This morning we came up alongside in the town of Olden, nestled between mountains on the fjord. This stop is an appropriate “first day,” as it eases us into what Norway does best. Sheets of green forest blanket the sides of the fjord, fading to white snow as the mountains rise into the clouds.
We travel through the fjord past large, mirror-calm lakes and traditional Norwegian cottages and farmland to reach the base of the trail to Briksdal glacier at the height of the mountain. The trail climbs slowly, alongside a large glacial stream running through the valley. This stream feeds and is fed by a number of waterfalls scattered throughout the valley at different heights.
The source of most of this water is high up in the mountains. A lot of this is snow that has melted as spring progresses into summer, but the most significant source is the Briksdal glacier itself. At the end of our trail it hangs over a lake that has formed from meltwater. The lake itself is a recent development, having been cut by the glacier prior to it receding dramatically in the last few decades. This is a very explicit reminder of the increasing rate at which Norway’s climate has gotten warmer in recent years.
We returned to the ship to sail out through some of Norway’s typically stunning fjord systems. During this time the expedition staff took the opportunity to introduce themselves to everyone, and then the photo team organized a breakout session and introduced the photo program. After today’s taste of what Norway has to offer, the day ended with a sense of being primed and prepared for the experience which is to follow.
