Calvin Shackleton
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I am a mountain enthusiast and a polar scientist living in Arctic Tromsø in northern Norway. I am an avid mountaineer, snowboarder and climber, and here I will share my recreational and professional experiences with the worlds cold, mountainous and glaciated regions.

Happy at the top of a climb in stunning Lofoten, Norway

Calvin Shackleton

I am a mountaineer and glacier scientist, spending as much time as I can in the mountains and in cold, icy regions of the earth. My research is focused on the movement and stability of glaciers and ice sheets, and the impacts of meltwater that flows on top, through, and beneath the ice. I completed my PhD at the University of Tromsø, Norway, and am currently working as a postdoctoral researcher in Antarctic Glaciology at the Norwegian Polar Institute. Much of my free time is spent in the spectacular mountains around Tromsø, Norway, climbing rock/ice, riding splitboard, or traversing glaciers. Check out my Mountain blog for mountain experiences, gear reviews and tech tips. I am also a certified Single Pitch Climbing Instructor with the American Mountain Guides Association.

Arctic summer = late night climbing under the midnight sun 🥲 #Climbing #fjordsofnorway #Midnightsun #OuterPeace #FjordPhoto #Norway #ArcticSummer #WeAreWool #ClimbABitMore #NordNorge
Arctic summer = late night climbing under the midnight sun 🥲 #Climbing #fjordsofnorway #Midnightsun #OuterPeace #FjordPhoto #Norway #ArcticSummer #WeAreWool #ClimbABitMore #NordNorge
Some sneaky turns in before the rain arrives ❄🌧 📸 + Motivation by @anieklith 😅 #LateSeasonTurns #WinterAintOver #Tromsø2Day #Splitboarding #Backcountry #GiroRange #WeAreWool #OuterPeace #GiroInTheWild #ExploreMore
Some sneaky turns in before the rain arrives ❄🌧 📸 + Motivation by @anieklith 😅 #LateSeasonTurns #WinterAintOver #Tromsø2Day #Splitboarding #Backcountry #GiroRange #WeAreWool #OuterPeace #GiroInTheWild #ExploreMore
What a start to the climbing season! Big thanks to @marianadventures for sharing a great week in Lofoten, climbing far more than anticipated and returning to Tromsø with big smiles and sore hands 😅🙏. Can't wait for more climbing with this o
What a start to the climbing season! Big thanks to @marianadventures for sharing a great week in Lofoten, climbing far more than anticipated and returning to Tromsø with big smiles and sore hands 😅🙏. Can't wait for more climbing with this one in summer....and looking forward to making up for last year when Mariana was out of action 😊. If this last week was anything to go by, I think we'll get a lot done this year 😉😁. #ClimbersLifeForMe #Lofoten #GandalfWall #Paradiset #Climbing #IGNorway #SpringVibes #NordNorge #InstaSun #ClimbSleepRepeat #belaytionship #WeAreWool #OuterPeace #GiroInTheWild #ExploreMore #Adventure
When the snow in the couloir is juuuust right (*for Climbing, not snowboarding 😉🤷‍♂️) This short clip is from a perfect Lyngen day out a few months ago with @kristofferforsbergo 🐐 Looks like we're getting some serious snow top-up here in Tromsø! Snowboard season lives on....❄👌😁 #Mountaineering #LyngenAlpsList #Ellendalen #Climbing #OutOfBreath #ClimbersLife #MountainBusiness #CouloirClimb #CouloirsOfNorway #ArcteryxNorge #GiroInTheWild #WeAreWool
So much fun over the weekend exploring Andørja in the sun with this crew 😁💙 I'll definitely be heading back to this island as soon as the winter settles in again after the summer. It feels like summer arrived in the space of 2 days here in
