Steep Mountains and Narrow Valleys

"I wish I could take you with me so you could see for yourself the winding road down through the narrow valley. We arrived at Gulsvik late that night. There were the shores of the inland sea "Kroderen." In the summer, steamships could be seen here, but now, even the last of April, found the sea covered with ice. Not strong enough to drive across though, which meant we had to detour up a mountain slope about four miles (a day's journey).

Ringnes Aasen was a long steep forest covered trail, with very few, if any, dwellers. The day was warm and windy, which melted the snow leaving the trail just one mush. (Snegraut, the Hallings said.) The tired horses trudged through this all day with their heavy load.

At noon we had reached the top of the mountain. Here was a moss covered hut where two old people lived. We rested here, got out our lunch baskets and bought coffee from old Guri Saettra. Ole Berg, being tired, laid down on the not too inviting bed. The rest of us questioned this act but said nothing. When he got out again the others discovered a "bug" on his back, which brought on a hunt and more laughter."

Excerpt from Sigrid's account of her journey to America, written in 1919.