As every year, the spring semester starts with a big winter safety course. For the third year in a row, the Cryoslope team was enrolled in the safety course, teaching avalanche safety. It was my second time, once again sick, and Stephan's first time and we think that we did a good job. We emphasized on teaching the students how to notice avalanche terrain and showed them certain tricks how to recognize avalanche danger. Still, we also had to teach them how to rescue an avalanche victim in a fast and effective manner, both theoretical and practical. That was Stephan's part and as a Master student with no teaching experience, he did a very good job! So now we can just hope that there are no accidents this season and all the students took something out of the lectures. Max

After 3 years of intensive field observations the Cryoslope Svalbard research project comes to an end. Since the start of the project in 2007 we have been gathering a vast amount of data. Avalanche observations, weather observations, images and additional measurements were conducted during the last 3. Some of the data has already been analyzed and will soon be published in scientific papers and on the webpage. Every end is the start of something new. Max Eckerstorfer who has been involved in the Cryoslope Svalbard project for the last 2 years will continue some of the observations. He started his PhD in January 2009 with the goal to build the basic scientific foundation for an avalanche warning service in Longyearbyen. Therefore he continues some of the Cryoslope field observations on the little round for 2 more seasons, focusing mainly on the areas Longyeardalen, Larsbreen and Longyearbreen, upper Fardalen, Gangskaret and Frithamn and lower Todalen. Max will focus more on snow pack data collection and will only store big cornice fall events and slab avalanches in the database. Therefore we still recommend to frequently visit the Cryoslope Svalbard project webpage since cornice fall avalanches the major type of avalanche, and slab avalanches accounted for all avalanche accidents during the last 3 years.

Observations done…time to move. Since the last two years Max Eckerstorfer and Ulli Neumann have been observing avalanches, measuring meteorological and snow pack data and maintaining field equipment and installations within the project. While Max continues the avalanche observations its time to say goodbye for me. To sum it up in only a few words: I’m incredible grateful for the experiences I got and knowledge I gained working in the project. I’m deeply thankful to all my colleagues for the trust, joy, enthusiasm, respect and opportunities they brought into the project since I started. Thanks to Svalbard’s nature, who was and continues to be a great office. I will always look back with a smile on my face. Best of whishes. ulli