So much fun over the weekend exploring Andørja in the sun with this crew 😁💙 I'll definitely be heading back to this island as soon as the winter settles in again after the summer. It feels like summer arrived in the space of 2 days here in Northern Norway; snow has melted at sea level, the sun is shining, and the rock is starting to look more tempting than the snow....a sure sign of approaching summer 😉. #BackcountryExploration #SteepCrew #MountainPhoto #NorthernPlayground #Andørja #AnotherWeekAnotherPeak #Splitboarding #Norway #ArcteryxNorge #WeAreWool #GiroInTheWild #ExploreMore #SteepSkiing #PeakCollector
Amazing to walk under these impressive peaks and gullies on the way to our objective on Saturday. Still sad about losing one of my favourite mittens from @arcteryxnorge 😥 down the couloir while climbing to the summit! Fun to try some exposed one ha
Amazing to walk under these impressive peaks and gullies on the way to our objective on Saturday. Still sad about losing one of my favourite mittens from @arcteryxnorge 😥 down the couloir while climbing to the summit! Fun to try some exposed one handed climbing though when the cold got too much! 😅. Side note: if anyone has a singular right Fission SV mitten, let's chat! 😅 📸 by @kristofferforsbergo ... and more to come from this adventure! #mittfriluftsliv #Mountaineering #lyngenalps #alpineclimbing #backcountrysnowboarding #SplitboardIsTheWay #ExploreMore #WeAreWool #GiroRange #OuterPeace #GiroInTheWild #Splitboarding
Long approach, complex terrain, minus 20°C, neglebitt, lost glove, exposed ridge scrambling, freezing fingers, early than forecasted low cloud, spindrift, bail before summit, exhaustion, fun. Lyngen Adventures with @kristofferforsbergo 🙌😅 #
Long approach, complex terrain, minus 20°C, neglebitt, lost glove, exposed ridge scrambling, freezing fingers, early than forecasted low cloud, spindrift, bail before summit, exhaustion, fun. Lyngen Adventures with @kristofferforsbergo 🙌😅 #Mountaineering #Lyngen #AdventureTime #LyngenAdventure #Splitboarding #Backcountry #Norway #ArcteryxNorge #GiroInTheWild #GiroRange #WeAreWool #AlphaSV
Some nice weather days ahead ❄☀️🙌 Fun trip and good 📸 skills by @marianadventures #MountainPhoto #SpringFeeling #Snowboarder #Powday #NorthernPlayground #OuterPeace #ArcteryxNorge #Ulvang #WeAreWool #GiroRange #GiroInTheWild
Some nice weather days ahead ❄☀️🙌 Fun trip and good 📸 skills by @marianadventures #MountainPhoto #SpringFeeling #Snowboarder #Powday #NorthernPlayground #OuterPeace #ArcteryxNorge #Ulvang #WeAreWool #GiroRange #GiroInTheWild
Easter turns between weather windows ❄🙃 . . . 📸 @amicialee #SplitboardIsTheWay #Lyngen #Norway2Day #Snowboarding #EasterBunny #WeAreWool #GiroRange #GiroInTheWild #OuterPeace #ArcteryxNorge
Easter turns between weather windows ❄🙃 . . . 📸 @amicialee #SplitboardIsTheWay #Lyngen #Norway2Day #Snowboarding #EasterBunny #WeAreWool #GiroRange #GiroInTheWild #OuterPeace #ArcteryxNorge
Had so much fun trying out dog sledding for the first time over the weekend 😁 Thanks for the awesome day out @marianadventures and @nadine.hamburg 😊 #CampTamok #DogSledding #Tamok @ulvangofficial #WeAreWool @girosportdesign_norge #GiroInTheWild #
Had so much fun trying out dog sledding for the first time over the weekend 😁 Thanks for the awesome day out @marianadventures and @nadine.hamburg 😊 #CampTamok #DogSledding #Tamok @ulvangofficial #WeAreWool @girosportdesign_norge #GiroInTheWild #ExploreMore #Adventure
Enjoying the sun and snow before the weekend storm arrives 🥲❄💙 . . Thanks for the photo and fun trips @noskima 🙌 . . #Splitboarding #Lyngen #Bluebird #YRbilder #SplitboardIsTheWay #ExploreMore #NordNorge #InstaGood #MountainLife #GiroInTheWild #Ul
Enjoying the sun and snow before the weekend storm arrives 🥲❄💙 . . Thanks for the photo and fun trips @noskima 🙌 . . #Splitboarding #Lyngen #Bluebird #YRbilder #SplitboardIsTheWay #ExploreMore #NordNorge #InstaGood #MountainLife #GiroInTheWild #Ulvang #WeAreWool #ArcteryxNorge #OuterPeace #NextLevelRiding
