In the afternoon, we made our way to Isflakbukta on the island of Phippsøya. As we neared the landing site, the wind and fog gave the approach a slightly dramatic feel, but we landed without any difficulties. Once ashore, we took part in an important clean-up effort along the beach—an unfortunate but necessary reminder of the global reach of marine pollution. In total, we collected around 90 kilograms of debris, all brought here by ocean currents from far beyond the Arctic.

We also visited the northernmost cabin in all of Svalbard, standing stoically in this isolated landscape. The experience offered both a sense of accomplishment and reflection, as we contributed in a small way to preserving this pristine environment.