Kitesoul Magazine #22 International Edition

62
ADVENTURES
NEXT TO THE NORTH POLE
distance we had battled to cover in the last two
weeks. It was finally plain sailing and the group
had earned it.
Looking back at the adventure now, and all of
its hardships, it still puts smiles on our faces. We
have unforgettable memories of breath-taking
nature and, although the wind hadn't behaved in
the way we'd hoped it might, it's not something
we'll ever forget. The most prominent impression
the expedition made on us though is that,
while we felt vulnerable in the environment we
were in, it is in fact this environment itself that is
most at risk.
The thin sea ice we encountered is only going
to get worse as global temperatures rise and the
heightened risk of encountering a polar bear is
a result of these majestic creatures' natural habitats
diminishing rapidly. It would be a terrible
shame if future generations couldn't experience
Svalbard in the way that we did and, perhaps the
biggest takeaway from this trip is that action is
required by all of us if we want to preserve places
like this.
In spite of how tough it was we've not been put
off either. We'll be back to attempt the northern
crossing again next year and experience this in-