Up, up and more up. Then some down. . . *Turned back from this line after some concerns over snow stability. There's always next time 😊. . . 📸 @kristofferforsbergo #CouloirsOfNorway #Splitboarding #ExploreMore #BootPack #Norgeibilder #MountainPhot
Up, up and more up. Then some down. . . *Turned back from this line after some concerns over snow stability. There's always next time 😊. . . 📸 @kristofferforsbergo #CouloirsOfNorway #Splitboarding #ExploreMore #BootPack #Norgeibilder #MountainPhoto #CouloirShred #WeAreWool #GiroRange #ArcteryxNorge #OuterPeace #backcountrysnowboarding
So happy that the snow finally arrived to Tromsø ❄🙌 Sticking to low angle terrain until the snowpack stabilises, so plenty of forest laps and fast runs on safe slopes for now 😊 Looking forward to seeing how the snowpack develops over the n
So happy that the snow finally arrived to Tromsø ❄🙌 Sticking to low angle terrain until the snowpack stabilises, so plenty of forest laps and fast runs on safe slopes for now 😊 Looking forward to seeing how the snowpack develops over the next few weeks and hopefully get planning some bigger trips again 🙏 #Splitboarding #SafeShredder #GiroRange #GiroContour #ArcteryxNorge #OuterPeace #Ulvang #WeAreWool
A last quick glance up before exiting the icy jaws 🥶 Another amazing snap by @marianadventures from our #IceClimbing trip last week 🙌😍 Weather is not playing nice at the moment, so looks like it will be low angled activities for a while yet! Wha
A last quick glance up before exiting the icy jaws 🥶 Another amazing snap by @marianadventures from our #IceClimbing trip last week 🙌😍 Weather is not playing nice at the moment, so looks like it will be low angled activities for a while yet! What a contrast to last year which was one of the best winters I've had since moving to this magical city ❄💙. Here's hoping for colder temps and stable weather for the coming weeks 🤞 #IceCave #IcePhoto #WinterSports #NeverStopExploring #Adventurer #ExploreMore #Norgeibilder #WeAreWool #OuterPeace #GiroNorge #ArcteryxOslo
Some tough climbing conditions out there yesterday, with plenty of refrozen ice about (crumbly + fragile). The incredible scenery and clear weather by far made up for it though ❄💙 So happy to be back out #exploring with @marianadventures too after
Some tough climbing conditions out there yesterday, with plenty of refrozen ice about (crumbly + fragile). The incredible scenery and clear weather by far made up for it though ❄💙 So happy to be back out #exploring with @marianadventures too after her recovery from breaking her leg last year! 🦭 #IceClimbing #IceCave #Icicle #frozen #Lyngen #IcePhoto #MountainLife
Always happy when digging out a snow cave 😅. I have enjoyed this since I was young, and I remember the excitement of being told school was cancelled due to heavy snowfall (Norwegian friends might find this concept strange). My brothers and I wou
Always happy when digging out a snow cave 😅. I have enjoyed this since I was young, and I remember the excitement of being told school was cancelled due to heavy snowfall (Norwegian friends might find this concept strange). My brothers and I would spend the day playing in the snow, sledging, snowboarding, tunneling through snow drifts, and just generally loving life. Thanks for the fun memories and the best days @robertshackleton55 and @shackletonbrothers 🦭🐐🦬 Now I moved to a place where I can have snow days a lot more often 😁❄💙 📸 and snow-day fun with @marianadventures
Absolutely loved climbing this ice line on Wednesday. Looks like the snow has finally showed up in Tromsø, but it has been nice to focus more on ice climbing and mountaineering witbout being completely distracted by splitboarding like usual ❄
