Living in Oslo: Fjæreland - hiking up a moutain

Bøya Glacier

Back in January when we had our orientation week I heard about this program called: Hiking Through Norway and I decided I really wanted to do it. They take groups of students to western Norway to the fjords and you get to hike up a mountain and the next day you get to walk along a glacier. I was totally hooked!

The trip finally came around last weekend and it was all that I hoped it would be and better. Even though my traveling through Europe has been amazing and I have made priceless memories, I prefer trips like this one hands down, any time.

Friday morning we drove 6-7 hours which included seeing the Borgund stave church built in 1180, a ferry ride across the fjord, and a view point of the Bøya Glacier. While on our trip we got to stay in cute, cozy cottages with sod roofs with lots of foliage growing on top! I can now say I've slept under a tree.

Before beginning our hike Saturday we visited the Glacier museum to watch a Planet Earth type movie about Glaciers.. though it must have been a much lower budget film (2 of the skiers fell on the film..oops!). After that our hike began. The night before our guide had made us nervous saying "we would never be so tired in our lives" but once we got going it wasn't too bad. It was amazing how quickly we gained elevation. Along the way we picked up a retired couple from England who didn't know the way to the top. About 100 meters (300 feet or so) from the top, the trail was completely covered in snow. Not only was there a lot of snow, but the mountain went pretty strait up. Even though we were hiking in 30 degree weather, up the snow, most of us were down to T-shirts and/or shorts because it was such hard work. Once at the top I was so proud of myself! The view was spectacular (and we finally got to take a nice long break)! Once everyone was there we made our way over to the Jostedalsbreen glacier (the main part of all the mini glaciers we saw over the weekend) by sliding down the backside of the mountain in the waterproof pants we'd all brought along and then hiking along the ridge. It was a bit nerve racking (and slippery) but also very worth it even if we couldn't actually go on to that particular glacier (and we got to slide downhill back again). When sliding down the mountain back the way we had come, we had to be careful about speed and steering so nobody would fly off the mountain (luckily no one did!). Even though the hike was difficult I was really surprised (and happy) at how well I did.

The next day we woke up really early to drive over to the safest place to actually get on the glacier (Nigardsbreen glacier). We all had to wear crampons on our boots and put on harnesses (for some of the boys the crampons was the most exciting part of the trip). It made me feel so pro! I was really excited to be between two big guys because, if I fell down a crevasse they could easily pull me out.. and I refused to think about what would happen in the opposite scenario. The crampons were amazing! I was able to walk strait up ice without using my hands and not slipping one bit! And nobody fell down any crevasses, yay!

Thinking back on last weekend I am so excited and glad that I went! I was having doubts about if I was in good enough shape (I haven't exactly been athletic lately). My boots were my (super duper early) birthday present from my parents because I didn't have any good hiking boots, and they were awesome! I have one more hiking trip that is next week (to Stavanger, Norway) and I'm hoping to keep on hiking when I'm back in Colorado!