Bad shape and form, but still a few OK walks
Index
| Date | Peak | Height | PF | Location | WCP/FP | MAP |
| 13.02.23 | Amlaholten | 508m | 265m | Sogndal, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 14.02.23 | Ytrehornsnakken | 554m | 2m | Volda, Norway | – | MAP |
| 15.02.23 | Holsfjellet | 210m | 12m | Ålesund, Norway | – | MAP |
| 15.02.23 | Bringsdalsheia | 239m | 25 | Ålesund, Norway | – | MAP |
| 16.02.23 | Hornseten | 190m | 152m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 17.02.23 | Dragsund | – | – | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
| 17.02.23 | Eikenakken | 123m | 123m | Ulstein, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 18.02.23 | Dragsund | – | – | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
| 18.02.23 | Rundebranden | 294m | 141m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 18.02.23 | Sandshornet | 245m | 57m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 18.02.23 | Rundevarden | 333m | 333m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 19.02.23 | Saursegga | 516m | 93m | Sande, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 19.02.23 | Gjøna | 531m | 163m | Sande, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 19.02.23 | Hanen | 414m | 21m | Sande, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 19.02.23 | Haugshornet | 431m | 53m | Sande, Norway | WCP | MAP |
Amlaholten (508m), Feb 13 2023
Monday: My back was still killing me and the overall shape and form was rotten. Not a good way to start a good week. By now, I was just totally ignoring the notion of resting myself back into shape and decided to hike Amlaholten – on my last full day in Sogndal.
This time, I was in the mood for getting some new tracks on my GPS map. I headed out from Amlabukti, followed the road to Festingdalen for a little while, before breaking out into the forest.
In the beginning, we were following a forest path but when we reached the first intersecting tractor road, we went off-trail.
And we stayed off-trail to the very top.
I was still not in the mood for skiing and appreciated that it was possible to reach a mountain top in Sogndal on foot – at this time of year.
For descent, we headed down the west ridge, eventually reaching “Ramnereiret”. No visitors today…
In the beginning, I strongly felt that this building destroyed this beautiful forest, but I guess I’ve grown accustomed to it…
All in all, a good hike. It’s still a privilege to pull off a walk like this, while feeling rotten from top to bottom.
Trip statistics: 4,9km, 505 vertical meters, 1h:35m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Prox Max) from the hike:
Ytrehornsnakken (554m), Feb 14 2023
Tuesday: What the heck is going on in my back? I never have back problems. On my way home from Sogndal, I could not lean my back against the seat, and this didn’t feel like a back problem. It felt like an inflammation.
And then they called from the medical centre I had been visited in Bergen last week. Based on tests, they suggested that I should start on antibiotics and the prescription was available on the net. Normally, I would be skeptical about YET another round (my 4th since mid-December), but now I couldn’t wait for the pharmacy to open the next day.
Approaching Grodås, I decided to pay Ytrehornsnakken a visit. This has become one of the default hikes on my way from Sogndal to Sunnmøre. I just hoped there wasn’t too much snow…
There wasn’t a lot of snow in the lower forest, and soon we passed “Dagsturhytta” (day hiking cabin).
But higher up in the forest, there was a lot of snow…
And even higher up, there was a WHOLE lot of snow. First, knee-deep, then thigh-high.
Karma was struggling big time and I had to help her on several occasions. This was clearly not the best way to fight an inflammation. Stupid…
But eventually, we reached the top. It was dark by now and the descent would require a headlamp.
If possible, the descent down the upper part was even more strenuous than the ascent.
I was totally happy when we were back at the car. Only 1 hour left to drive and a 1G paracetamol to go…
Trip statistics: 2,8km, 470 vertical meters, 1h:20m
Bringsdalsheia (239m), Feb 15 2023
Wednesday: Ålesund day.Time for Karma’s monthly Librela injection and as soon as the pharmacy at Moa opened, I was there to pick up antibiotics. I could swear that my back felt better already after a couple of hours.
While at Moa, I took the opportunity to walk the dog along Åsefjorden.
After work, I decided to revisit a hike I did in 2008, when I lived in Ålesund; Holsstigen – Skothaugen – Holsfjellet – Bringsdalsheia. But rather than returning the same way, this time I would descend to Olsvika and make it back to Holsstigen via roads. I looked forward to exploring a new route.
The path up to Skothaugen was vaguely familiar…
It didn’t take long before we got some views.
Then we moved on in the direction of Holsfjellet and Bringsdalsheia.
