Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day

from Norway, x

Winterweather II

I'll let the pictures tell the story...  

(P.S. Don't be misled: the sun is back, but on there were few signs of warmth in it's rays. On the summit it was -15C with windchill.  A challenge to get my bare finger out from my wool mitts to touch the cold metal of the trigger button on the camera at all - but I just can't resist taking pictures! ;))

Day One

Day Two

I think the pics speak for themselves.  

As I said in my last post: Time and Height is all you need :)

Rollarcoaster winterweather...

Good weather :)

Less than good weather...

It's been a rollercoaster of a winter to date, weatherwise: snow, rain, mild, ice, cold, mild, snow, rain.  I dislike the mild, ice, rain combination most of all...  Reminds me of a rainy Britain and hunkering down in severe Gulf Stream induced British winter weather... yet here the streets are also laced with sheet-ice.  Makes simply walking almost impossible at times!  At these dark times, I survive only by walking around with severe looking mini-crampons on...

BUT

In between this strange, unseasonal MILD weather there is fabulous, glorious snow (you just have to know where to look ;))

I have to admit, it is a question of Time and Height.  If you have the time available, you can find the correct conditions at the higher altitudes to enjoy real snow and winter conditions.  Problem is, as a student I feel time is sooooo precious I worry incessantly about 'wasting it'.  I admit to not being a very happy student, at times, when being a student is condemning me to the mild, ice, rain combination.  Ho hum, that sort of Does Something to one!



But, at times, there is the chance to get out, to the right height, given the right time.  Here are some photos of the contrasts of this winter's weather, so far:

Time and Height allowing for a 'no complaints' moment! yeees!!

Happy New Year and Hello Sunshine

2013 - old friends, another year, the same old sun :)

It all started with a little shimmery glow in the horizon.  A small diffuse 'inkling' that the sun of Summertime was not at all far away - sort of wanting to peep above the horizon but not quite sure it had the correct date.   I was having a lovely weekend away with friend Lucy, visiting from the UK.  We were the very last visitors to leave the hut that morning, which was now a quiet and peaceful place (a contrast to the previous night of festive happenings, with 4 different groups of guests staying and various dishes - and beverages - filling the place with the aromas and hectic activity and bustle that accompanies a full hut).  The others had just left in a sort of snow flurry that had blown in from the valley to paint everything blue for a while.  The morning light was damped by the snow blowing in, and we anticipated our ski down to be somewhat of a 'non-event', preparing ourselves for some wet snow driving right in our faces.  With these thoughts we set about to sweep and wash down the floors down and give the place a final check-over.  

Then, I suddenly saw SUN hit the mirror pane and reflect back into the otherwise gloomy room.  No mistaking the light source: the sun was UP.  So, we gladly abandoned cleaning for a wee while as we dashed outside to savour the moment in a photo frenzy.  All that winter and dark, and now was the light and the life of Northern Norway back with us, at least for a few brief minutes.  The snow had cleared, the horizon to the South was clear, and the sun had made it's first brief appearance here this year!

Yepp, it was good to greet my own shadow again, to feel the light burn my retinas and see this prophet of the coming summer glinting above the hills like some sort of rare jewel... As I gushingly told Lucy: this really was unexpected as I hadn't anticipated seeing any sun until its Official Due Back Date next week... (...and that that was cloud, and weather-permitting).

Yes Sir, THIS was something special.  

Hello Sunshine.  

Hello Summer 2013!  

Ode to Summer '12

"In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me 

an invincible summer"

- Albert Camus

Sun! sun! midnightsun!  Robbing you of sleep at night and giving you energy by day!

Dinner caught in the lakes with rod and reel, with no skis, cold extremities or ice-hole needed

Yes! Insects.... (lots of them ;))

Too warm to sleep in the tent really, but with the midge-mesh system you can sleep bathed
in midnight sunlight and to the gentle drumming of mosquitos trying to eat you.. 

A sea and sky blue and clear viewed from green hills!

Birdsong along the grassy lanes

Taking time to smell the flowers

...even the very smallest!

Yes, this is a Finnmark beach. A quiet and - surprisingly? - warm place on a summer's day

And the air is so warm you are tempted to swim up even up here at ca. 600m on the vidda... ;)

...and yes, you take a warm morning bath here :)))
(when there are  simply too many jellyfish in the sea to swim there comfortably...)

Oooh. So sleeeepppyy in the sun... 

Mmmmmmm......zZzzzzz

Festival time: Midnight sun music... 

Yep. More sun past midnight ;)

Exhausting but energising hikes in the early hours of a midnight sun morning...

You know 'tis summer when even the sheep (bathed in rainbow light!) are watching the sunset