Last Friday, G and I packed our camping gear, left work early and embarked on the six-hour drive from Oslo to Glitterheim, located in the heart of Jotunheimen National Park. The Glitterheim cabin (we slept in our tent, about a quarter of a mile away from the cabin) is situated at the foot of Norway´s second largest mountain top, Glittertind. With its 2,452 meters above sea level, it´s only beaten by neighboring Galdhøpiggen at 2,469. Alas: We were in for a majestic view once we hit the top on Saturday afternoon.
Although the forcast had called for rain the entire weekend, we were lucky enough to wake up to a sky that was only moderately covered by grey clouds. If we kept our fingers crossed hard enough, we could possibly avoid rain on our hike up the steep mouintain sides and look forward to one of Norway´s absolute best view
Judging by the pictures above, it wasn´t half bad when we around noon started climbing hiking up the fairly steep hills that would turn into rocky trails and icy, glacier-like paths. However, as we approached lunch time (wonderful Dry-Tech), troll-like clouds and thick fog began to descend on us. In order to stay warm, we grabbed our gloves and hats out of the bacpack and continued fueling up on that genius invention that is Dry-Tech.
Four hours into the hike, we begin to feel fatigued. Fatigued because we haven´t hiked in a while; fatigued because it´s windy, steep and cold. On several occasions we´re about to turn around and head back to the tent, but we manage to convince each other that it´s girly to let the weather rule your quest for the mountain top. Finally, we´re at the top, but because of the previously mention clouds and fog, mixed with sleet that´s borderline snow, one of Norway´s best views looks like this:
This is what it could have looked like:
It did feel like quite an adventure, though. And on our way back down, through sleet, fog and thick clouds, we start to look forward to a damp, mosquito-filled tent. And that wonderful red wine that´s waiting for us.
MANDATORY on any camping/hiking trip is box wine. Why?
1. You need alcohol after a long day´s hike.
2. You need alcohol to fall asleep early, as there´s nothing to do in the tent when it rains outside.
3, You need the taste of nature. Moss, roots and rocks, that is.
Below is the box that satisfies all of the above:
CHEERS!
1 Comment
August 14, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I’m just wondering if your view would have been better without that box over your eyes?
Girl, I love your box of rodvin. I seem to recall a certain camping adventure of our own.