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Amidst a small valley, surrounded by inhospitable steep cliffs, lies the Russian miner’s town of Grumant (Грумант). Established in 1912, right next to the coalmine, the population peaked at over a thousand residents in 1951.The town was abandoned in 1965. Most valuable materials have been removed by the Russian Arkticugol mining company and brought to Barentsburg (Баренцбург) to be scrapped and shipped off.
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While Gumant is not that far from Longyearbyen (about 10kms), one does not simply walk there. The cliffs are very steep with lots of loose stones. We contacted a local tour organizer to bring us to Grumant on a dinghy. We would then walk along the coast to the abandoned port of Colesbukta (Russian for coals bay), where we would be picked up at 6 pm sharp. Our driver said he would wait an hour for us and then alert the Sysselmannen, assuming we would be lost or worse, eaten by a polar polar bear.
The journey to Grumant took us by some spectacular sights of the cliffs and valleys. All of a sudden the steep hillside opened up to reveal to us the town of Grumant. Only about five buildings remain, but the visible foundation of other buildings suggests Grumant was once a lot bigger. The main building is a big living block, parallel to the seaside. Above the buildings we could see many old mine entrances, as well as what appeared to have been a blacksmith workshop.
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Once the roaring of the dinghy’s engine disappeared in the distance it felt really quiet standing in the middle of this abandoned town. No cell phone reception, not a living soul nearby and no contact with anyone until 6pm.
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7 Workshop
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10 The housing block
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12 Child's room
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All coal mined in Grumant used to be transported by a narrow gauge railway to the port of Colesbukta, where it was loaded unto ships. As the railway was constructed on relatively flat ground, the hike shouldn’t be too hard.
The railway used to tunnel through the first part, which is way too steep. So we had to climb up the cliffs in order to get around it. Once over it, we could see the remains of the railway, now all warped by the landslides and avalanches during the winter. The railway used to be covered in a wooden construction to keep the track free of snow during the winter.
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After a while we saw this part, with the wooden cover still intact. We could also see that the carts must have been electric, since many overhead power lines are still visible.
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Lunchtime! We stopped at this little stream to cook some lunch and make some hot coffee. The view was absolutely breathtaking.
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Onwards...
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After a while we saw a little red cabin in the distance. This one was named the Rusanov cabin, after Vladimir Alexandrovic Rusanov, Russian polar explorer. Rusanov led a government expedition to Svalbard in 1912, to investigate the potential of coal mining on Svalbard. Rusanov named this location Rusanovodden and build a little cabin. Years later people recreated the cabin and built a small museum in his honor. The cabin is open for anyone who needs it, has a wood stove and plenty of sleeping spots.
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From the cabin, we could see our final destination: Colesbukta. This town is a bit bigger than Grumant and in noticeably better condition. It features two warehouses, two piers, several houses, a canteen and a coal processing plant. There’s still a crane in the port and a ship sunk in the harbor. Most houses in Colesbukta are still in good condition and can offer plenty protection during cold nights.
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The warehouse
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Houses
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Canteen and dressing rooms
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Coal processing plant
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6pm was getting closer and we decided to give the rifle a try, as neither of us had fired a weapon before. We found an old barrel and each had a go. Loud bangs echoed through the bay and upon closer inspection the old mauser was surprisingly accurate. My shot was just centimeters below the bullet hole of Anotherstepaway.
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In our last 30 minutes we just sat on the wooden pier and enjoyed the silence. This is how life should be… Suddenly the silence was broken by the distance sound of a motor boat. Our ride had arrived! We went to the end of the pier and climbed aboard the dinghy. After a quick stop in front of Grumant for some pictures we followed the coast toward civilization.
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All of a sudden the the smooth sea was interrupted by a spray of water shooting up. Whales! Our last day is Svalbard could not have ended better. A group of Minky whales passed right in front of the boat. Our last day on Svalbard could not have ended better.
Thanks for watching! More pictures to be found on my website: www.off-limits.eu
>>www.off-limits.eu<<
https://www.flickr...otos/33475620@N05/ |
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Your photos are absolutely Breath taking! Gorgeous! Haunting! Surreal. Such an explorers paradise. Beautiful views with something thrilling to see at every turn. Thanks ever so much for going here and sharing it with all of us. I enjoyed this tremendously 
A place of Mystery is Always worth a curiosity trip!
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Svalbard kicks serious ass.
When there is tranquility, you are in the right place. When there are no footprints, you are on the right path. When there are no tire tracks, you are on the right road. |
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In all honesty (and zero disrespect to everyone else) these are the absolutely BEST photos I have seen posted here. Outstanding job!
See More on Flickr!
https://www.flickr...tos/133983270@N06/
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Wow. What an adventure, and so well captured. Jealous to say the least!
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This is really good work!!!
Kabbalah is an undramatic tradition that requires great patience and stability. One of the reasons for this tempo is that everyone has to mature his potential gradually and thoroughly at his natural pace. In this way his life's work unfolds at the right moment in his own and the cosmos's time.
Z.B.S. Halevi -- Kabbalah |
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Everything about this post screams fantastic.
Soil's Song In Your Throat
https://www.flickr...otos/72153409@N07/ |
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Best thread I've seen posted here in YEARS! Now to go home and see the photos on a monitor that I can see them on in their entirety.
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INCREDI-FUCKING-WOW
DUDE
Your photos are incredible, i mean...damn the quality and composition is crazy.
After 10 years of exploring im always wondering if ill be impress by something again, there it is.
Edit:
Ok man this is too incredible, i just posted this in our UE groups and my fb, mad props to you man!
[last edit 3/6/2017 10:47 PM by Urban Downfall - edited 1 times]
Il y a toujours un moyen. |
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I really don't know what more to say that hasn't been written.
I’m not sure whether I’m more impressed by your photography, dedication needed to get there or passion for the world of UE. You've definitely set benchmarks for the rest of us here at UER.
ue.. it ain't what it usta be... |
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Wow! Amazing stuff! #26 is out of this world, as is the coal processing plant. Nice job actually exploring and sharing.
You betcha |
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Woah! This is BY FAR the best set I have ever seen from here. All of these shots are amazing!!!
"What is your favorite thing about Belchertown?"
"...the history, man" |
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Those disfigured rails!!!!!
Oh well,
now i know how the end of the world looks like.
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Belongs in a "Best of UER" collection.
This is what it's all about. Very nice.
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Thanks for all the awesome comments!
>>www.off-limits.eu<<
https://www.flickr...otos/33475620@N05/ |
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Utterly gorgeous photos of an incredible part of the world. Thanks for letting us see so many details of these places that most of us unfortunately won't be able to ever visit.
Flickr |
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I see you finally made the trip.
Hiking from Grumant to Colesbukta is still something I have to do. One day...
All information and details given in good faith but not guaranteed! |
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These are all breathtaking, holy shit. Amazing work!
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Great pictures and some absolutely mesmerizing locations. This has to be one of my all-time favorite posts on here. Thank You for sharing.
I'd love to make it to Russia someday, despite growing up bouncing between Germany, Belgium, & the US, plus visiting family in Turkey I never had the chance to explore Eastern Europe. I didn't even make it to Berlin until nearly 20 years after the wall came down.
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These photos are incredible! Such a beautiful area to explore and beautiful buildings. Completely abandoned in the middle of nowhere, its perfect!
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