On the days with the most perfect weather, we headed out on bigger excursions. Hiking up Keiservarden is a yearly favorite. The views above Bodø are sweeping in all directions, and can even extend to seeing Lofoten. The steps to hike to the 1200 ft (366m) top are fun. However, Thomas and Karina decided to avoid the steps and the main trail. They instead hiked a side trail/road that slopes up gently by some cabins, and then they cut up steeply on the side of the mountain on a narrow trail.
Mimi, Mormor, Lydia, Derek, and I hiked the main path. Mormor walked ahead of us on the trail after we had all gathered by the public-use outdoor exercise equipment near the parking lot. All of us figured that we would quickly catch up and pass her.
What we did not realize is that Mormor is a slow tortoise who made her way slowly and steadily up the mountain. Lydia and Derek were hares with too many breaks. We stopped at every cairn for each of them to add a rock. There are cairns marking the way all along the trail because walking on the rock faces of the mountain can be confusing, and that meant a lot of stops for us. I'm glad they had a great time.
At the top we all caught up to each other.
There were so many paragliders in the area enjoying the clear views and sunny weather. They were fun to watch. Unfortunately, we learned that the day after we were on Keiservarden, a paraglider crashed and died there. The views may be stunning, but it is not an activity I consider safe.
The hike down was just as pretty.
A few days later, as the weather continued to impress us with clear skies and high temperatures, we made the long trek to Svartisen glacier. It is a 2 hour drive each way, plus a ferry/boat ride across the water. Then there is another 2 mile (3km) flat hike to get to the Engabreen glacier trail. A hundred years ago, that was where the glacier was, but now, that is where the tough, rocky, steep trail to the glacier starts. We were super smart this year, and paid to take a shuttle on the 2 mile flat road/trail to the glacier trail. It is an easy walk on a flat gravel road, but it's not fun for the kids to be tired of walking before we have even started on the 'real trail'. Taking the shuttle kept everyone energetic and eager to make it to the glacier.
Below, we are at the boat/ferry pier, before taking the shuttle around Svartisvatnet Lake to the glacier trail.
Hiking up to the glacier took a couple of hours on rough terrain. It was important to pay attention to the blue marks to stay on the trail.
Mormor made it quite far and then decided to wait at a nice viewpoint of the glacier (below). It didn't seem like the ice was that far away, but it took another hour, each way, to get there.
Karina and Uncle Thomas were way ahead of Mimi, me, Lydia, and Derek. I'm glad we had planned snacks and water bottles well and everyone had access to the drinks and food they had brought, instead of it being with a person in a different group. We met up with Thomas and Karina near the glacier, where they were eating, and then hiked the last bit together. Thomas, Karina, and Lydia are small specks walking the below photo.
Finally we made it!
The ice is impressive, very blue, and very noisy. We could hear running water, and breaking pieces of ice. Up until the very end of the hike, it was quite hot. When we finally approached the ice, everyone put their jackets on.
I was proud of the kids. They had all set the goal of reaching the ice, and they worked hard on a difficult, long hike. The hike was full of tourists from all around Europe. We saw Finns and Czechs and many others.
Walking back was another couple hours. At the shuttle stop, we had just missed the shuttle, so we began walking back. Karina, Thomas, and I walked the whole 2 miles back to the boat ferry, and everyone else took the van/shuttle at the next stop. It was completely full, so it was lucky a few of us walked the whole way.
On the drive home, we stopped at Reipå beach. Derek and I only found a couple crabs. I loved the beach and the view.
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