Hardingnuten
My another mountain destination was located about three hours drive, so I started sometime after five in the morning. The sun was supposed to rise a few minutes after eight, and I got there when it got light. My goal was called Hardingnuten (1,296m above sea level), lied a few kilometers behind Rjukan. When I got there, I noticed that the surrounding hills were already covered by snow. I got to Frøystaul where I found a quiet spot to leave my car between summer houses. I checked the ut.no app on my cell phone about the right path and when I found it, I just started to walk.
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The network of paths surrounding the cottage estate led me to Morktjønn Lake, and from there I came to the DNT trail. The latter was supposed to lead me to the top of Hardingnuten neighborhood. It was relatively warm, probably a few degrees plus, so the snow underfoot was heavy, wet and stuck to the shoes. The trail was marked so well that although the path was not visible in some places, I had no problems finding the right path. Footprints left in the snow, perhaps the day before, also helped. When I didn’t see another red-marked stone, they were pointing me in the right direction. And it happened that those stones and mounds showing the course of the route disappeared completely in the surrounding fog.
Right, I haven’t mentioned the fog yet. Before I even got to Frøystaul, the object of my desire, i.e. the mountain range on the southern side of the valley, was lost in the clouds. The Hardangervidda plateau to the north was no better. And while the beginning of the route among the cabins provided decent visibility, later and a bit higher it got a little more spooky. But it was fall and the time of autumn morning mists, right? I had to wait a little and the sun will definitely appear. After all, the staff of weather forecasters cannot be wrong. They are professionals. Time, however, passed along with the next kilometers behind me and the weather did not improve. I decided that I would climb this mountain anyway, take a few photos in the fog and come back. Why bother with something that is beyond my control.
The route dragged and the gray and white landscape was boring with its monotony. But finaly I got to a place where I could get off the path and make my way across the mountain towards the summit. And when I was close to the top, I saw the sun trying to break through the veil of clouds and a piece of blue sky above me. The top turned out to be a small pile of stones on a large flat surface. I suspect that even in perfect weather there wouldn’t be much to see from there. I took out my camera and tripod, took a few pictures and waited for better weather.
I didn’t get to see it. The sun hid behind the clouds again and it started rain. I hid my photo gear and headed down to reach the path. After some time, however, it actually cleared and the area in the sunlight seemed much nicer. It didn’t take too long. It got cloudy again, and although the sun was still not giving up and trying to break through the clouds from time to time, it had to finally give up.
I was returning the same route, only near Frøystau I went off the path to enter two small hills, offering a sensational view of the Møsvatn lake in the distance. The further road is a laborious return along the snow-covered path to the place where I left the car. A six-hour hike and well over 13 kilometers in my legs was exactly what I needed after a whole week of sitting on my butt in the office. It was good to spend some time outdoors, even if the weather was not perfect.