The path was most excellent…
After 2,1km, we reached Bringsdalsheia – or is it Bingsdalsheia? – confident that the trigonometric point also marked the high point. But, as I discovered later – we were at the 237,8m point and there is a 238,7m point 190m to the east. Oh well, next time…
We returned to the “Gapahuk” which we had passed earlier and located the path to Olsvika.
This path was also most excellent and based on the number of hikers, we met – a quite popular one!
The view towards Ålesund was still good!
The return to Holsstigen along roads was less fun, but that’s the price one sometimes pays for a round-trip hike!
I enjoyed this hike. I will be back and extend the distance. This time, it got a bit short…
Trip statistics: 5,2km, 290 vertical meters, 1h:27m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Prox Max) from the hike:
Hornseten (189m), Feb 16 2023
Thursday: Today, I didn’t have a lot of energy. My back was better, but the rest of the body was in terrible shape. I decided that Hornseten (Fosnavåg) would be a hike that wouldn’t be too hard.
We headed out from the school and followed the gravel road across Heida.
From here, we could enjoy a good view towards Fosnavåg.
Then we continued towards Hornseten.
On top of Hornseten, I was in the mood for discovering new routes, but I didn’t think there would be any paths that I hadn’t walked.
But just in case, we sat course for Flusund, which was totally in the wrong direction in terms of returning to the car.
And wouldn’t you know – we came upon a path that I didn’t know about, taking us in the right direction.
It was a nice walk, and I was happy that the nearby showers didn’t come our way…
Trip statistics: 6,4km, 350 vertical meters, 1h:32m
Dragsund, Feb 17 2023
Friday: Another not-so-good day, and I woke up early. As I couldn’t sleep any longer, I got up and took the dog for a walk to Dragsund. 05:20 in the morning.
If I can’t pull off the usual vertical meters, maybe I can do some good on my horizontal meters…
Trip statistics: 2,8km, 40 vertical meters, 0h:34m
Eikenakken (123m), Feb 17 2023
Friday: In the afternoon, it was pouring down. There was nothing in my life that inspired me to end the working week by hiking a proper mountain. But Eikenakken on Eika island is a legit pf100 top and that became our target this evening.
We hiked from the Eiksund tunnel and followed the gravel road towards the SW tip of the island.
But as we passed the island high point, I decided to take an off-trail route to the top. One that we had not done before.
It was a big bonus to have covered another new route on this island!
Then we continued to Søre Eika. Maybe I had a plan to explore the very SW tip, but the terrain and weather didn’t inspire me to do so.
Instead, we ended up at Båtsvika. Sort of a bonus too, as I hadn’t been there before.
We also covered some more off-trail and new terrain on our way back to the car. We were literally wet to the bone afterwards.
Trip statistics: 5,9km, 230 vertical meters, 1h:26m
Dragsund, Feb 18 2023
Saturday: The shape and form was better than for the past days, and I had the energy for yet another morning walk w/Karma to Dragsund
After the morning walk, it was time for the overdue haircut. This time, the dog drew the shortest straw…
Trip statistics: 2,9km, 40 vertical meters, 0h:36m
Rundebranden (294m), Varden (333m), Feb 18 2023
Saturday: After noon, we sat course for Runde island. The weather was totally unpredictable, and I wondered what we were heading into.
We headed out from Goksøyr, while the snow was falling.
But it was clearing up soon after, and we sat course for Rundebranden.
There were snow showers all round, but it seemed that we would be in the clear for now…
Runde is an island I know inside and out, but I was determined to get some tracks in terrain that I hadn’t not covered before. Albeit not on our way to Rundebranden…
The snow showers were quite something to watch…
And we were still in the clear…
But for how long?
Eventually, we reached the top of Rundebranden. So far, so good!
Our next goal was Varden – the island high point.
I totally love this island…
This island is for the most part known for the puffins, but you’d be quite unlucky if you don’t spot an eagle passing by.
The snow showers were still amazing and still in the distance…
And then we reached the island high point.
It was on the descent from Varden that I had a chance to find a new route. Off-trail, of course. And on the way down, I really felt lucky as one shower after the other passed us by…
The off-trail terrain wasn’t fun, and I was relieved when we reached lake Storevatnet and could pick up a path, albeit vague.
And soon, we had Goksøyr in view.
On our way home, I just had to stop for some wave pictures…
…and some more pictures of snow showers – still not hitting us.
It was a *great* hike!
Trip statistics: 9,5km, 570 vertical meters, 2h:45m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Prox Max) from the hike:
Saursegga (516m), Gjøna (531m), Feb 19 2023
This hike is featured on a separate post…
