Snøheim

Climbing Snøhetta was a highlight of my trip to the Dovrefjell Mountains. This most recognizable peak is a must to climb on every trip in this area. Reaching Snøhetta in Dovrefjell is like climbing Rysy in the Tatra Mountains. It has 2286 m above sea level and in advertising brochures, it is often described as Norway’s highest peak, but then they added that of course outside the Jotunheimen mountains, where the peaks are much higher. As you can see Norwegians like to have everything the best.
The weather for the weekend wasn’t seemed to be the most interesting, but it didn’t discourage me from driving for over five hours to Dovrefjell. The first stage of the march was the viewpoint called Viewpoint Snøhetta, about which I wrote in the previous post. After seeing this attraction, I returned to the military base, where the road to the Snøheim lodge began and then the Snøhetta peak hiking trail starts. The road is closed to passenger cars, but there are buses go to the lodge several times a day. The price for such a ride is 70 crowns. I proudly decided that I would not go the easy way, and I would easily walk this few-kilometer stretch on foot.
After passing the last buildings of the military base, when I went out into the open range and saw the view fully spread out in front of me, I could not grab my jaw from the ground. Seen from a perspective of a few kilometers, the peak, with its still unmelted during summer snow caps looked just awesome. Despite the fact that the clouds are obscuring the mountain, or maybe because of them, the image of this majestic hill made such an amazing impression. The mountain has a characteristic shape, associated with the volcano crater. It occurred to me personally that maybe one day a powerful meteor struck Snøhetta, creating a huge hole in the mountain. Or maybe the explanation of the specific shape of this peak lies in the way how the glacier travels thousands of years ago.

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The road leading to Snøheim stretches for kilometers on the range and the only peak that you can see up close is Kolla (1651 m above sea level). Other hills, including Snøhetta, seem distant and almost unreachable. With a bit of luck, you can see musk oxes grazing in the distance from the route. During that day I was able to see them several times. However, they were too far away to take a good photo.

Finally, after a few hours of walking, I arrived at Snøheim. My feet hurt and the main target of my journey has been permanently hidden behind a thick layer of clouds. I already had 20 kilometers in my legs. I was seriously thinking about continuing my march. I took a short break for a rest and a meal. I hooked one Norwegian returning from the trail, asking if it makes sense to go ahead, but he replied that he was only halfway to the top. I was struggling in my thoughts whether to go on or come back until I noticed a group of people starting from the lodge and heading for the trail. I followed them, but it turned out that they were going in a different direction. I continued walking for some time. Until the first drops of rain fell. I decided that the best decision is to go back.
I turned back in time. A moment later it was raining for good. I returned to Snøheim and soon after I was on my way back. The rain was still appearing in the short moments, but by glancing back, the summit of Snøhetta was still obscured by clouds. With each kilometer I traveled harder. Not only my feet I felt, but I felt the weight of the full packed backpack. Carrying all camping equipment for several dozen kilometers is not the easiest task. I watched jealously the faces of tourists peering at me from behind the glass of a bus returning from the lodge.

After nine and a half hours of walking and making over 40 kilometers, tired and sore, I arrived at the parking lot, where I left my car. And although I had previously planned spend a night in the mountains and make some easy hikking in the area for the next day, seeing the condition of my feet, I decided to return home earlier.
I couldn’t get to the top. Not this time. But I hope to get back to Dovrefjell. With fresh strength and maybe in better weather. And maybe it is worth spending these 70 krons on a bus ride, because the road from Hjerkinn to the Snøheim lodge is quite long.