Svalbard

Two men in a pub.

Cherish connections

Saturday night at the pub. Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Note the mining theme for a mining town. One of those nights you might look back on later and realize it marked the beginning of a new friendship. Those first moments with a new buddy are easily forgotten until weeks later when the initial nervous exchanges are over…

Ted Hansen, a miner.

Resurface

I’ve been thinking about a particular phrase this week: going underground. For some, it connotes secrecy, subversion, and exploring alternatives. For others, it’s simply another day at work. Going underground. In the stairwell between the miner’s lockers and the supervisor’s office at Mine 7, Svalbard, there’s a photograph of a sign that reads “Most important…

A miner draws a diagram in the coal dust

Fishbone mining

Remembering: This is how you remove the coal from the mountain. It’s like fishbones. Tunnel your way in along the spine and pick the ribs all the way out. Dark. Strong. Bent double. Part of the history – unsure of the future. Welcome to Norwegian coal mining at 78 degrees north, Svalbard style. Photo Eric…