Our first full day at Kongsvold, and we had arranged to meet the
guide at 9.30 to start our trek to find the musk oxen. Sadly Dougal
couldn't come with us, so had a day to himself. We three set off and
were soon climbing up to the plateau where the musk oxen live. We passed
through the forest area where they shelter in the winter, and kept on
upwards to come out on the plateau, which is rather boggy heathland. To
start with we couldn't see any animals; then spotted one lone male up to
our left on the hillside. Our guide decided we should stop for lunch
before approaching the beast, so we found a suitable area. One of the
group was constantly scanning the hillside with powerful binos and
suddenly spotted a herd of oxen quite some way off. Our guide unpacked
his telescope and set it up so we could all get a prime view. That was
quite a sighting!
Now it was time to creep up the near hillside
and get as close as possible to the large male we had seen earlier. It
was quite a steep climb, but soon we were all grouped just below the
ridge. Our guide explained that we had to keep most of our bodies below
the ridge as we advanced. If not the musk ox would up and walk off. We
managed to get plenty of photos, before the musk ox got fed up of heads
popping up to look at him, and away he walked! It was a wonderful
experience. So we headed back to find D and tell him all about it.
Back at Kongsvold, Dougal asked our guide if there was anywhere not too
far off a drivable track from where we could see the musk ox - so we
could take Dougal to see them tomorrow. We got some good tips and hope
that tomorrow that's just what we will do.
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