Nigardsbrevatnet Kayaking and Glacier Hike

The water was so calm the next morning. The reflections were awesome! 

Our next adventure was a big one: a combo kayak and glacial hike on the Nigardsbrevatnet Glacier. This activity was for ages 8+ so Pete took one for the team and stayed home with Maeve, while Nana, Pops, Jude and I took off. 

Glacier in the background

We spent some time at the visitor center's museum, learning about glaciers and life in remote Norway (the horrors of the black death! kids in one village take a hovercraft to school in the winter! and seasonal workers have always been recruited from abroad because there aren't enough people in Norway!). Then we drove our cars for a few minutes into the National Park. Here, we were outfitted for kayaking and started the adventure!

±30 minute kayak along the glacial lake to get closer to the face of the glacier. 

These two zig zagged quite a bit, but Jude was happy to participate. 

We beached the kayaks and began the 45 minute or so hike to the glacier. After walking along the rest of the lake, it was up, up, up along the rocky surface. 

We had a snack and got geared up to walk on the glacier- crampons for our shoes, harness to keep us connected to each other with a rope, and a pick axe. Jude was most excited about the pick axe and while kids are not usually given them, our guide said she could tell he was responsible. This made him really happy. 

We then took off in our group of 6 with guide to traipse all over the glacier (or rather a very small part of the enormous glacier). We would stop to check out crevasses, holes, and water flows. We stopped high up to eat our packed lunch and have hot cocoa. It was cold up there! Our two water bottles that went flying down the glacier were miraculously rescued by other groups. 

As expected, Jude's legs had started to give out on him towards the end, but he was a real trooper! 

Then it was the trip in reverse, hiking back down the rocky mountain and kayaking back to the cars. 

I let my kayak partner relax on the way home. The clouds had rolled in and it had just started to rain.  

Back at the ranch, Pete and Maeve had a chill day at home crafting and then went out to get ice cream and go to the playground in Sogndalsfjora.

We were reunited back at the house to share our adventures. Pops was really beat after the trip and the drive and we found out he'd been feeling sick since the day before. He self tested and low and behold, he had COVID. Hiking a glacier with COVID, probably not recommended, but thankfully his symptoms were relatively mild. So very grateful for vaccines and science!! 

Our little slice of heaven had a visitor that evening- The super yacht of one of the WhatsApp co-founders. This ship was just the "support" vessel for the yacht. Watching little boats go back and forth between the ships, the shore and out into the fjord was our entertainment for the night!

Norwegian Outdoor Adventures with Kids

We were all excited to get out into Nature, but knew that it would have to be toned down to kid level. We picked up a rental car for my parents at the local Avis (at a gas station). It was key to have a car while we were in this area. There was an easy hike (Kauphangerholten) across the bay from our AirBnB that led to a pretty lookout onto Sognefjord. We were joined by some sheep friends! They had bells so we could hear them coming! 

Maeve continued to be my hiker extraordinaire. This guy needed a little help! 

We were an hour's drive from Jostedalsbreen National Park, home of the largest glacier on mainland Europe. I found a few kid friendly outdoor adventures in and around the park with the company Ice Trolls, starting with a white water rafting trip "Little Piggies" for ages 4+. We drove the beautiful drive, past lakes, mountains, waterfalls, lupines, red farm houses, and finally along the glacial fed river, Jostedola. 

Our Argentinian guides helped us get outfitted in wetsuits, booties, vests and helmets. 

The river was tame, but we had a bit of white water, interspersed with spinning the raft and people taking turns going in (on purpose!). It was a hot day so it seemed like a good idea to get in the water, until it seeped down your sleeves! Brrrr.. glacial water is no joke! 

We stopped at a waterfall where we hiked up the slippery rocks. The guide convinced Jude to slide down on his back! We were given hot cocoa and took a break before heading back down river. 

The look when glacial water goes down your sleeves! 

Scenes from our drive home. 

BBQ night