The team will attempt the circumnavigation of the Svalbard (Norway) Archipelago. This several months expedition will take them from latitude 74o to latitude 81o , which is about 600 miles from the North Pole.

To finish the circumnavigation, they have to paddle about 1200-1500 miles through the Arctic. Since the Arctic Ocean North and East of Svalbard is very often even in summer blocked by sea ice, their success depends mostly on weather conditions, which are unpredictable in these latitudes.

They will start their journey on the western coast of Svalbard in the town of Longyearbyen, where the waters are open almost all year long since the Gulf Stream ends in this area. Further north and in the east of Svalbard the waters are frozen for the longest time and in some years they never open. Upon reaching the middle of the northern coast of Svalbard they have to decide if they will continue the circumnavigation or if they have to take a short cut through the Hinlopenstrait. If completed this would be the first circumnavigation of Svalbard by (folding) kayak. Juergen will paddle a Klepper Arius and Heike will use a Feathercraft Klondike. Both are doubles, which can carry a large load of gear, food, guns and munitions they are required by the governor of Svalbard to take with them. For very long crossings they will take auxiliary sails with them.

Juergen and Heike both have a scientific background and want to collect some data with scientific probes (by Vernier). They would like to connect life with middle school and high school students via satellite phone to answer questions. They will keep online journals in two languages: English and German, which will be updated regularly with data, pictures, and text. Interested students, teachers and/or schools, can contact them on their websites at www.arcticadventures.org and www.juergen-schuette.com