The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-08-25

FJORDs. THE GRAND LAKE SCENERY
OF THE NORTH LAND. CLIMBING A
GLACIER. FIFTY-Two TUNNELS IN
sIXTY-sIX MILES ON A NORWEGIAN
RAILROAD.
My last letter left US at the Lapp
Village at Tromsdal. After we saw all
that was Of interest, we returned to
Tromso and engaged passage on the
first steamer going South. From there
to Aalesund we saw little or nothing.
the thick fog enveloping everything. At
the latter place we lett the steamer for
the overland route to Bergen. This
route takes US through the finest scenery
of Western Norway. The ForundGord
IS IS considered by the Norwegian them
selves the hnesst ford. The posting
road from Ole ascsn5ss ascsn5ssth the Noranssdal'
and is the finest drive in Norway. lhe
scenery is of the widest descffPtlonp-
Cliffs OF black rock in places four and ,
five thousand feet in height overlook
the valley partly filled with snow, the
remains of last winters avalanches,
through which the creek had formed
snow bridges. The excursion from
Hellesylt to Marok and back takes less
than half day, but during that short
trip, some of the finest Norwegian ford
scenery can be viewed, the Seven
Sisters being the finest waterfall to be
seen from the ford steamers. Leaving
Hellsylt by posting, we reach Faledie
at 10 p. m., distance of thirtY-two
miles, changing teams four times during
the journey. All the stations on this
road are post stations, at which the
Station master is required to furnish
travellers with team in fifteen minutes
after arrival. Leaving Faledie early
the next morning we crossed over to
Loen and walked to Vasenden on the
Loenvand. This lake is about seven
miles long, and has the finest scenery
in Southern Norway, extending almost
to the Great Postedelsbrea Glacier.
The mountains surrounding the lake,
range to the height of seven thousand
feet, always covered with snow, with
glaciers descending far below the snow
line. Reaching Nes,dal we engaged
guides TO take US over the glaciers to
the Bergsalter. While preparations
were beng made we took short excur
sion to the Kiendalsbrea, a branch of
the Great Glacier. A stream larger than
the Big Elk rushes out of the ice cave
under the foot Of the Brea. Returning
to Nestdal We found everything ready
to start, with two guides, one man to
carry provisions for a fifteen hour
tramp, all for twenty four krower, or
about six dollars. Two hours bring US
to the lost Saeter, and we lay down for
a sleep as the guides always cross the
ice at night. We slept on a pile OF
straw, with overcoats and gloves on to
keep warm. At 10 P. NJ, we are awak
ened to get ready for the trip. On
reaching the ice the guides tie rs be-
tween themselves with stout ropes, to
prevent our falling into some crevice
in the ice. The guides steer their course
with compass as they do on vessel
at sea. TIE glacier covers tableland
twice as large as Cecil county in area,
and being above the snow line, has
laid here for aught we know for thous.
ands of years. After an hours walk
the travelling becomes quite easy, and
We can make good time over the smooth
ice. Our route ascends until we reach
the height of seven thousand feet, with
over a thousand feet Of ice under our
feet. The sun rose about three O'Clock,
casting his bright rays over the blue ice,
which extended as far as the eye could
reach, and which made spectacle
alone worth the coming to Norway to
see. After spending some little time
at the summit, we began the descent,
and at s A. NJ, were clear of the ice
reaching the Bergseater at eleven, when
we all lay down for good sleep. At
3P. M, our guides start back, and we
take the path to the Posteldal, an
hours walk, where we drive to Mar,
fieran which we reach early in the
evening. The next morning we took
the boat for Gudvaasgen. Here we
find stages waiting for passengers for
Vorsevangen. The road equals the
Norangsdal in grandeur. The road as
cends in great sweeping crevices to a
height of eleven hundred feet, and
gradually descends to the railway sta
ton, where we take the train for Bergen,
sixty-six miles distant. In the journey
to Bergen some idea of the roughness
of the country may be gained from the
fact that during our ride of sixty SIX
miles we passed through fiftlakNo
tunnels, the longest Of go
mile in lenasAsf5I' LOOKS Tourist n
my.frs get some news ," OF the ou'S.ad s.d
| world. The steamer Elnorad0 n'ao nitb nap
come in from Hull that morning 3, WIN
london papers Only three days OLD.
WILLIAM TAYLOR.
l waiting TOR tC