Olden has the edge of the birkenstal Glacier touching it. This is one of the largest glaciers in Europe so we have to go see it. We hop on a bus and head to the park. By this time we are recognizing a lot of the same faces from our other hikes. Our guide gets on the PA and gives us the history of the glacier. And like the other hikes it is at your own pace so the group spreads out nicely. It is a fairly steep grade going up and I'm finally vindicated for having us train on Mingus Mountain! A huge waterfall greets you, as does one of the steepest grades as the glacier comes into view. 

 Once up at the lake that has resulted from the melting the scale of the glacicer is alomst lost on you. The surrounding mountains form the ice into a "U' shape as it comes into the valley. And the sun has burnt off some of the cloud cover. Awesome! We are lucky enough to see it calve twice. Very cool. When we get back to the base camp there is a resturant serving us coffee and pastries. God, the Norweigians know how to do pastries! During the bus ride back our guide plays a music from a violinist from Olden. Then he actually walks down the isle of the bus asking everyone if they had any questions and did they enjoy themselves. My opinion of shore excursions is changed forever.