31/01/09 We went on a big skiing adventure today up the big glacier Longyearbryen to try and find the ice caves. Some went by snowmobile but we went hardcore on cross country skis. It took over an hour to trek to the top. The light is really starting to come back. It gets really quite bright on the horizon around noon and every day the light gets brighter and longer.

When we go to the top the snowmobiles arrived and we searched for ages but couldn't find the entrance. Obviously there had been too much snow and it had been covered and or blocked.

So we went back down. Holy crap that was scary, and so fast. By then the light was going and the only way you knew how fast you were traveling was by putting down the ski poles and feeling them being wrenched behind you! As I handn't learnt to stop or turn yet I ended up painfully stopping with my bum and twice with my face. The bum is more preferable!!
I made it back bruised but alive, great fun!

01/02/09 - Amasing northern lights!!!!!!! At last. We have waited 4 weeks for them but my god it was worth it, so beautiful. Ash got lots of pics and they will follow I promice!

I also found out my flat mate has a spare snowboard that I could use and I found another friendly person here who said they could teach me to use it! Cant wait!