-
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. The network…
-
Hardangervidda & Nøtingshovda
Hardangervidda. The largest plateau in Europe (6500km², with average height 1100m above sea level). It is characterized by a cool, alpine climate. One of the largest Norwegian glaciers – Hardangerjøkulen is located on the Plateau. In addition, the extensive net of trails, holiday cottages and tourist lodges makes it an ideal place for outdoor enthusiasts. I realized that this year my foot has never stand on the Plateau. In the previous one, I took two one-day trips in different locations (here and here). Now, summer is over and soon the weather conditions will not be so favorable for mountain hiking. So I decided it was time to go to Hardangervidda.…
-
Hardangervidda
Hardangervidda is the largest plateau in Europe. Has 10 000 square kilometers and rises to an altitude of 1100 m above sea level. Its eastern part is flatter and uniform, mostly covered with moors. The western side is more undulating and mountainous. The area of Hardangervidda is crisscrossed by a network of paths and trails. Some of them can be safely taken by bike, and you can go canoing on the vast lakes. Enthusiasts of long hikes can spend the night in one of several cabins and lodges, located throughout the plateau. Hardangervidda is also rich in fauna. While wandering the endless plains, you can come across reindeer, arctic foxes…
-
Rjukan and hike on Hardangervidda
Rjukan is a small town (3,100 inhabitants) located in a narrow valley by the Måna River, in the municipality of Tinn, in the Telemark county. The history of Rjukan started at the beginning of the 20th century, when the enormous potential of using Norway’s waterfalls to generate electricity was discovered. It was then that hydroelectric power plants began to appear, such as the one in Tyssedal or in Rjukan. Simultaneously with the Rjukan power plant, huge industrial plants producing fertilizers were built, all in one complex, called Vemork. Rjukan quickly turned from a small agricultural village into a thriving industrial city with up to 12,000 inhabitants. The fertilizer factory, operating…
-
Store Nup 1661m asl
Do you remember last year’s trip to the mount of Vesle Nup, in the Haukeli area? During that march, my attention was caught by a mountain with a vertical wall, seen from the trail. That was Store Nup and pictures shows that mountain appear quite often in the entry from that trip. And now the time has come to climb on it too. The area where both peaks lie is the mountainous area crossed by the E134 state road that connects Western Norway with the capital of Norway. Moreover, numerous lakes situated in the area give the landscape a specific character. Unlike its smaller sister, Store Nup can be seen…
-
Vesle Nup
Welcome to Hardangervidda.I have been dreaming about the Hardangervidda plateau for a long time. And even though I have already managed to touch it, climbing the Troll Tongue or traversing the Queen Sonja Hiking Trail, I haven’t fell I am at right place until now.I decided to visit Haukelifjell in one spontaneous thought. I’ve been at Haukeli before, but only once I managed to go to the mountains there. Description of that trip can be found here. This time I chose a lonely mountain, rising up at the southern end of the Hardangervidda plateau. The hill is called Vesle Nup and it has 1510 m above sea level. Getting to…
-
Sabotørstien, Vemork & Mæl stasjon
Thinking about the history of Norway, very often we see bunch of tall, beared warriors with helmets on their heads and swords or axes in hands, jumping out from wooden ships and starting one of many plundering attacks. But history of this country is not only medieval vikings. The most famous sabotage action of the Second World War took place in Norway, at the Norsk Hydro factory, near Rjukan, where heavy water was produced. In the winter of 1943, Norwegian commando slipped into the factory, guarded by German soldiers and destroyed the installation that could lead the Nazis to create an atomic bomb. And the one in Hitler’s hands was…
-
Husedalen
I didn’t think that another mountain trek would take place so soon. Returning to Poland, a new job and everyday duties made the prospect of returning to the country of the fjords and recharging the internal batteries with views and northern climate more and more distant from day to day. Quite unexpectedly, an opportunity arose for a few days trip to Norway to settle some urgent matters. The first thing that ran through my head was whether I would find time for a quick trip to the mountains. Initially, I planned a few-hour hike to the Stokkadalen area, to one of the peaks that I haven’t been at. However, right…
-
Dronningstien
Dronningstien, called also HM Queen Sonja’s Panoramic Hiking Trail is a scenic mountain route between Lofthus and Kinsarvik. The info brochure says: ‘’This hiking is the only one of its kind to be honored with using Her Majesty Queen Sonja’s title. In the past 20 years, this trail around Hotel Ullensvang has become one of her favorites which she explores either by foot or on skis…’’ The trail has about 16 km length but what I experienced on my own, this is not includes steep gravel road which goes up to the Hardangervidda plateau on both: Lofthus and Kinsarvik side. I heard about this trail about two years ago, during…
