Squeaky snow
I’ve had a couple of days carefully skiing on the damaged knee and ankle and all seems ok. Not perfect by any stretch, but ok enough to try a big day. So, on Friday 28th Jan we woke at 7am and are away from the cabin at 08.40.
Temperature: -8 degrees C, relatively light winds by comparison to previous days. A glorious morning.
Beautiful morning, terrible camera
I have a new bandage on my ankle. It’s better than the bespoke ankle support I bought which is pretty harsh on my ankle bone after a few hours, so instead I strap it up using a good old traditional bandage. I’m not sure a medical professional would be all that impressed with my efforts. My foot looks like it’s been bandaged by the special effects people on a zombie movie. It is however a darned site more comfortable than the other ankle support I bought.
Did I mention it is a beautiful morning? Squeaky snow. Always a good sign I think. I love squeaky snow. Do you want to know the science behind when it squeaks and why? Well, are you sitting comfortably?
When the temperature is below -10 degrees c (14 degrees f) the pressure from your step, or in our case our ski poles, does not create enough heat to melt the snow, so the pressure causes the ice crystals to rub against each other thereby making the squeaking sound.
As we ski I keep looking for critters in the low alpine birch, but it’s just the squeaky snow.
Squeaking our way up through the low alpine (or dwarf) birch fields
Up on the plateau above Ustaoset we are overjoyed to find that it is not windy here either and we happily head off in the direction of a place called Haugestøl. Sun glasses on, take few photos and off we go. The plan is to do a loop staying up at around 1,200m. How lovely it will be without the wind.
10 am and that’s about as high in the sky as the sun will get.
A sneaky shot from the previous day. Looking down on Ustaoset and lake Ustevatnet
Twenty minutes later the sun has gone and we have to stop to don goggles and face mask because, you guessed it, the wind is back. Not as bad as it has been the last few days but pretty intense. I’d estimate it at around 40-50 kmph. With the windchill the temperature is now about -15 degrees c.
You can see a video of this shot showing the wind blown snow by clicking the link to my Instagram account.
Shortly before putting on my face mask I get to experience the joys of icicles in my beard. It might look good in photos, but I’m pretty sure any photo of a smiling explorer, his beard a mass of ice, is taken before he wipes his face with a gloved hand not knowing they are there. He certainly won’t be smiling when the icicles stick to his glove and provide him with an impromptu facial epilation. I don’t recommend it. Ouch!
Wishing I was in Benidorm
Anyway, we ski into this gale for about 2 hours, eventually looping back 180 degrees i.e. with the wind behind us. At which point, it stops. So much for a wind assisted return journey.
On the way back David decides to remove his skins. He says, “It will be quicker.”
I tell him that I’m not convinced it’s all downhill and I don’t fancy the idea of climbing any hill, no matter how short without skins.
“Alright,” says David, “You carry on and I’ll pass you. Soon.”
The race is on…
Over the next kilometre I am really going for it. I look back thinking David will be right behind me, but he isn’t. A relatively flat bit with bits of downhill follows and he’s right behind me. He briefly overtakes. But, what’s this I see ahead? A long, icy uphill section. Head down I quickly pass him. The ground levels out at the top of the icy section and a few hundred metres on he is nowhere to be seen. Yes! It’s now downhill for about 1 km to the junction for Ustaoset. I’m off and flying (in the same way that a chicken flies). 200 metres from the signpost and unofficial finish line the little b*****ks passes me.
All I can say is, it’s a good job I didn’t tell him we were racing.
By the time we get back to the cabin it is snowing gently. We have been out for 7hrs and 20 minutes and we’ve covered 29.5 km. The knee and ankle have both behaved themselves and both David and I agree, it has been a good day.
A day of contrasts. From this…
…to this, in less than an hour.
David checks his pacemaker
Rest day tomorrow as the weather looks horrible. +1 degree, rain, sleet, snow and winds up to 120 kmph! A good day to hide inside.
Are things looking good for us continuing our journey? I certainly think so and I am absolutely committed to giving it my very best shot.
Trond is joining us on Sunday and we will all spend a couple of days in the hills with big rucksacks, The loaded pulk (sledge) and an overnight in the tent. We will know more after that little test.
Watch this space dear reader.
Incidentally, the lovely people at BBC Hereford & Worcester have been serialising my audio diaries on the Kate Justice show. Check out the show from Friday 28th Jan by clicking on the link below. I’m on just after 8.30.
