Fløya

I woke up after sleeping like a baby at Marianne & Øystein's place. The room was cool and the quilt was thick and warm. I saw the sky turning pink and orange before the other's woke up. Marianne made us the best coffee! We had some breakfast, filled the thermos and made packed lunch. We got dressed and sorted out the equipment (too tired yesterday) then we met the others at the cemetery in Svolvær just below the famous goat (Svolvæergeita). Today I was introduced to some of the most active climbers here. We went up the old path to the right side of the goat, within shortly we had to put on our crampons and have the axe ready. Halfway up three persons decided not to continue but chose another way. I think it was the first time walking with crampons for two of them so I can understand. Me, Andreas and Fredrik continued up the snow chute. This time I used both my axes (feeling a bit more like Ueli Steck!) finally up at the ridge it was time to get tied in. I started leading and came to a crazy steep and airy section where I luckily found some ice ( I only brought my two shortest screws just in case but really happy for that now) I continued the traverse and then finally we went up another snow chute. After this we turned around and Andreas took the short summit lead. Up there was really beautiful and you could look down at Svolvær. Twilight will soon arrive so we took a summit photo and went down. Fredrik was in a hurry because he forgot to bring a headlight.

We passed Djevelporten (Devil's Gate). A really cool place but it was a bit too dark now for a good photo session so I'll have to come back. We went down to where the steep part of the path for descent starts. Finally we took the time to stop for some food, we keep the same style as yesterday just continue for hours with only a few squares of chocolate (but a little chocolate can do wonders for your energy). Now we stopped for tea and sandwiches which we really needed. Enjoying the beautiful view over the sparkling lights down at Svolvæer and the silhouette of the goat. We got a call from the others who were still descending the path that it was so filled with ice that they left a twin rope hanging for us to abseil the worst part of the trail. That was really kind of them because this way it went much faster. For a short while we lost the trail but we could see the cemetery so it was not really a problem and we found it again after a while. Then we went to Geir Rune to leave the ropes. He invited us for coffee but unfortunately we had to say no because Andreas had a meeting to reach in Leknes. We also made a short stop at Stein Helge and his daughter Kathalia before setting off to Vestvågøya. This was such a lovely weekend!

Time for crampons.

Svolværgeita.

Looking down at Svolvær.

Just perfect weather today. 

Heading up the snow chute.

Time to climb!

The lovely sun.

Almost there...

The ridge.

Andreas at summit Fløya. 

The lights shining down there-

Back at the cemetery.

Solitary Man - Neil Diamond
I love this song! (if it were called Solitary Woman it could have been about me). My friend Lucie once told me that we are walking through life like lonely soldiers her an me. Maybe she is right!