As you read these lines, you are probably unconcerned that Easter is just around the corner. You should be in Norway. Not all of them have left early for their Easter break but chances are . Far from the madding crowd however, the rugged individualists, and there are many of these, have countless kilometers of challenging territory to test their stamina in solitude and silence. Mountain vacations are often more than tests of stamina, family outings and exciting slalom-runs.
Weather can be unpredictable, distances misjudged and accidents can happen.
So, while the majority plays, a group of dedicated people watch and wait. In an antenna studded cabin in the Gol mountains, eleven experienced Red Cross Volunteers comprise the nucleus of an information, search and rescue organization that has become a national institution. From a nation-wide volunteer pool of 12.500 search and rescue members, about 4,500 will be on duty to cover all the major skiing areas from April 7 to 16. There's a 'Search and Rescue' team in practically every community in Norway. Membership is completely voluntary and members receive no payment whatsoever.