Haukenestårnet
Slavasshøgda is the highest peak of the former Østfold. It is a mountain rises 336 m above sea level and even though the summit itself is covered with dense trees of surrounding forest and there is no view from it, I finally decided to hike on this hill. However, due to the lack of an official path (or at least I did not find one on the Internet), I moved my destination to a place called Haukenestårnet, about 4 km further north.
It is an observation tower located in the middle of the forest, which also functions as a DNT cabin. There are only four beds inside, and the key can be obtained by those who have booked a night on the DNT website or have purchased membership of the organization. The entrance to the tower is not closed and anyone can go up the steep wooden stairs.
Haukenestårnet is located near the settlement of Haukenes, in eastern Norway, in the Rømskog region, less than 10 km from the border with Sweden. I got there early on Saturday morning. I drove the car as far as I could, parking right next to the barrier blocking the road. The car can be left as well earlier, just off the main road 21.
The eight-degree frost forced me to put on a jacket, cap and gloves. I went on the trail. The road runs through the forest, initially on a wide gravel road. Occasional signs with the inscription tårnet (tower) directed me to a narrow path and led me to my destination. The tower looked really impressive, especially in the light of the bright morning sun. I went inside and climbed a narrow, steep staircase to climb two levels. There were dozens of dead flies on both floors. The top floor is a small room with small glass windows, making impossible to take a good photo. So I went lower and through the side door I went out to the narrow terrace that stretched around the tower. The views were really impressive, although the high mountains were lacking in the scenery. After a short photo session, I went downstairs and continued my journey. I did not go back the same route, but I did a few kilometers loop. For some time during my journey I was accompanied by strange, mysterious sounds, the source of which I could not recognize. Only after reaching the shores of Lake Ertevann, from where these mysterious sounds were coming, I discovered their origin. They were sounds made by the ice on the lake. The friction and crackling of layers of frozen water is not so much disturbing as intriguing, like a siren song. I had the feeling that the wailing of the creature trapped under the ice was reaching my ears. Attempts to free her failed as I did not find a stone large enough to broke the thick ice cover. Whatever it was, it has to wait until the thaw.
During the hike, the temperature increased noticeably and I was able to make the second half of the route without gloves and in an unzipped jacket. I got to the car and returned home.
