Bad shape and form, but still a few OK walks

Watching snow showers passing on Runde island

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

Our hike across Amlaholten

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.

Amlaholten

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.

Along a forest path

In the beginning, we were following a forest path but when we reached the first intersecting tractor road, we went off-trail.

Off-trail in the Amlaholten forest

And we stayed off-trail to the very top.

Viewpoint near the 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.

Karma on Amlaholten

For descent, we headed down the west ridge, eventually reaching “Ramnereiret”. No visitors today…

Approaching Ramnereiret

In the beginning, I strongly felt that this building destroyed this beautiful forest, but I guess I’ve grown accustomed to it…

Not what you expect to find in a forest…

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
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Ytrehornsnakken (554m), Feb 14 2023

Our route up and down Ytrehornsnakken

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.

Passing Fjærland, on my way home from Sogndal

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.

Bøyabreen glacier

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

Ytrehornsnakken

There wasn’t a lot of snow in the lower forest, and soon we passed “Dagsturhytta” (day hiking cabin).

Dagsturhytta

But higher up in the forest, there was a lot of snow

Entering snow

And even higher up, there was a WHOLE lot of snow. First, knee-deep, then thigh-high.

Fighting our way up the forest

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…

Near the top, the snow finally carried her weight…

But eventually, we reached the top. It was dark by now and the descent would require a headlamp.

On top of Ytrehornsnakken

If possible, the descent down the upper part was even more strenuous than the ascent.

Grodås

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

Our route across Holsfjellet and Bringsdalsheia

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.

Walking the dog by 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…

Heading out from Holsstigen

It didn’t take long before we got some views.

View towards Ålesund

Then we moved on in the direction of Holsfjellet and Bringsdalsheia.

The ridge we would be descending – in the background

The path was most excellent

Nice path…

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…

On Bringsdalsheia

We returned to the “Gapahuk” which we had passed earlier and located the path to Olsvika.

The “Gapahuk”

This path was also most excellent and based on the number of hikers, we met – a quite popular one!

Descending to Olsvika

The view towards Ålesund was still good!

Ålesund view

The return to Holsstigen along roads was less fun, but that’s the price one sometimes pays for a round-trip hike!

Returning to Holsstigen

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

Our route across Hornseten

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.

Starting on an easy note

From here, we could enjoy a good view towards Fosnavåg.

Fosnavåg

Then we continued towards Hornseten.

Hornseten seen from the Heida trail

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.

Karma on Hornseten

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.

Hey! Bonus path!

It was a nice walk, and I was happy that the nearby showers didn’t come our way…

Please – stay out there!

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

Our hike across Eikenakken

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.

Along the Eika road. Eikenakken in the background.

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.

Off-trail to Eikenakken

It was a big bonus to have covered another new route on this island!

Karma on Eikenakken

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.

The end of the road

Instead, we ended up at Båtsvika. Sort of a bonus too, as I hadn’t been there before.

Båtsvika

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

From our walk to/from Dragsund

After the morning walk, it was time for the overdue haircut. This time, the dog drew the shortest straw

Hard work. For the both of us!

Trip statistics: 2,9km, 40 vertical meters, 0h:36m

Rundebranden (294m), Varden (333m), Feb 18 2023

Our hike across Runde island

Saturday: After noon, we sat course for Runde island. The weather was totally unpredictable, and I wondered what we were heading into.

The weather was not good when we entered Runde

We headed out from Goksøyr, while the snow was falling.

Heading out from Goksøyr

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…

So far, so good

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…

Heading for Rundebranden

The snow showers were quite something to watch…

Holy cow!

And we were still in the clear

All good here!

But for how long?

Whoa – this is close…

Eventually, we reached the top of Rundebranden. So far, so good!

Karma on Rundebranden

Our next goal was Varden – the island high point.

To Varden

I totally love this island…

Rough terrain…

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.

Sail on…

The snow showers were still amazing and still in the distance…

Spectacular!

And then we reached the island high point.

On Varden

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…

What a weather day!

The off-trail terrain wasn’t fun, and I was relieved when we reached lake Storevatnet and could pick up a path, albeit vague.

Above lake Storevatnet

And soon, we had Goksøyr in view.

Goksøyr

On our way home, I just had to stop for some wave pictures…

Cool…

…and some more pictures of snow showers – still not hitting us.

At Stokksund

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
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Saursegga (516m), Gjøna (531m), Feb 19 2023

On Saursegga

This hike is featured on a separate post

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