Sometimes you travel somewhere looking for one thing and come home with something you never expected.
For me, that place was Svalbard.
I fell in love with Svalbard many years ago, but when I returned in 2026, it was for a deeper reason. After several difficult years, I had lost much of my energy and self-confidence. I needed time alone to find my way back to myself.
My month on Svalbard became my own “Spirit Walk” – a journey to reconnect with who I was.
And somewhere along the way, I found Hestra.
I joined Green Dog on a three-day dog sledding expedition and had the chance to drive a team with Adam and ten dogs, including Hestra.
She stood out immediately. While the other dogs barked, pulled at their harnesses, and howled with excitement as they waited to get going, Hestra simply lay down to relax, almost as if she was rolling her eyes at all the commotion.
But as soon as the sled started moving, she came alive. She ran fast, pulled hard, and gave everything she had. She loved to work! Whenever we stopped, she was happy to curl up beside me for a cuddle.
She was calm, affectionate, and completely herself. In many ways, she was my exact opposite. I am someone who always has a hundred things going on, while Hestra seemed to have only three priorities: work, good food, and affection.
When the expedition was over, I returned her to the dog yard and called out to her.
She came running straight toward me.
At that moment, I knew I couldn’t leave her behind. While I was still on Svalbard, we met a few times in Longyearbyen to get to know each other better and build a bond.
Life on the mainland
Three months later, Hestra came home with me to Bergen. Everything was new to her: stairs, mirrors, grass, trees, and flowers. Little by little, she discovered her new world, and we got to know each other well.
Today, Hestra is my four-legged adventure companion. As a trip leader with the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT), I coordinate the hiking group “Dog Friends on the Trail.”
Hestra has become an excellent trail leader dog and stands out wherever we go. She also joins me on runs, mountain adventures, and trips to DNT cabins.
She still carries the spirit of a sled dog within her. She knows the commands “gee” for right and “haw” for left, and I still use them when we run and hike in the mountains. She is happiest when she has a job to do.
That’s why I want her to keep the skills and joy she had as a sled dog, while also exploring her new life with me. Since Bergen doesn’t always provide enough snow, she now gets to pull tires instead.
I went to Svalbard to find myself.
I regained my confidence, my energy, and my faith in myself.
And somewhere on that journey, I found Hestra too.
I went to Svalbard to find myself – and came home with Hestra.
