Just moved from Norway to Calgary

[Polar_RMK]

Hello everyone, I moved from north of Scandinavia (Norway) to Calgary. Lived about 8 years on Spitsbergen just 1400 km from the north pole........
I have been sledding last 15 years, had many sleds like Polaris XLT 600, AC Jag 440, Ski-Doo Grand Touring 700 1997, and my favorite sled that I ever had- Polaris SKS 700 2001.
Already bought Polaris PRO RMK 2012 800 and want to join your community.
Some pictures from Norway
1. My favorite sled, bought for 7k invested about 5k, sold for 4k.
2. Our small snowmobiling village from plane.
3. View from mnt top during the polar night.

 

[Polar_RMK]

Some more.
1. Arctic Ocean at Polar night
2. Polar Night is over
3. sun over the ocean
4. Trail

 

[Trashy]

WOW!!!! Great pics!!!

Welcome to Calgary and Snow and Mud.

 

[Polar_RMK]

Thanks,
That picture gives some idea about archipelago where I lived, it is taken by myself from a plane altitude about
1000m

 

[Polar_RMK]

another pic from the same plane.
On Spitsbergen we usually do sledding from November to June ....... approx 7-8 months, you can drive anywhere - from cost to cost, from south to north. Limiting factor is amount of gas you carry, driving 500 km per day is a usual thing. Some people working as a guides for tourists drive 12k per year. Snow however is very packed and heavy due to the snowstorms. Most people drive short tracks.

 

[Clode]

Hello, great photos !!!

 

[ferniesnow]

Thanks for posting the pictures. Welcome to the best "toy forum" on the internet.

The one thing I noticed is there are no trees! I guess if you are 1400 km from the north pole, it is understandable.

I live 3 hours soutwest of Calgary in the Rocky Mountains.

 

[Polar_RMK]

Thanks for posting the pictures. Welcome to the best "toy forum" on the internet.

The one thing I noticed is there are no trees! I guess if you are 1400 km from the north pole, it is understandable.

I live 3 hours soutwest of Calgary in the Rocky Mountains.

yes, there are no trees in Arctic tundra. Because there are no trees snow being drifted easily over the whole archipelago and deposited behind mountains. So, glaciers are growing in these areas. Diving over glaciers always a challenge- cracks are covered by packed snow that creates bridges. Once you down, no ways to claim up. Pure ice + you are wedged.
Another danger is avalanches, we lost 4 guys when i lived there, one fall into crivases 3 buried by avalanches.
here the map showing location of Spitsbergen

 

[Polar_RMK]

here is another great picture taken by one of my colleges

 

[CUSO]

Welcome to the forum.

Pretty interesting pictures. I think you will love the mountains here in Canada. Some of those areas you show would be a haven for the sled film makers.

What is it like in the summer up there?

 

[Polar_RMK]

Welcome to the forum.

Pretty interesting pictures. I think you will love the mountains here in Canada. Some of those areas you show would be a haven for the sled film makers.

What is it like in the summer up there?

Summer is quite short & boring in arctic tundra. I know many people love kayaking and hiking there. I am not.
Here the middle of June, snow melted in town, but driving in mountains still possible, so people keep sleds as close to mountains as possible, so do I. Me SKS also there.
In July all snow gone (pic#2), and we get melt water all over the tundra, because of low temp, tundra doesn't dry. Fall more less o.k tundra gets very colorful (pic#3-5).

 

[Polar_RMK]

About movies, Discovery, animal planet, National Geographic shoot several movies over there, mainly about Climate Change, polar bears etc...
My favorite movie however is: When the Light Comes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia It has been shoot there, and my brother did play one of the characters......
Awesome, I watched it 5 times.....

 

[snopro]

Wow cool area. Welcome to the site!

 

[Syclone74]

Sweet pictures. Welcome aboard

 

[deaner]

Welcome to the site. Cool pictures!

What did you do for work over there? What brings you to Calgary?

I think you are going to LOVE the difference in snow out here!

 

[Polar_RMK]

Had a job at Norwegian University, ice and snow research, avalanches, climate change, melting of arctic ice, and so on....
Now I relaxing, want calm and decent life, that is why I am here. there is a lot of pressure in Europe in our days, EU crisis, bad politics, etc
Canada looks nice to me, beautiful nature, and better climate (real summer and winter). Only onу little thing bothers me a bit, too many immigrants from pure countries. In Norway we have some but not so many, I dunno I might eventually get used to that.

 

[E-Zmoke]

Thanks for sharing! Welcome to the site, and hope you have a great upcoming season! We are always looking for new riders in our group, feel free to send me a PM and hopefully we can line something up. Great pictures by the way, airplane shots look like Turbo Heaven

 

[Polar_RMK]

thanks E-smoke, for sure I will join your group.
I am planning to buy a second sled for my wife (will be looking for RMK before 2005 with carbs), and need to rebuild my trailer so 2 sleds may fit inside.

 

[GYMBRAT]

Great pics, im sure you'll enjoy Alberta and Calg is a nice choice!!!

 

[Polar_RMK]

any good sled club here in Calgary?
Something we can join and ride together?