Briksdal Glacier
Few people would argue with the assertion that fjords make for a magnificent landscape. But you can’t have fjords without a huge amount of precipitation (especially that which falls as snow, since snow forms glaciers, which then carve the fiord out of the surrounding mountains). As we docked this morning in the small village of Olden, we were greeted by low, wispy clouds and the threat of rain. And, while some rain fell as we made our way up to the road-end and trailhead of the Briksdal Glacier, the mist only served to make the landscape more dramatic. The many waterfalls that litter this valley were pumping away with abandon, their volumes greater than any of the staff could recall. The glacier itself is shorter than at any time in the last 8,000 years and has even shrunken noticeably since 2010. Still, its cascades of blusih ice are a sight to behold and with the skies clearing to reveal an even deeper blue, our hiking efforts were amply rewarded.