Absolutely loved climbing this ice line on Wednesday. Looks like the snow has finally showed up in Tromsø, but it has been nice to focus more on ice climbing and mountaineering witbout being completely distracted by splitboarding like usual ❄ #WinterWonderland #Mountaineering #IceClimbing #ILoveTromsø #IGNorway #ArcteryxOslo #iceclimbingimages #NordNorge #LyngenAlps
There are so many impressive mountains in this valley, even just walking through at ground level is exciting! The last time we entered this valley we faced 30 m/s wind and extreme cold and were turned back before starting the climb. This time we
There are so many impressive mountains in this valley, even just walking through at ground level is exciting! The last time we entered this valley we faced 30 m/s wind and extreme cold and were turned back before starting the climb. This time we were treated to absolutely perfect conditions, despite being prepared for another battle! Thanks for the trip @kristofferforsbergo #StayFrosty #Mountaineering #lyngenalps #NordNorge #Climbing #alpineclimbing #lyngen #Explorer #adventuretime #ArcteryxOslo #MountainLife #fjelltid @randofolk #weathergram
Scrambling, climbing, hiking, jumping, rapelling, sliding. Days like this are a lot of fun, when you have to use all your knowledge and skills to move safely and efficiently over varied terrain. No wind, clear sky, cold temperatures and even a hint
Scrambling, climbing, hiking, jumping, rapelling, sliding. Days like this are a lot of fun, when you have to use all your knowledge and skills to move safely and efficiently over varied terrain. No wind, clear sky, cold temperatures and even a hint of sun 😯. A trip to remember. After recovering from a small shoulder injury over the last few weeks I am relieved that this trip was successful, and I feel confident to get back to booting up couloirs, climbing ice and riding steep slopes 😁❄. #Mountaineering #Tromsø #YRbilder #ArcticLife #ExploreMore #Photography #Adventure #ArcteryxOslo #Peaks #ClimbersOfInstagram #Explorer #Climbing #MountainPhoto
As a #splitboarder with touring partners who mostly ski, I have adopted a few coping strategies when it comes to keeping up with skiers on #backcountry mountain adventures. My latest blog post (🔗 in bio) outlines some tips to being as #efficient a
As a #splitboarder with touring partners who mostly ski, I have adopted a few coping strategies when it comes to keeping up with skiers on #backcountry mountain adventures. My latest blog post (🔗 in bio) outlines some tips to being as #efficient a possible on splitboarding trips so you can keep up with your skier friends 😉❄ 📸 by @anieklith from a couloir trip last week that involved many of the tips discussed in the blog 😅 #MountainBlog #BackcountryTechTips #Norway2Day #Splitboarding #SplitboardingIsTheAnswer #Randonee #EarnYourTurns #EnergyEfficient #BackcountryBlog #SkiTourNorway
Arctic summer = late night climbing under the midnight sun 🥲 #Climbing #fjordsofnorway #Midnightsun #OuterPeace #FjordPhoto #Norway #ArcticSummer #WeAreWool #ClimbABitMore #NordNorge Some sneaky turns in before the rain arrives ❄🌧 📸 + Motivation by @anieklith 😅 #LateSeasonTurns #WinterAintOver #Tromsø2Day #Splitboarding #Backcountry #GiroRange #WeAreWool #OuterPeace #GiroInTheWild #ExploreMore What a start to the climbing season! Big thanks to @marianadventures for sharing a great week in Lofoten, climbing far more than anticipated and returning to Tromsø with big smiles and sore hands 😅🙏. Can't wait for more climbing with this o
When the snow in the couloir is juuuust right (*for Climbing, not snowboarding 😉🤷‍♂️) This short clip is from a perfect Lyngen day out a few months ago with @kristofferforsbergo 🐐 Looks like we're getting some serious snow top-up here in Tro
