Coming from the Falklands Islands, the first sight of South Georgia is the Shag Rocks, sticking out of the ocean, in the middle of nowhere. As South Georgia, they are part of the Scotia Ridge. Mostly submerged in the ocean, it connects Patagonia with the Antarctic Peninsula.
It took us 2 days to cross the Antarctic convergence. When South Georgia itself appears on the horizon, it looks like someone has cut off the glacier-blanketed summits of the Himalayas, and tossed them into the South Atlantic. Many of them are more than 2,000 meters high.
Being officially in the antarctic, the climate has changed totally and utterly. Desolated South Georgia reminded me of a with steroids injected version of Svalbard (Spitsbergen), sprinkled with penguins, aggressive fur seals, and enormous elephant seals. South Georgia might be the most stunning, breathtaking, awe-inspiring, surreal place I have ever visited.
Our first landing was at Fortuna Bay. Together with fellow Arctic Nature Guide, Stian, I guided 23 guests on a hike from Fortuna Bay to Strømnes, walking “in the footsteps” of explorer Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874 – 1922).
During the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, Shackleton and his men tried to cross the Antarctic continent. However, their ship Endurance got stuck in the sea ice before reaching the continent, drifted northward, and was eventually crushed and sunk. After months on the drifting ice, Shackleton managed to reach Elephant Island. From here, Shackleton and 5 others left the rest behind to row 1,300 kilometers to South Georgia.
Miraculously, they reached the southern shores of South Georgia. To get to Strømness, a (now abandoned) Norwegian whaler station on the northern shore, and organize help, Shackleton had to hike 40 km from King Haakon’s Bay, across the Allardyce Range. Shackleton succeeded, and in doing so, he and his men became legends.Â
We hiked the very last stretch of Shackleton’s crossing of South Georgia, from Fortuna Bay to Strømness.
We also landed at the former Norwegian whaling station of Grytviken, beautifully located in King Edward Cove. Here, Sir Ernest Shackleton found his last resting place.
Around South Georgia, 175,000 whales were slaughtered in the 1900s, in just 60 years. There is no whaling here anymore, but the whales remain absent…Â
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Antarctica
Antarctica
Working onboard MS Fram on two expeditions to The Falklands / Malvinas, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula. Glaciers, penguins and so much more.
Antarctic Peninsula
The coolest adventure ever. Hiking, snow shoeing, camping and swimming! Ice bergs, mountains, glaciers, penguins, whales. Even a volcano and hot springs!
Falkland Islands
Other Work Posts
Engadin & St. Moritz
The Engadin Valley in Switzerland has more to offer than just St. Moritz. UNESCO railways, glaciers, mountain biking and lots of hiking opportunities.
Outdoorlife Norway
Realizing a dream, I started my own tour guiding company. Me and my great team guided over 10,000 guests to Preikestolen, Kjerag and other gems at the Lysefjord.
Kjerag Winter Exped.
USA
An awesome stop-over in Colorado to enjoy snow with great friends, followed by tourism workshops with Innovation Norway in San Francisco and Seattle.
New York
Together with Innovation Norway and other Norwegian outdoor tourism companies, I travelled to the Big Apple for tourism workshops and sightseeing.
Seattle | Mt Rainier NP
On a business trip to meet tent producer Hilleberg in Seattle, I made some time for a mini roadtrip to the Cascades, around Mount Rainier.
Kjerag Ski Tour
Is it possible to hike to Kjerag in winter? We tried on skis, and reached Kjerag in 2 days. We spent the night in a snow cave with a view on the Lysefjord. Magic.
Lysefjorden Rundt
In preparing for starting up a guided tour company, I hiked 80 km around most of the Lysefjord, visiting Preikestolen, Kjerag, Flørli and more along the way.
The Norwegian Coast
Joining MS Fram’s Expedition Team for 2 sailings from Svalbard, along the coast, to Bergen. Glaciers, mountains, fjords, northern lights, wildife, and more!
Snowmobile Guiding
As part of my Arctic Nature Guide education, I worked as a snow mobile guide. Mainly to either the East Coast of Spitsbergen, or Russian Barentsburg.