Langåsdalsvatnet - Fjords And Mountains

Langåsdalsvatnet is a lake, located at approx. 190m above sea level, next to Vassnuten mountain. You can get there from a few directions. Shorter is a forest road from west, from Bjordaj village. From east, you can get there from Eikedal valley and along Husafjell mountainside. Other trail from north comes to Ulserhaug mountain and another from south goes to E134 road and Tveit village.

I had to leave my car mechanic to repair at this last place, so I decided that I can spend some time for walking around Langåsdalsvatnet, than waiting in the workshop. Winter hike wasn’t anything scary. Last year, in similar circumstances, I went on a trip to Vassnuten. This time the weather was more capricious. For several days it rained. Continuously or intermittently. The sun appeared only in the intervals between rain. And that day I had appointment with mechanic, snow began to fall.

I left the car in the workshop and went on the trail. I remembered this road from previous year. Just as then, the road and area around was covered by snow. After I reach around 300 meters above sea level, the area become flatter and my whistle breathing calmed down. I passed characteristic points, remembered from my last trip here: bench on a small hill, closed gate, abandoned trailer and patch to Vassnuten on right hand. This time I kept the main road, which has to take me to the lake and around it. There were still snowing. More or less but snowing never ended. If I didn’t sweat by walking, I would looked like a snowman. Soon, the road began to gently fall down and I got to the lake. The landscape looked as someone suddenly removed all colors. I saw only white, black and all gray scale.

I saw another bench, set on a small promontory on Langåsdalsvatnet. There was also, overturned upside down boat. I made some pictures and moved on. I passed painted red cottage in the forest and soon I reached the road goes left to, as I suppose to Bjordal. I kept the trail near the lake and one moment later I got to cross the river of Bjordalselva, which began to run from the lake Langåsdalsvatnet. I ignored wooden, covered fresh, wet snow bridge and walked on concrete road that was there as extension of my trail. I had opportunity to look at the well mounted in the lake. Water from Langåsdalsvatnet poured into the well, flowed the channel under the road and went out the other side of the road already as Bjordalselva.

I left this unusual engineering solution behind me. I walked now the northern shore of the lake through the forest. Snow covered road and it still falling. I came to a wide stream running down from the mountains and crossed it using a wooden bridge. Another stream I crossed steeping on stones. Soon, I meet the crossroads. There was a trail led north but I continued my march to east. Moments later I encountered a problem.

The problem was another stream, wide on a few meters, deep enough that I did not dare go on protruding stones. Stones were covered by fresh snow and they looked very slippery. One uncertain step could end up landing in the cold water, dislocate or break the leg. There was not bridge here. I decided to go along the stream and check the opportunities o cross the river in other place.

I went to the right, but after few dozen meters, I realized that the situation isn’t better here. I turned and walked along the water rushing the opposite direction. I had to go back from there as well. Again, I stood on the road and I was thinking to turn back. But in the end I decided to cross the river. For several minutes I stood on a protruding from the water slippery rocks, and in my head whirled different thoughts. I wondered if I made the right choice, calculated my next step, planned even whole choreography of steps and turns my body in case of loss the balance. It had to pass the eternity when I decided and set my foot on another rock, and then on next one. I did not lose the balance. I didn’t fall. I didn’t get to the water. I was on the other side.

According to the map, I saw on the computer screen before I left home, I went now the trail that led to the Eikesdal. But somewhere here I had to turn right to another path goes to Vassnuten, which I should go. And indeed, soon, I found a sign pointing me in the woods on my right hand. The path was hidden under the snow, but fortunately the route was well marked by red sticks. This part of the journey was extremely steep (see the elevation profile of the route). Somehow I managed not spitting my lungs out.

Finally, when the ground came back to more-less horizontal shape, I went out from the forest. I still followed the sticks and soon found the place where the trail led to Vassnuten mountain. I recognized this place from last year and follow the path in other direction, downhill. I reached the main road. Next, I passed the trailer, closed gate, bench on the hill. The road led me to the mechanic workshop.