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!

Hiking in Sunndal: Vollasætra

Driving towards Oppdal from Sunndalsøra and just before you start the ascent to get to Oppdal(Gråura) there are several nice pastures up in the mountains. One of them is Vollasætra which you can hike to from Vollan farm. There is a small spot to park your car, just remember cash to pay for it. Then you head up the tractor road and follow the signs leading to Vollasætra. It goes upwards all the way so there is no place to relax unless you stop for a break. Some parts of the path vegetation is taking over, but look for the signs and there will be no problem finding the right way. The pasture in itself is beautiful, but the view could be better. Therefore I decided to follow the path and head for the nearest top to get a better view. All in all a nice and easy hike without any difficulties, but remember to check for ixodidaes!

Notice the sign to get to the path from the tractor road

Not much of a view from Vollasætra

Vollasætra

The pasture a bit further up

At the top I just wanted to head further and go for long hike in Trollheimen

Hiking in Sunndal: Viromsætra and Grasdalen

Finally a warm and sunny Saturday and of course my friend Tanya and I could not let it go by without taking advantage of it and go on a decent hike. We set of from the parking-lot at the end of the road in Nerdalen a parallel valley of Sunndalen (also the place you park when you want to visit the beautiful Innerdalen).
From the parking we walked towards Innerdalen, but after passing the farm we took a right turn and headed for Viromsætra and Grasdalen instead. At first we followed a tractor road along some fields with sneaky cows grassing on the left. After crossing the river Ulvåa we followd a nice path to the pasture. All the way up the to the pasture you get great views of the river finding its way down.
After reaching Viromsærta we still had energy left and since the surroundings were especially lovely this evening we continued up Grasdalen till we reached the end of the valley. Grasdalen is a lovely valley giving a great view of the Vinnu mountain and glacier. To the left we had the highest mountain in Trollheimen: Trolla. It is an infamous mountain known to be very dangerous and difficult to climb. We did not go to the top! But we fallowed a steep hill for a while until we were met by a wall... Time to head back home, but before we did, we really had to stop and take in the atmosphere and the exceptional nice view=) The best way to spend a summer evening:)

Vinnu mountain and glacier

Difficult to get much further than this...

A friendly sheep that wanted to cuddle! There's a first for everything..

Somewhere behind the wall the summit of Trolla is hiding

Grasdalen

Grasdalen

Couldn't be happier:)

Tunga

Hiking in Sunndal: Seterhaugen and Øverhaugen

After a 10 minute drive from Sunndalsøra you pass Oppdøl on your left side, if you take the next possible exit to the right (you have to cross a sheep fence) you get to the starting point of one of the best afternoon hikes in Sunndalen.

Parking is next to the sign and the boat

I like this hike because it gets your heart pumping from the second you start and you get to use your arms getting both up and down. There are two possible paths to get the first post, you can go left and take the slack but longer route or you can just walk straight ahead and take the short but steep route. I prefer to take the steep route up and the slack one down:p On the steep path you have a good view of Oppdøl and the fjord almost all the way to the top if you stop and have a look behind you.

The slack and long path

Slack or steep?

Just before you get to Seterhaugen, a former summer farm, you can take a path to the right to get a better view towards Sunndalen. Unfortunately this viewpoint will soon be gone if nothing is done with the growth of the forest.

The view towards Sunndalen, trees are starting to get in the way...

Seterhaugen

Seterhaugen is a nice place to stop for a break. There is a book inside the pasture if you want to sign you name in it. It took me 20 minutes of fast walking to get here. To get to Øverhaugen you just continue on the path headed up towards the mountain for about 20 more minutes. On the way you cross a little stream so if your short on water it is possible to get a refill.

The view from Øverhaugen

Øverhaugen

At Øverhaugen there is of course another book for signing inside=)

If you want to take the slack path down you just take the path to the right of the hut at Seterhaugen. Taking this path down will give you a view towards Ålvundeie.

All in all the trip is about 2 km one way with a 520 meter ascent from the car to Øverhaugen.