Hiking in Drevja: Blåfjellet

 Blåfjellet is a really nice mountain you can easily get to from Ømmervatnet, Drevvatnet or as I did, from Drevja. Even if I don't remember it, this must be the first mountain I ever hiked. When I was little this was a place my parents would take us many times. And who would not, when we could start hiking from my grandmothers house and when the mountain is so beautiful as it is?:)

There are plenty of paths that leads to the top, but sadly many of them are overgrown. I am disappointed that not more people use this excellent opportunity to get outside. I decided I was going to try the path that goes straight from my grandmother, for a while it was okay, but then I had to go on intuition. So I would recommend bringing a map or follow one of the paths that are still easy to follow.

It has been a path here, but it is a while ago...

The place you get to first, and the place we used to hike when I was little, is Skivskuret. For a long time I actually believed this was the top of the mountain. Skivskuret is a small hut located near three waters, the place is absolutely idyllic! When I got there the sun was shining, there was no wind, it was really warm and the colours of autumn was starting to appear. I just wanted to stay there and exist.
I was also a bit sad when I got to the hut because it seems like no one is taking care of it and that it will fall down soon if no one does something to stop it from doing so. I really hope someone feels the responsibility to take action because, as I said, it is a beautiful place to be and I hope children in the future can have the same good experiences as I did when we went there to go fishing and spend the night.

Skivskuret

Lukttind seen from Skivskuret

Hiking all alone and since there was no wind I had some really nice experiences on this hike. First I almost stepped on a bird before I saw it. The weird thing was that it did not see me and just continued walking around like nothing. I have never seen a grouse so close. Really cool! Hiking down from the summit I was about to take a leap and jump down from a rock when all of a sudden something came out from underneath it! It all happened so quickly and I got really startled before I realized it was a hare:) What a speed it had jumping/running away from me!

Can you see the grouse?

Since the weather was so unbelievably nice and since I by know now that Skivskuret is not the summit, I had to make it to the top, Kveldtuva. Usually it is always windy and cold up there, but this time it was absolutely still. I even took a naking photo(I must say I have never felt more naked), but I will spare you the sight of my white butt.
From Kveldtuva you get a nice view in all directions. It is just to sit down and enjoy:)

Drevja

Drevvatet

The view towards Ømmervatnet, Mjåvatnet and Fustvatnet

On my way home I followed one of the paths from Skivskuret and down and I could run the whole way:)(there is no path between Skivskuret and Kveldtuva, but you don't need one. It is really nice terrain for hiking). I was glad I could run since my original plan was to go to Skivskuret, the hike had become much longer and my stomach had started making sounds even before I got to the summit. But I had a good feeling my grandmother would have prepared some food for me when I got down, she always does=)

A decent path on my way home:)

An eagle high up in the sky just before I got home

Hiking in Drevja: Tovenfjellet

All along Drevja the mountain Tovenfjellet lies. It is a very long mountain with several summits. The summits are not as high as the ones in Sunndalsøra but they are more than high enough to give an incredible view. As in Sunndalsøra you do not get anything for free and have to start at just above sea level. On the other side of the mountain you have Leirfjorden, Sandnessjøen, Dønna, De Syv Søstre and of course the sea which together makes a beautiful sight. It is also possible to hike from one side of Toven and down on the other one, a hike I want to do is Leirfjorden to Toven. Apart from being a nice mountain for hiking and its incredible view, Tovenfjellet also has great fishing. Its many lakes are popular fishing spots for the locals who almost guaranteed I would get fish. But of course I did not.
This years hike at Tovenfjellet went from Toven and up to Brattlivatnet and was especially beautifull because of the clear weather and the colours of early fall. There is no path on this route, but a look at the map makes it clear where one should go and once you are on the right track the rest of the hike one just go where it seems natural. Sadly it is a bit overgrown at the beginning of the hike, but after one have crossed the first river the landscape is more open. I had good company in my cousin Knut Erik and ironicly the only people we met that day were on our age. And people say the youths are lazy and do not care about being outdoors...

