Hike from Litedalen
I planned this trip whole week. I studied maps and watched forecast almost every day. And then during the trip my legs leaded me to completely another place. But back to beginning. When the week started, I tried to decide where to go on next weekend. My choice was Etne. This town is surrounded by few magnificent mountain ranges. I found three peaks, which seems to be not difficult. In addition, I asked my friend who lives in Etne how to get there and I’ve got answer that the trail to top of Hollestadnuten starts on Berge farm. I founded Berge road on the map and trail which leads to the first peak. I founded also alternative road to two another mountains, which started in Litedalen. After printing both maps I was ready. Now I could only wait to the weekend.
Sunday seems to be sunny but cold and windy. It took me around half hour to get to Berge farm. I founded Berge road and drove it up to the end. The sun raised already and the snowy top of mountains looks beautiful in morning glory. I needed to find the trail. I didn’t see any info, signs, signposts. Nothing. My first try ended by failure. The way was closed by gate with chain and padlock. A little further another road looked more accessible. I climbed up about one kilometer, in some places very steep but the road ended suddenly. I couldn’t see any patch goes up. I didn’t want to try to go without the trail so I had to back to the car. I still had an alternative way to check.
I returned down to the road 36 and drove few kilometers to Litedalen. I left the car near the lake Litedalensvatnet and hydro power station building. I went on foot leading winding uphill asphalt road. The route would take me on the trail to peaks Smørnut and Soleimsgrønnuten. Several times I passed other roads leading somewhere but without any signs on them I decided to keep my main direction. After some time, I got to the lake Hårlandsvatnet and dam built on its end. At the opposite end of the lake loomed the building of hydro power plant and two pipelines climbing steep up the mountain. I went the road along the lake, more and more convinced that I was going in the wrong direction.
Finally I came to some signs. The road spitted. To following the main direction, I could get to hydro power plant area. On the right up the hill ran the other way, still asphalted and sign informed that above is a car parking with a fee 25 kr. As I left my car down, I did not have to worry about this. I went uphill, winding road. I felt pain in my left Achilles, time to time I’ve been hit by strong, cold wind and I felt frustration that I couldn’t see any mountain trails. Otherwise I was going quite nicely. The higher I climbed this road it appeared more and more winter elements. First it was occasionally appearing frost, then small clusters of snow and in the end, more snow and ice. I said thanks to myself for leaving the car downhill. It seemed that I will climb like that forever but finally I reached the parking. I saw large information board and gravel road with sign of Det Norske Turistforening. Finally, I reached a trail.
There was quite a lot of snow here. It covered slopes of hills and brazenly laid on the road. The area gently raised and the road soon led me to the lake Jørnåvatnet. My eyes were struck by the image of snow-capped mountains and still the low hanging the sun, throwing light reflections on the lake. The wind whipped mercilessly surface of the water. The road forked. I went to one of the branches but after while I discovered that the snow drifts are getting deeper and I decided to go back. I went straight ahead and the trail led me to the next lake, Grindeimsvatnet. I was at altitude of about 550m above sea level. The trail led to Løkjelsvatnhytte and post sign informed that I was left about 3 kilometers to the goal. Then the wide gravel road turned into a narrow path running up the hill. After a few dozen meters further, sinking into the snow drifts and slipping on the hidden under the snow ice, I decided to turn back. Continuing the march in such conditions it could end up very badly and there was no point to risk unnecessarily. It was enough walking for today.
I went back to the car the same route, discovering what I missed going uphill. Road leading into the mountains, toward the peaks Smørnut and Soleimsgrønnuten. I thought that I can come back here next weekend if the weather will be nice and reach the both goals then. So far I had 16 kilometers in my legs and I lacked of enthusiasm to climb the steep slope again. So, I got into the car and went back to the house.
This entry was originally posted 2016-11-06 on https://kraina-trolli.pl.
