watching Snow Dragon in action was more entertaining than TV. After making a few exploratory pokes at the ice, we decided to turn around and join Twinga in her anchorage.
We were fairly sure the ice would move out with the tide and decided to wait until morning before committing to pushing miles of ice. Sure enough the ice cleared and we were able to get into the bay and explore the town. The only obstacle this time was the pier, which was a good climb from our dinghy with virtually no footholds.
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