Page 23 - AMA Winter 2023/24

and planks of timber. Unbridged streams had crossing points which meant boots off and water shoes on, you could feel the cold rivers burning your legs and we were always relieved once on the far side to dry off and put boots back on.
Along the trail, there was a plentiful supply of freshly ripe wild bilberries to pick and eat along the route if we fancied a change from dried rations, and we revelled in the opportunity to refill water bottles straight from the fresh running streams.
MONDAY 7TH AUGUST 2023
Spr K Kelly writes...
After many hours of travelling, we finally reached the base and start point of the trail, which started off with an arduous incline. We battled the rain from the onset to reach the Hardangervidda plateau, and when we reached the famous Trolltunga viewpoint after 12 kilometres the weather and fog turned what was supposed to be a breath-taking view into pea soup. Whilst this was disheartening after such hard graft, we had a break and took pictures before adventuring further, around another two to three kilometres, where we would find a place to camp for the night.
TUESDAY 8TH AUGUST 2023
Spr C Kirk writes...
Day two started with a little rain as we packed up our gear to start the walk, with a few soggy individuals after more than one tent had piled in during the night. After setting off we hand-railed some power lines towards a cabin which took a few hours. By the time we arrived, the rain was getting heavier and heavier, to the point that rivers were higher than usual. This would come to affect us as we had to cross a river which was waist high, with no way to walk around without a huge detour. Under the guidance of our instructors, we crossed and set about warming up on the other side as quickly as we could. We could see the blocks of snow and ice upstream. I’ve never been so cold! However, we could
see the cabin from this spot and so it was easy to push on, and after arrival we began drying our kit and turning the Norwegian cabin into a sauna; that was how wet we were. We then waited out the storm that was battering the plateau, Storm Hans, and set ourselves to push on for a long day the day after.
WEDNESDAY 9TH AUGUST 2023
Spr J Scovell writes...
After a welcome night in a lodge to dry ourselves off, keep warm and have a good night’s sleep we set off again. The weather was a lot nicer than the previous day, not as wet, though still raining on and off.
Since the weather was better, we could actually see some of the scenery around us. There was quite a bit of snow to go over and we spent a lot of time on high ground. As a result, this was the first day when I felt like we were actually on top of a mountain. Until now, it was hard to believe we were actually higher than anyone in the UK for the majority of the days. We completed two river crossings that day and were slick doing so. The first was only a short wade and not that deep, but the second was very wide like a little lake with an island in the middle that we had to go over.
THURSDAY 10TH AUGUST 2023
LCpl L Armstrong writes...
And so began day four, with both teams having one sole objective: to make it to Hedlo lodge, to be achieved by any means necessary. During the hike, team B had a small blip, in which an easy option and route was discussed but fortunately this was promptly dismissed by the friendly reminder of the warmth and respite that the Hedlo lodge could give to us, as opposed to spending the night out in the torrid weather we have been facing over the last few days. Today’s walk was around 23km, another day of relentless rain, lots of steep inclines and drawn-out long declines and a lot of time spent off the regular path. However, both teams eventually met at the
lodge and shared a great evening meal together. The lodge gave us somewhere to regroup and come up with a plan of action for the following days.
FRIDAY 11TH AUGUST 2023
Spr W Baker writes...
Dawn broke and we were off again, on what was, until today, a seemingly endless trek across the vast Norwegian landscape. It had been nothing but rain, fog, cloud and wind for the last four days; however, today the sun finally broke through, showering everything with its warm glow and boosting morale in the process. The weight seemed to become slightly lighter, moods lifted and the true beauty of Norway revealed itself, from rolling mountains to sparkling rivers. We covered more distance than on previous days, and we did it easily, before the day came to an end beyond Stavali, where we would set up camp for the final time. It was an incredible experience and for me personally, the team I was part of really helped me through when I struggled. I think for most, it is an incredible achievement to cover 100+km in such a short time by foot and it will be a memory I’m sure will stick in everyone’s mind.
SATURDAY 12TH AUGUST 2023
LCpl T Gough...
On the 6th day we headed down from the mountains back to civilisation. Putting our tents away for the last time, we were greeted by a lovely clear day; we could see waterfalls flowing down the adjacent mountain sides. I ‘scranned’ my 4th fruitful muesli of the expedition happily knowing it was the last time for a while I’d have such a flavourful breakfast, and then we began.
On the way down the steep and slippery descent we came across multiple waterfalls, each of which truly was a marvel to see in person. We stopped to refill our bottles for the last time and take a breather at one of the waterfalls and made the most of the view. Passing the Hydroelectric plant, I knew that the expedition was coming to an end as we started to see fellow hikers appearing. Shortly after, in Kinsarvik, we set our bags down overlooking a beautiful fjord and dived into a local supermarket before waiting for the other team. The way back was a welcome relief (nice to be carried for once!) and we all shared our tales and looked forward to a well-earned shower.
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