Not only did Willy and Nancy make it to Norway after a life of dreaming of such a trip, but they also made it to the top of the nearest mountain! (See photo.) He is 71 and she is 67 and they made ME fell like an old lady as they had no trouble at all hiking for five solid hours (but maybe tomorrow they will feel it a bit.) They got to sleep in this morning while we were all off to our tasks for the day so when I came home from school I took them for a “little walk” up the mountain – Norwegian style. I don’t think they expected to go up nearly 5,000 feet in one afternoon, but I just kept telling them we were “almost there.” They didn’t complain a bit, but Willy decided I might be a good used car salesperson as he now doesn’t believe anything I say. Really, if a person is in fairly good shape they can make it up in about 45 minutes, but I always see people checking their watches at the start of the trail as they like to better their time and a lot of locals run up. And if you ever tell anyone around here that you went up to Høgkubben, the first thing they ask is, “How much time did you take?” We only took 90 minutes, which is pretty good, considering I was along. I think Willy could have done it in 30.
Up top we met the local “Incurable Mountain Man” as he is called. He’s been written up in all the newspapers around here many times as he is 78 years old and he hikes up that mountain everyday – no matter what the weather. He said the snow will be three feet deep and he’ll be the first one to the top – making the trail for others to follow. Last year he climbed it 340 times, sometimes four times a day and he’s made his own private trails to go up and down to vary the scenery. He even hauls the rocks to set on the path and carries a small pocket saw to cut down incredibly large trees that have fallen over his trails. He’s also hiked up to the top of every peak we could see from up there as well. He has taught himself English and hadn’t spoken a word of it in five years so he was thrilled to have some Americans to talk with. I spoke to him in Norwegian (impressing Nancy and Willy too, I might say), and he said my Norsk was as good as his English, but I think he was much better. Turns out we know many of the same people and he said his second cousin (with the last name of Hustad) is a well-known organist in America who has gone on tour for years with the Billy Graham. He offered to show us one of his trails on the way down so we followed him, not knowing just how long it was going to be. Had we gone on the main trail we took up, we would have been back home in an hour, but going on his path took three hours! It was very beautiful though but we were completely spent by the time we made it home. Kory had a whale of a dinner waiting for us too, which was good, since once I sat down, I wasn’t getting back up again. He had to drive the three of us the half mile over to Odd and Turids for a visit, good American coffee (that they brought with them!) and dessert, but I declined his offer to carry me to and from the car. Uff da.
