Heksfjell (1158m asl)- Norwegian Witch Mountain
Name Heksfjell means Witch Mountain and that was pure coincidence that I hiked there just a week before Halloween. I realized that fact couple days after. Anyway, I wanted to make some research and find any information or story related to this mountain in internet but only thing I found was… another mountain with the same name, located only 35 km south.
Get Directions
So, except one interesting story about witchcraft in Rjukan community, I place here few historical facts about witch-hunting in XVI and XVII century. As is known, in the 16th and 17th centuries, a campaign was carried out all over Europe against people, mainly women, who were suspected of using witchcraft. The captured are often accused of dealing with the devil, harming the local community, and brought to trial. It is estimated that over 40,000 people were condemned and burned at the stake in such ventures. Many did not survive the investigation itself, dying in agony of torture. Norway was no exception. Preserved historical sources indicate that in 1590-1695 over 850 cases settled with the practice of witchcraft were registered. Of that number, more than 300 have ended in convictions. And all like the rest of Europe, most of them regarded women. The last stake was lit in 1695, in the Kvøæfjord in Troms, when a certain Johanne Nielsdatter was executed. The ethnic minority of Norway, the Sami, were the largest group of accused. In the 18th century, there were also a few points about witchcraft, however they ended in acquittal.
Heksfjell (1158m above sea level) is located in Rjukan community, just above Vemork Museum. The trail is around 5-6km long and it leads more less along the old, huge waterpipes installed over 100 years ago on steep mountain side. I came to Vemork early in the morning and begun my hike just after 8.00. The pipelines end at Vemorktoppen, where there is a trafo station and you can reach this place also by car as there is a road coming from some other location. But from Vemorktoppen, there is only one trail which go up, initially very steep but after I went out from the forest, walk became easier. There is a trail crossing at some point and I turned right, toward west. Very soon I reached Heksfjell. If you expecting to see there anything related to witchcraft, you could be very disappointed. This is the mountain like others with typical stone mound on the top.
As I still felt fresh and I had all day long for this hike, I continued marching west. The trail led me along shore of the Såemsbotn Lake. Not so far from there, I reached my second goal for this day, Månelibrotet Mountain (1275 m above sea level). And after small break I could finally go back.
I used exactly the same route and after 8,5 hours, I came back on the parking lot by Vemork Museum. My knees were sored, so there was a big relief to get finally into the car. The total length of this route was 24 kilometers, and I am very grateful for fantastic weather during that day.
