Norwegian Summers Are Short

Their skis glided almost silently over the compact snow. Previously it had snowed constantly for weeks, but recent sunny days and night temperatures of minus 20°C had transformed the surface of the snow to a hardened iced sheet. Conditions were perfect to make speed on this urgent journey. The sky was clear and visibility sufficient and, although it had become dark at 3 pm, they were making good progress. Only another 5 kilometres and they would reach the Swedish border. They had covered 80 kilometres in 3 days and their ordeal would soon be behind them. A night stop was imperative if they were to contain their strength for the last lap of their escape. The low temperatures and their haste had weakened their young bodies. Although thankful that the freezing temperatures had supplied a speedy ice passage for their escape route, their hands were frozen stiff and they were badly in need of warm nourishment.