Almost at the top Brattlivatnet suddensly shows up:)

A nice place to have lunch

An amazing view towards the other side of the mountain!=)

Pictures from a beautiful winter

This winter has gone by so fast I haven't had the time to sit down and share any of my trips or adventures with you. Finally it looks like life is getting back to normal again so here are are some photos showing what a wonderful  and varied winter it has been:) 

Blåvegen

A 45 km long yearly tradition in classic style. Mostly double poling so it's a good race for those who have strong upper bodies, but not for me. I got a good exercise though and the weather was really nice this year:) All along the track it's people cheering and having a good time making the race even more fun!=)

My brother came in second place:D

It's always fun to get a photo with a celebrity: Tom Sandberg, former world and olympic champion. 

No competition:p

Photos from a an Easter filled with snow

Kveldtuva

It's hard work making new tracks in the endless amount of new snow coming during the Easter...

Bad weather coming, time to head back home...

More snow than normal indeed!

Luckily not our house nor cars...

The mailbox is just above the snow:)

Not much view at this family trip...

who fights about making the track?:p

High risk of avalanches this Easter, luckily this was all we saw of it:)

Vikskaret
From a switchyard at Viklandet it is nice to follow the route of the power-lines to up Vikskaret. From here you can either turn right and head for Vettafjellet or left and go to Vikfjellet. Or as I did some times, just turn and go back down. A short trip, but it gives a great view of Sunndalen and is great exercise:)

Sunndalen

The view towards Øksendalen

Børsetkjerringa
Just above Ålvundeidet. A short and nice trip that also gives a good view of the surrounding areas:) It was totally still the day I was there so one could sit and really enjoy the view, the coffee, the company and so forward:)

My mum and dad enjoying the day:)

Peknukjen
A perfect afternoon trip that was possible to do even when the days were short:)

 

NC in randonee skiing

Tarjei working hard up the hills

My mum and dad cheering at the top:)

Some photos randomly picked:)

Yes, I am a nerd:p

Johan Jørgen in his second skiing competition:)

A wonderful day spent skiing to Trolltind:)

:D

My traditional Easter holiday

I, as many other Norwegians, associate the Easter with skiing, preferably somewhere in the mountains, it is supposed to be sunny and warm, a lot of chocolate and marzipan and spending quality time with family at the cottage. This Easter was almost perfect. The weather was on and off, but well enough to go skiing every day. My family may be a bit more active than most families; while the usual skiing trip doesn't end to far from where it started and one sits down to make a fire to eat sausages and marshmallows, we go on long trips and high up. But one of the days we actually stopped on our way down from the mountain in our backyard, Tovenfjellet, and had a nice lunch outside.

Oh, I almost forgot. For many people, and indeed for my family, the holidays are all about traditions. And it seems like the amount of traditions just keepon increasing every year, and we are about to reach a point where there will be no room to be impulsive:S Traditions are good, but not too many!

The first tradition is a skiing competition up a mountain, a race I have participated in since I was 4 years old. I am sad every year I miss it. A new tradition that was started last year is afterski after the race. Nothing like alcohol after an exhausting race:p My brother brought tequila. As he had never drunk it before, he had no idea how it tasted and thought it tasted good. He was in for an unpleasant surprise...

I love tequila!:p

Really? Do I have to take an other one?

Here are some photoes from our skiing trips:)

The mountain in my backyear, Tovenfjellet:)

The view to the fjord...

One get a good view of the mountain, Luktind

The track home=)

My dad being very determined to reach the top. Where is the better way to reach the top?

My sister, Idun, with Syv Søstre in the background

The master of making a fire

My sister can be a bit too optimistic...

Every wednesday in the easter we drive a terrible road to get to a skiing race, Harvassdalsrennet. It is very hard to get up, the weather is usually very bad and some times not even enough snow. But because it is tradition and because it is a very social event we always make the trip:)

Nice to meet relatives:)

The wather changes fast up north!

Thursday is the day for the easterparty! It is a public party where everyone over 15 can attend. The music is allways good and it is a good opportunity to dance swing=) Really good atmoshere, but from time to time some people might drink a bit to much and do silly or stupid things. Common things are not being able to stand and ones feet and fall over all the time, getting undressed and of course getting into a fight.

Trying to get rid of the tequila at the preparty:)

My cousin was sober:( she was in the arranging committe and that means she violated a tradition!:-o

Crazy on the dancefloor

My parents are allways dancing at these parties=)

Happy sisters

And we're back to the main goal of the easter: skiing every day!

On the way up to Kveldtuva

A bit freezing on the top!

The start of a new tradition?

This easter we did something new: going out on Saturday too, to check out the pubs in the nearest town. We have to wait untill next year to see if is a new tradition or not.