Fools Gold

I’m woken at eight by the infrared permeating our tent. Our large family tent has “blackout bedrooms” which are opaque to visible light, at least. This innovation has revolutionized high-latitude summer camping for us with kids.

Today we set our sights on visiting some interesting rocks, well off the beaten track. The area around Tinnsjø is well-known for its large crystals and other geological delights.

The walk in to the area starts well, with an entertaining bare-foot fording or a river. Then along a track up the forested hillside to the top of the trail. From here it’s hard work thrashing through pine and birch forest up a steep, and sometimes craggy, hillside. The kids protest and threaten mutiny. They’re serious. We press on, with increasingly elaborate incentives, but it’s nearly 30ºC and the kids are refusing food, and our kids,when hungry, cannot be reasoned with.

As the we approach the tree line, it’s clear Freya has reached her limit. Liz decides to stay with Freya in a shady spot amongst the stunted birches. I press on with Jacob, but soon after we emerge into open country, he too declares he’s had enough. I drop another GPS waypoint, and press on a little way to a nearby vantage point. I can see the motherlode forming a horizon just a few hundred metres away. I hear Jacob calling (it turns out he’s complaining about mosquitos), take a few pictures, and retrace my steps to pickup the family.

Liz and I are deflated and frustrated.

Back at the camp site, the kids play happily for hours, but we pack them off to bed at a sensible time, and hope for a better day tomorrow.