Trodlafjellet 637m asl & Skredfjellet 627m asl
I thought about returning to Vikebygd and climbing Trodlafjellet again from the day I reached the summit for the first time. Of course, with big breaks, because it’s been about five years since then. What was on my mind was the ascent of Trodlafjellet and the neighboring Trollanippa peak, which is lying on the opposite edge of the horseshoe-looking mountain range.
Wait a minute. After all, no Trollanippa is in the title, someone might ask. So I’m in a hurry with explanation. Well, it is because I simply did not climb this summit. Instead, I did the other one instead, which I will talk about next.
After a few previous, short trips to the surrounding mountains, I decided that now it was time for something more spectacular, and summits of Trodlafjellet and Trollanipa seemed like an ideal idea, the more that the weather was great. I decided that Sunday morning would be just perfect, as it could be too hot in the afternoon.
I started my journey at the parking lot next to the church in Vikebygd, in the same place where from months ago I was going to Våbrekka. Initially, the route goes the same, along a wide, gravel road leading to Lake Langavatnet and the Vikastølen cabin. To get to Våbrekka you have to take the right path before the lake, while there are two paths to Trodlafjellet. One, extremely steep starts at the place where you come to the lake. I planned this route as my back route. To the top I was going to enter the second, longer but not so spectacular trail. So I continued walking along the lake and further to the Vikastølen cabin. Just before it, there is a path to the summit which interest me.
I wandered the same route five years ago and I must admit that nothing has changed since then. I remember that I wandered a bit in the fog at that time, but roughly I managed to follow the trail. Now, almost at every step, the elements of the landscape reminded me of that journey.
I arrived at Trodlafjellet without major (or even minor) problems. I felt great and walked further towards the next peak. I had to pass the impressive-looking ridge leading over an almost vertically wall. The path, however, does not lead to the top of the ridge but slightly below, on a more gently slope. I reached the next peak. And here I have to admit, I was convinced that this is already Trollanippa. Much later, after returning home and studying the route, I realized that this peak was called Skredfjellet, and I had to go further to the west if I wanted to go to Trollnippa.
So I stood on Skredfjellet. To the east, on the other side of the Eikedalen Valley, rised up the Bukkanibba and Gråhorga Mountains. Far ahead of me, obscured by subsequent hills was the Bjoafjord, the islands lying in its waters, and then I could see the snowy peaks of the mountains behind. I thought it was still early and I wasn’t tired enough to return, so I walked on to take a closer look at the fjord waters.
I reached another hill, but as usual, behind it was another one which obscuring the view. So I went further and further. Finally, I found myself on the edge of the entire mountain range. There was a smaller hill ahead of me, but it no longer obstructed the view. I could fully enjoy the panorama in front of my eyes. I saw the buildings of Leirvik on the island of Stord, the islands of Borgundøya and Halsnøya, snowy mountain ranges with the characteristic shape of Ulvanosa. I saw ferries went throught the fjords and distant mountains. The whole made such an impression that you wanted to sit there and stare on it for hours.
However, I had to think about returning. I was running out of water, and although a pleasant breeze was blowing at this elevation, the sun was beginning to burn. It was time to go back. As planned, my return route was to re-reach Trodlafjellet and this time take the steep path down to the edge of Langavatnet Lake. It might not have been the best choice considering the protests in my knees, but I wasn’t going to take the longer route again. Coming down, once again memories came back to me as I went this trail first time.
Finally, I got to the road, took a last sip of water, and calmly headed down to Vikebygd.
