25th Anniversary Appeal Expedition: Day 53

25-anniversary-expedition-day053Kvitsteindalstunet to Virvasshytta. 22km 5 1/2hrs. From the warmth of the cabin I heard the wind ease slightly in the early hours of the morning. It was enough to encourage me out of bed… Oatmeal and coconut milk thanks to @thecoconutcompanyco fired me up ready to brave another day. I put all my clothes on, duvet jacket and trousers and double mitts and headed out. The situation hadn’t changed much from yesterday except that today I was heading north and hoped to be sheltered a little from the worst wind. There was also a shelter marked on my map part way, which offered hope of a sit down break. As I climbed up the kvepsendal the clouds seemed to be being blown away and a cold, powerless sun shone through. I took my big duvet jacket and second mitts off and continued… the views improving every minute! The skiing too was easier today… hard packed, shattered snow crystals making a smooth surface to make rapid progress. I could keep warm by movement today and things felt much less on the edge… I had enough time to dig out kvepsendalskoia (the shelter) for an early lunch and arrived at Virvasshytta earlier than expected. The last descent through soft wind deposited powder to the cabin was balm to a bruised ski-spirit… and what a hut! Warm fire, duvet, hot chocolate and a candelabra…