The Jostedalsbreen Glacier National Park accommodates the largest glacier in northern Europe. Austerdalsbreen - our goal for today - is one of several glacier tongues of this giant plateau glacier.
 

The drive along Veitastrondvatnet is an experience for itself. The narrow street along the lake runs through unlit(!) tunnels and the last part of it leads through wonderful mountain-framed alpine pastures. Waterfalls come down all around the steep slopes.

The hike starts in the lush green valley of Austerdalselvi, whose milky waters come directly from the glacier.

Through little birch woods and moraine debris from former centuries the walk continues for almost 2 hours. After rounding a huge rock formation the glacier tongue finally appears. A little further on the way the two giant ice falls Odins- and Torsbreen come in sight.
 

For scale: in the bottom right corner - that´s Dagmar

On the way back the weather improved more and more. The wet rocks glittered in the sun, and the white ice of the glacier made a good contrast to the blue sky.

 

Finally we rewarded(?) ourselves with a footbath in the ice cold water - brrrr!!

After that refreshment we started again to cross the Sognefjell the same day. =>