Well, what can I say, another wash out. We had set our alarms early hoping that the weather was going to allow us to leave Geiterygghytta today, and when Sean's alarm went off at 7.15am we both stirred enough to take in our surroundings. One thing immediately evident was the howling gale outside, not a good omen. Added to this was the fact that the wind was blowing SO hard, it was forcing tiny snow flakes into the room through the tiny gap between the opening window and its frame and the curtains were billowing so much they were like the shirt tails of some demented spectre flitting madly about the room. My reaction to all this? "Let's have another half hour in bed mate!" And so we did.
To get to the main hytte for breakfast meant donning all our bad weather gear, goggles, gloves, hat et al! We even had to force open the door to the building due to the snow that had been blown across the opening.
The walk over to the main hytte was itself quite dauting as we had to brace against the driving wind and snow!
We arrived at the main building to find the days weather forecast promising more of the same and, after speaking to Jan, it was quite clear we were going nowhere today. Oh well, this is just something you have to grin and bear when travelling in the mountains, it happens! We quickly resigned ourselves to spending the day in the hytte and, after breakfast, retired to the lounge to read and write a little of the blog. Many were in the same boat as we were, so we struck up the odd conversation or two and discussed changing plans. Our plan had gone through several phases, now we were just hoping to get back to Finse tomorrow so we could catch the train back to Oslo on Saturday.
As the day progressed, we returned to our dormitory to while away the time watching a couple more episodes of "The Vikings" which has become something very much of a father/son thing. We continued to monitor the weather by the amount of spindrift coming in through our ill fitting window!
Not long after lunch time there was a noticeable drop in the wind speed and visibility had improved to the point I suggested we venture out to have a little ski in the local vicinity.
Sean appeared just as keen to get out on the skis again, so we dressed in the appropriate gear and headed off along the track to Iungdalhytta. This involved a long steady climb pretty much continuously to the three kilometre marker where we stopped at the junction for the paths to Steinbergdalshytta, Kongshelleren and Iungdalshytta.
Figuring we had had a decent little work out on the skis, we turned around and made our way back down to Geitrygghytta. Looking at the way the weather was now, I felt sure we could have made Finse today, but when a guy who lives and works there tells you in no uncertain terms, "No", you really would have to be particularly stupid not to listen to them.
And so we returned to our home from home. Have I mentioned it is the hyttes centenary year? If not, it is. It is one of the oldest hyttes built and was constructed to join trails on the Hardangervidda to those in Jotunheimen. Jan pointed out the centenary mug at the bargain price of JUST 100NOK. He didn't seem quite so smug about the value for money when I pointed out you could purchase a bottle of whiskey for the same ammount in the UK! £10 for a mug!! I ask you.
Dinner that night was another sumptuos three course meal of soup reindeer meatballs with veg and a desert followed by coffee. Although the weather hadf been bad enough to keep many guests at the hytte, numerous others hadc arrived, either travelling from Iungdalshytte with the wind or having driven up to a nearby carpark and been collected by Jan on his snow scooter.
That meant that this night, alas, our little vestibule was no longer our own. A Norwegian couple are sharing with us and Sean, who had been across from me on a lower bunk, was now forced to take the top bunk above me to let the couple be a little closer to each other!?!? I don't quite understand how that one worked either. Anyway, it had been a long day so we had another early night. I don't think I have ever had such regular early bed times in my whole life!
