Impromptu hike
June 22, 2010 | Family,Norway,Traveling,Vacation
See this mountain?
Today, we were going to “practice” climbing it, which we planned to do once Pappa was here. So up we went.
We got to see the cows. That’s as far as I thought we’d go. But I heard, “I want to keep going, Mommy!” So keep going we did.
I’m sorry we didn’t bring you, Marie (The Snake Charmers, @SnakeCharmers). I had no idea we’d go very far. I didn’t even bring water or food. (I know. Mother of the Year here.)
I kept figuring we’d turn back soon and call it a day. But, no. We kept going.
And going.
And going so much that they had to sit and wait for their poor, old mommy. A lot. She’d be gasping for breath, and they wouldn’t even be breathing hard.
At least I could still smile.
Pappa called before he left for work. “Guess where we are, Pappa?”
We made it!!!
We all signed the book at the top.
And squeezed together for posterity.
And again.
Just as we got to the top, the fog blew in. We were walking in the clouds. Literally.
I needed to lie down for a few minutes.
Then it was time to head back down.
Back under the clouds so we could see again.
Oh! But it was cold. And windy. And fairly miserable. I had two start crying. “I never want to do this again!” And, “I don’t want to do this when Pappa gets here!.” It was much harder going down than it was going up. I had to tell them they HAD to do this. We HAD to get down. That I believed in them, and I believed they could do it. Then we finally hit the tree line, back into the forest and trees. It wasn’t so cold. It wasn’t so windy. We kept going. Then I started hearing about what an adventure we had today. When I asked if they wanted to do it again, I got “maybe” at first, then it changed to “yes.”
We made it back to where the adventure began. This trip usually takes between two and three hours. It took us almost six hours. But, wow. I’m so proud of my little mountain goats. They can definitely claim their Norwegian heritage!
Woo-hoo! We did it!
June 22nd, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Wow! What an adventure, indeed! Congrats to them…and to you!
June 22nd, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Thanks! :)
June 22nd, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Norway! So THAT’s why you were tweeting goodnight at five o’clock. ;)
I think it’s awesome that you led your kids on an adventure like this. They’ll always remember it!
June 22nd, 2010 at 5:17 pm
I swear I’ve been on that Norway hike that never ends. My mom lived in Stavanger for a few years. Have you been to Prekestolen? (sp?)
June 22nd, 2010 at 5:28 pm
I just loved this post, Becky. And it made me miss being a mom. :-)
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:03 am
Well done, you Mountain Goats, indeed! What a trip. Did everyone eat or sleep when done??
June 28th, 2010 at 3:06 am
That’s great! Yay for everyone!
June 29th, 2010 at 10:53 am
No, but I’ve been to the Troll Church. ;)
August 14th, 2010 at 6:05 am
[...] See that bump in the background? That’s the top of Jendemfjellet. [...]
January 3rd, 2011 at 7:26 am
This is truly awesome, in the non-slangy use of that word, as in “full of awe.” Which I am.
p.s. thanks for the split pea soup recipe
January 3rd, 2011 at 8:08 am
Thanks, Tracy. :)