Lake race

We're relieved to leave avalanche alley
heading into greyness up Junker valley
At its head is Balvatnet
where a navigator's snare is set

The lake's far side lies unobserved
with an outlet that must be swerved
2 lines proceed into the murk
both relying on their compass work

Crossing routes lead to doubts
teams united by lots of shouts
"left, straight, left - thats it, not quite"
"why when you start are you stepping right?"

At the back and the front they disagree
which way exactly is 40 degrees?
But before Mick gets into a total fever
Kathy works out the needles affected by the transceiver

Visibility lifts and we no longer stutter
we get on our way to Coarvihytta
unaware we'll meet more Brits there
including Vanda Lavish and her lacy underwear