Cover Photo: Floki Hansteen
Research: Sophia Auer
Text: Sophia Auer, Františka Rohlíčková
Edit: Markus Fagerholt, Sophie Spickenbom, Petter Stenstadvold
Some of the Roverway participants got to see the Flatbreen glacier, which is part of the largest glacier in continental Europe!! They learned a lot about climate change and how it affects the glacier. You can now read about what they experienced.
Have you ever had the opportunity to hike up a glacier? A few of the Roverway participants on the VE01 Path have had the chance to go up the Flatbreen glacier, where they got a guided tour. Their Roverway path is actually an old postal route! They were learning a lot about the history, but also about the climate and specifically climate change, which affects the glacier immensely: the path leader spoke about the glacier moving about 20cm per day since the ice is a slow moving water body and is constantly moving. And every year, it is declining by melting more than 50 metres, and more or less on different parts of the Jostedal glacier, which is a shocking number to learn, and due to climate change.
The Flatbreen glacier is quite special as it is a sidearm to the largest glacier on the European continent: Jostedalsbreen. With 60 kilometres in length and craters being up to 60 metres deep, it is the perfect place for Guides and Scouts to go exploring.
A few patrols got to hike up, but it was definitely challenging! Their morning started quite early at 7:30 with a typical Norwegian breakfast. Bread, jam and brown cheese. Then everybody acquired a hiking kit that contained a map of the hike, toilet paper, cookies and chocolate. Some people were a little worried about how challenging the hike will be, but everyone was motivated and super excited!
Thankful for the opportunity
After the full day hike, everyone was talking about how beautiful the Path was. Views were amazing and the participants got to see the valley where they will be going the next day, how thrilling!
Some hikers were quicker than others: the Austrians only took an hour and a half to descend from the top to the parking lot, which usually takes 2,5 hours! They expressed that today’s programme was also great to get to know the other participants and people on their path. The last group arrived at 22:30, it was an exhausting day.
Much fun was had and everyone learned a lot! Many participants also picked up blueberries and raspberries along the way, since they were growing all along the path. Overall it was an amazing day and truly a once in a lifetime opportunity!