So much fun over the weekend exploring Andørja in the sun with this crew 😁💙 I'll definitely be heading back to this island as soon as the winter settles in again after the summer. It feels like summer arrived in the space of 2 days here in Amazing to walk under these impressive peaks and gullies on the way to our objective on Saturday. Still sad about losing one of my favourite mittens from @arcteryxnorge 😥 down the couloir while climbing to the summit! Fun to try some exposed one ha Long approach, complex terrain, minus 20°C, neglebitt, lost glove, exposed ridge scrambling, freezing fingers, early than forecasted low cloud, spindrift, bail before summit, exhaustion, fun. Lyngen Adventures with @kristofferforsbergo 🙌😅 # Some nice weather days ahead ❄☀️🙌 Fun trip and good 📸 skills by @marianadventures #MountainPhoto #SpringFeeling #Snowboarder #Powday #NorthernPlayground #OuterPeace #ArcteryxNorge #Ulvang #WeAreWool #GiroRange #GiroInTheWild Easter turns between weather windows ❄🙃 . . . 📸 @amicialee #SplitboardIsTheWay #Lyngen #Norway2Day #Snowboarding #EasterBunny #WeAreWool #GiroRange #GiroInTheWild #OuterPeace #ArcteryxNorge Had so much fun trying out dog sledding for the first time over the weekend 😁 Thanks for the awesome day out @marianadventures and @nadine.hamburg 😊 #CampTamok #DogSledding #Tamok @ulvangofficial #WeAreWool @girosportdesign_norge #GiroInTheWild # Enjoying the sun and snow before the weekend storm arrives 🥲❄💙 . . Thanks for the photo and fun trips @noskima 🙌 . . #Splitboarding #Lyngen #Bluebird #YRbilder #SplitboardIsTheWay #ExploreMore #NordNorge #InstaGood #MountainLife #GiroInTheWild #Ul Up, up and more up. Then some down. . . *Turned back from this line after some concerns over snow stability. There's always next time 😊. . . 📸 @kristofferforsbergo #CouloirsOfNorway #Splitboarding #ExploreMore #BootPack #Norgeibilder #MountainPhot So happy that the snow finally arrived to Tromsø ❄🙌 Sticking to low angle terrain until the snowpack stabilises, so plenty of forest laps and fast runs on safe slopes for now 😊 Looking forward to seeing how the snowpack develops over the n A last quick glance up before exiting the icy jaws 🥶 Another amazing snap by @marianadventures from our #IceClimbing trip last week 🙌😍 Weather is not playing nice at the moment, so looks like it will be low angled activities for a while yet! Wha Some tough climbing conditions out there yesterday, with plenty of refrozen ice about (crumbly + fragile). The incredible scenery and clear weather by far made up for it though ❄💙 So happy to be back out #exploring with @marianadventures too after Always happy when digging out a snow cave 😅. I have enjoyed this since I was young, and I remember the excitement of being told school was cancelled due to heavy snowfall (Norwegian friends might find this concept strange). My brothers and I wou Absolutely loved climbing this ice line on Wednesday. Looks like the snow has finally showed up in Tromsø, but it has been nice to focus more on ice climbing and mountaineering witbout being completely distracted by splitboarding like usual ❄ There are so many impressive mountains in this valley, even just walking through at ground level is exciting! The last time we entered this valley we faced 30 m/s wind and extreme cold and were turned back before starting the climb. This time we Scrambling, climbing, hiking, jumping, rapelling, sliding. Days like this are a lot of fun, when you have to use all your knowledge and skills to move safely and efficiently over varied terrain. No wind, clear sky, cold temperatures and even a hint As a #splitboarder with touring partners who mostly ski, I have adopted a few coping strategies when it comes to keeping up with skiers on #backcountry mountain adventures. My latest blog post (🔗 in bio) outlines some tips to being as #efficient a