Mixed weather week
| Date | Peak/Place | Height | PF | Location | WCP |
| 22.09.2020 | Hasundhornet | 533m | 93m | Ulstein, Norway | WCP |
| 23.09.2020 | Blåtind | 697m | 697m | Ulstein, Norway | WCP |
| 24.09.2020 | Kiberget | 438m | 65m | Ulstein, Norway | WCP |
| 25.09.2020 | Sollia | 661m | 661m | Herøy/Sande, M&R, Norway | WCP |
| 26.09.2020 | Instehornet (Rotsethornet) | 653m | 200m | Volda, Norway | WCP |
Monday: After a nice vacation week in eastern Norway, I was back home and woke up with a sore throat and something that felt like a cold. I could still taste and smell, so I was not initially worried that I had gotten the Corona virus. But in any case, I decided to quarantine myself for now and asked a friend to get me enough groceries for a few days. My fridge was almost empty as I went away for a week.
It was also Karma’s birthday – turning 8 years old. Instead of a nice birthday hike, she had to settle for a couple of walks in the neighborhood.
Hasundhornet (533m), Sep 22 2020
Tuesday: My throat was better, but I decided to continue my quarantine. The weather was however awful, and it was tempting to stay indoors. But, Karma gave me “the look” and I couldn’t resist. On days like this, the new gravel road to Hasundhornet is very welcomed, as it’s possible to return to the car without being soaking wet.
The rain had taken its toll on the lower part of the road. I posted a picture on FB afterwards, and was quickly told that “repair would begin once it stopped raining“.
Besides that, there was not much to report from this hike. We got to the top and hurried back down.
Trip statistics: 2,9km, 200 vertical meters, 38 minutes
Blåtind (697m), Sep 23 2020
Wednesday: Another miserable health day, completely “washed out” after work and finding the motivation to hike up to Hareidlandet’s highest top – along the steepest route required a whole lot of pep-talk. The nice weather was essential for getting inspired.
We started out from Ringstaddalen and took the direct route (off-trail) up the mountain.
Strange enough, no matter how fatigued I feel before the hike – once the blood pump gets going, I get the energy. Gaining elevation also helps…
We took a slightly different approach to get to the top, which included some fun scrambling.
And then we reached the top . This was my 174th visit to this top.
We enjoyed the nice views for a couple of minutes before heading back down the normal route.
A quick stop by lake Hundelaupsvatnet is always nice.
Trip statistics: 5,2km, 640 vertical meters, 1h:45m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP) from the hike:
Kiberget (438m), Sep 24 2020
Thursday: Weather and general shape and form was miserable. Little did I know that the “shape and form” thing would drastically change 3 days later!
Today was just about “surviving” and walking the dog. As the ground was soaking wet from rain, I decided to hike the gravel road from Varleitet to Bugardsmyrane, and back via paved roads and another gravel road.
But on our way up the gravel road, I found that I wanted to hike Kiberget instead.
The trail was soaking wet, and I was wearing shoes that got wet just by looking at the weather forecast! But some wooden walkways along the way helped a bit.
Once on the ridge, we could pretty much hike on rock. A Ptarmigan tried to get our attention, and was successful with respect to Karma. But when I told Karma that we want to leave birds alone, she accepted the command – reluctantly.
When we reached the top, there was absolutely nothing to see, but fog.
On our way down, we took the path – which was absolutely soaking wet. But variation to the hike is more important than dry shoes…
Trip statistics: 6,2km, 290 vertical meters, 1h:22m
Sollia (661m), Sep 25 2020
Friday: Shape and form even worse than any of the days so far this week. But – and without me knowing this – only two days until the turnaround!
Motivating myself to go hiking today was tough, but got easier thanks to very nice weather. I decided to visit Sollia – the highest point on Gurskøy island – from Moltudalen. It’s probably been a couple of years since I started out from there. In addition to the weather, I found inspiration from killing the first 1,9km on the bike.
I also found inspiration from NOT carrying a 22kg backpack, which was the case on my last two hikes from here – marking the new trail between Øyrahornet and Selsteinen.
At lake Mørkevatnet, I parked the bike and we continued along the lake on a soaking wet path.
Eventually, the path began to climb and got increasingly more dry.
After a while, I was warmed up enough to really enjoy the hike. And before I even reached Sollia I had determined to descend via Hestefjellet and the southwest ridge.
Once again, I tried to figure out which was the higher top – the east or the west top, but once again – the GPS showed the same height on both tops.
From the west top, we sat course towards Hestefjellet.
The route down the southwest ridge calls for a little bit of route finding, and I noticed that there was significantly more bush than the last time I was here. Very low bush, but low bush is more than no bush.
When we returned to the trailhead, I noticed for the first time the “Kvile og lesehytta” (Rest and read hut). This sounded a lot like the “Dagsturhytta” concept in Sogn og Fjordane. For all I know, Møre & Romsdal county may just have copied it.
On my way back home (in the car), I just had to stop and take a picture of a beautiful red sky!
Trip statistics: 5,5km, 550 vertical meters, 1h:50m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP) from the hike:
Instehornet / Rotsethornet (653m), Sep 26 2020
Saturday: The health curve this week had just plummeted. From waking up with a sore throat on Monday to tension headache, fatigue and just fed up from this condition. But, it was Saturday and the weather was nice and so I had to do *something*. In the end, I figured that a trip to Volda and a hike across Rotsethornet would give me enough energy.
It’s always fun to take on the steep forest trail, just to see if I one day I could get Karma up the steepest section. But after recent rain, that wouldn’t happen today. So, we would have to get by with a bypass – also steep. But the lower sections went fine…
I have to hand it to her – she is an excellent climber. And if I just could find the nerve and wisdom to let her handle herself, I’m sure this would have been a walk in the park. But … daddy is daddy.
It was just a delight to see her move across one obstacle after the other in the smoothest low-energy style as possible.
And after a fun ascent, we stopped by a cairn just below Rotsethornet where we’ve never been before.
Then we stopped by the actual Rotsethornet point…
… and enjoyed the views.
I really like this terrain. One could hike for an entire day in the Volda backyard…
We descended down Litledalen, although my ambition was to stretch this to a longer hike. I guess I just wanted to get back home, have a beer and forget about bad shape and form for a while. Not knowing that the day after would be a huge turning point!
Trip statistics: 7,8km, 640 vertical meters, 2h:35m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP) from the hike:
Saurdalsnibba (1343m), Bolten (1158m), Sep 27 2020
Saturday: See separate trip report
