Hallingnatten, June 19 2022

Roadtrip to Kongsberg, part 4

Finally on Hallingnatten!
Tops visited:
Top Height PF Municipality
Hallingnatten 1314m 421m Nesbyen, Norway
Darren 1102m 109m Nesbyen, Norway

Continued from day 3

Hallingnatten

Sunday: All in all, I slept pretty OK although I was wide awake between 4 and 5am. I actually considered getting up then but ended up with one final nap until 7am.

I looked forward to hike Hallingnatten. I liked the name. It feels like I’ve known the name all my life, although that’s certainly not the case. But it has been in the back of my mind for a long time and the question was not if I should ever get there, but when.

I drove the short distance to the Gørrbu trailhead and was on my way 07:40am.

Gørrbu trailhead

The path was marked by a signpost, but the path was less traveled than I had imagined it to be.

On the path through the forest

After a little while I was above the tree line and had a good view toward Imle and Myte.

Above the forest

When I got to lake Øyvatnet the path forked but the signpost suggested I should go right. Things are usually the way they are for a reason, and I turned right.

At lake Øyvatnet

I didn’t quite understand where the summit was, but then it occurred to me that this was probably not a distinct summit. I saw something that looked like a cairn in the direction I expected the top to be. And it was indeed the summit…

Hallingnatten with the cairn

I arrived on top at 9:03am. This was a good start to the day!

On Hallingnatten

I could see a long way but nothing in the distant was familiar. I probably saw Norefjell, where I’ve been – more than 20 years ago. I should go back there soon and visit the tops I’ve not been to yet…

View from Hallingnatten

I decided to follow the path going southeast – expecting it would take me to the south side of lake Øyvatnet. It did, but the hike along the lake was no fun. It was wet and boggy. Things are usually the way they are for a reason…

At lake Øyvatnet

I was back at the car 10:07am and my next hike would be Darren – a short drive over to Myte.

Ready for Darren

I took a picture of the Imle cabins. That place looks really idyllic!

Imle

Trip statistics: 9,8km, 400 vertical meters, 2h:27m

Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:

Darren

I expected to hike Darren from Myte, but I noticed a path just before the downhill to Myte. I figured I would save losing 40-50 vertical meters by starting from here and hoped that the path would take me to the top.

My Darren trailhead

After a short hike in the forest, I could see the top. It was at least evident that the path would take me to a cabin, and I would be surprised if there wasn’t a path from the cabin.

Darren ahead

There was indeed a path, and it took me right to the path from Myte, just below the top.

Almost up

It was nice to reach the top – my 9th new top since I left home on Thursday.

On top of Darren

I then had to decide – should I go for 10? I knew that there was an easy top further down in the valley towards RV7. But I felt more for going to Sogndal and join my family. And in case I still had a fraction of a doubt, then came the rain that pretty much decided everything for me.

View from Darren

I had a nice drive to Sogndal, where a pleasant surprise was awaiting…

Good to be back!

Trip statistics: 2,5km, 185 vertical meters, 46 min

Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:

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