Glacial beauty
Svartisen glacier.
Svartisen glacier is the second largest glacier in mainland Europe and not to be missed. The best view and access was from the water at the head of Nordfjord. We could see the glacier capping the mountain range as we approached up the fjord. At the head of the fjord there was a pontoon with room for a few boats and not much else. A tourist launch brought daytime visitors, but in the evenings we had the glacier to ourselves.
The next day we set out joined by our friend Peter from Supertramp. The foot of the glacier was 3km from the lake, distances were deceptive as it did not seem to get any closer however high we climbed.
The hike over the terminal rocks was very interesting, so many different kinds of rocks, the colors and patterns were wonderful. I wish I knew more geology.
Inspecting the foot of Svartisen glacier.
And finally we were there. The size of the glacier was hard to believe unless you had someone in frame to act as a reference.
The color of the ice was an intense aquamarine, so clear as you looked deep into the crevasses. The ice was not solid, which was rather alarming, it seemed to be made of ice balls stuck together by pressure. Very easy to knock apart. There was no way I was going to explore any of the ice caverns at the edge.
The next day we explore the other side of the fjord, renting a bicycle to head around on the trail. We enjoy a hike up into an abandoned farmstead
Finally it was time to leave, we still had a long way to go to make our midsummer destination of Lofoten Islands. We left the Svartiesn glacier and continued the journey north.
Nordfjord.