Hiking in Sunndal: Innerdalen

Innerdalen is the perfect startingpoint for many hikes and a beautiful hike in itself. It is said that the valley is amongst the most beautiful ones in Norway. Innerdalen is parallell to Sunndalen and you get there by driving to Ålvundeidet and then driving towards Innerdalen as far as possible, at the end of the road there is a huge parking lot, but during summer it can sometimes be full. Then it is time to use your feet and hike along a broad path for about 4 kilometers. Then you are in Innerdalen with all kinds of options. You can hike over the mountain towards Fale in Sunndalen or the other way towards Todalen or one of the many beautiful summits in the area. Innerdalstårnet being the most popular one of them, but not a peak if you are scared of heigths. There are two places to stay in Innerdalen if you're not tenting: Innerdalshytta and Renndølsætra are both nice places to stay. The hike to Innerdalen is a nice hike in itself and there is always good traditional food to get at both places:) Here are some photoes from some of the hikes I have had to Innerdalen:)

Renndølsætra

Me and Vilde with Innerdalstårnet in the background

Renndølsætra

Innerdalshytta with "Tårnet" in the back

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!=)

Hiking in Dovre: Dindalshytta-Åmotdalshytta-Snøhetta-Reinheim-Kongsvoll

IFinally I had some time off at the same time as the weather forecast told me that the weather would be nice enough for a three day long hike I have wanted to to for a year=) hurray! The hike started by a short leg from Lønset, where I parked my car, to Dindalshytta. It took me approximately 2 hrs to get to the hut, and I am glad it did not take longer as I had to start rather late due to work. To get there you can either walk along a road and then along some old roads when you enter the national park. An other option is to take a shortcut and follow the marked path. I tried to follow the path but I soon lost it as it seems it is not often used. But carrying a map it is no problem finding the way, path or no path. When I got to the hut there were already fire in fireplace and 3 people were sitting chatting around the table. Of course they seemed happy and cheerful, as people tend to be when you meet them in the mountains:) After chatting for a while I was offered to join two of them for the most part of the second leg. The weather forecast for the second day was not all that good, but not so bad that it would be a problem do the hike alone. But walking alone for 10 hrs or so in grey weather is not that tempting, so I happily said yes!

I crossed the river Driva when I walked from Lønset to Dindalen

The second leg from Dindalshytta to Åmotdalshytta was long, grey and wet and did not offer much of a view. But I had good company and the kilometres flew by:) In the beginning the path went through an area with rocks which had become slippery because of the rain. At this part it was good to have someone around. Some highlights are shown in the photos following. After I started on the last part, about a two hrs long hike, it felt like I would never get there. From walking together with someone the whole day to walking the last bit alone when I started to get tired, was tough. When I finally saw Åmotdalshytta I was superhappy and got just the energy I needed to get there. At this point you may wonder why I want to put myself through walking in cold and grey weather for more than 10 hrs. Well, I don't mind it raining unless it makes it dangerous and slippery, and since this day was about getting from a to b it did not matter that I did not have a view. And hiking like this makes getting inside and getting warm again an even bigger reward and the hike a bigger accomplishment=) Also here I was the last one who came to the hut that evening, and it was already warm and cosy. I could therefore focus on myself. Taking a bath and getting of the sweat to make sure I don't get cold after sitting down for a while. Bathing in cold water is just cold for a short while since it makes your blood starts pumping really fast and you can feel the warmth spreading out inside:) Also at this hut I met nice people and got to hear great stories about hiking experience. I love the way people behave towards one another when they are out in the nature! When I told people what I had planned the next day, they were quick to offer a helping hand regarding my duties the following morning. I gladly said thank you and appreciated the early start I was able to get.

Where is the sun?

A toilet for midgets?

I couldn't see much:p

Several streams to cross on the second leg

A hiding place for bad weather?

Pilbua, an impressive building!

Someone bad have just been here! a grotesque sight

It is important to eat and drink regularly!:) 

Any fish here?

YES! I can see this day goal!!

Åmotdalshytta

I set off from Åmotdalshytta knowing I had the longest leg left. The first goal was to get to the top of Snøhetta. When I woke up that morning the first thing I did was look out the window to check if it was possible to get to the summit or not. Clouds had covered the summit yesterday, and to my bi disappointment they still did. Was this whole trip a waist? But 10 minutes later I checked again and the clouds seemed to be moving away and I started to get ready. To path to the top went mostly in rocky terrain, not my favourite when carrying a heavy backpack.... Just before I got to the top I turned and looked to some of the other summits of the mountains and I was really surprised of how steep the mountain was. The mountains further in the country tend to be more gentle and round than the ones at the coast. At the summit I got an amazing view, indescribable! But here is also where the crowd started, I was no longer alone that is for sure.
Getting to Reinheim from Snøhetta is okay, but in the beginning there were a lot of rocks there as well.  I was very happy when I got to walk on soft ground again.

Lots of places to go to from Åmotdalshytta

Almost at the summit!:D

There used to be military activity in the area, I think that is why there is a tower at the top

Reinheim

When I got to Reinheim I realised I had spent too much time to get there and if I was to catch the train I had to catch to get home I had to speed up. Luckily it was no problem doing so as my feet were still not sore and now there was a good path to walk on. It is really difficult to speed up when you walk on big rocks, especially carrying a heavy backpack... The only obstacle that could delay me was the muckox. They had been grassing on the path earlier on the day and made people go far away from the path. I hoped they had moved away a bit and that they were in a good mood. I am not particularly afraid of muskox, but I don't need to see them up close. It would be amazing to see them from a distance though. As it turned out I got both experiences that day. First I saw them grassing up a hill an thought to myself that now I had passed them and I was safe for the rest of the trip. Then all off a sudden there was this noise on my right side: a muskox running away from me! WOW! I did nor have time to get frightened and it didn't seem as if there was a point to either. Once he or she(how can you tell the difference?) got 20 meters away from me he or she was once again busy grassing.

Finally a nice, soft path:)

Muskox far away

Muskox really close!

I made it to the train station with a good margin and the train took me back to Oppdal. From Oppdal there was a corresponding bus which goes past Lønset. If you want more information on the hike you can find it here. A really nice and eventful hike that I really recommend!

I was really happy to see Kongsvol train station

Hiking in Sunndal: Hoåslia

Hiking Hoåslia is the startingpoint for getting to several summits in Trollheimen. Hoåsnebba, Trolla and Furunebba amongst others. To get up Hoåslia you can either take the path from Hoås which is furthest east of the two alternatives. This path goes close to the cliff underneath Hoåsnebba and is therefore more exposed of rockfall. Even though rockfall is more common during spring and early summer there was a rockfall when I was there in July. I would therefore recommend the path from Løykja instead. Hiking here you should also be aware of vipers crawling about...
Done with the warnings! This hike gives a great view of Sunndalen long before you are at the top. It also gets your heart pumping as the hill is very steep. The path can be difficult to follow at times but once you have a good look around it is easy to figure out where the path must go. But remember to look back to where you came from from time to time so it will be easy to find your way down. When you see the mailbox you're at the top of Hoåslia. The hike's total ascent is approximately 800 meters and takes you to about 950 masl in almost no time:)


Hoåslia



Trolla seen from Hoåslia



I hiked a bit further and got an even better view of Sunndalen:)

Sunndalsfjella on the other side of the valley



The view up the valley

A viper in my way!