A good hiking and skiing week!
Index
| Date | Peak | Height | PF | Location | WCP/FP | MAP |
| 05.02.24 | Åberge | – | – | Sogndal, Norway | – | MAP |
| 06.02.24 | Kjørnes | – | – | Sogndal, Norway | – | MAP |
| 07.02.24 | Tylderingen | 1105m | 210m | Sogndal, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 08.02.24 | Rambjøra | 132m | 109m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 09.02.24 | Røddalshorn | 563m | 100m | Sande, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 09.02.24 | Rambjøra | 132m | 109m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 10.02.24 | Sollia | 661m | 661m | Herøy/Sande, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 10.02.24 | Røddalshorn | 563m | 100m | Sande, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 10.02.24 | Rambjøra | 132m | 109m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 11.02.24 | Rundevarden | 333m | 333m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 11.02.24 | Sandshornet | 245m | 57m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 11.02.24 | Rundebranden | 294m | 141m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 11.02.24 | Dragsund | – | – | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
Røvhaugane, Åberge, Feb 5 2024
Monday: Due to a late meeting, I didn’t get out of Anne’s place until 5:15pm. The plan was to drive to Kaupanger to see if we could go to Amlaholten. Which means – would there be tracks for Karma? I didn’t want her to fight her way up yet another mountain. If no tracks, plan B would be to hike across Røvhaugane and Åberge in Sogndal.
On the way to Kaupanger, I could see that it was snowing. Darkness + snowfall was not my idea of a fun ski-trip. One or the other is OK, but not combined. So, we went for plan B.
I parked by Folkehøgskolen and then we sat course for Røvhaugane.
The lower part of the forest had little snow and Karma was really enjoying herself.
At Røvhaugane, there was more snow and it was a bit tedious to walk in it. I looked forward to get to Åberge and stick to the streets from there on.
I had brought my Canon and enjoyed taking a few photos along the way.
We then sat course for Campus, which – compared to the town otherwise – is really huge! That is, I don’t really know what the definition of Campus is. I just look at the schools and the sports arena as one.
When we got down to the fjord, it was snowing.
We followed Fjordstien back to our starting point and I concluded that I really enjoy walking about in this town!
Trip statistics: 6km, 270 vertical meters, 1h:27m
Kjørnes – Valeberg – Vikane, Feb 6 2024
Tuesday: The day started great, with sunshine on Skjeggen and I was convinced that I was going skiing this afternoon, somewhere.
But when walking the dog at Sogndalsfjøra during my lunch break, the weather got worse and I didn’t really feel like going skiing anymore.
Instead, I invited Anne to a forest hike. She accepted, and even dropped her Yoga-class to make room to avoid having a time limit on our hands.
We parked at Tjødnali – Øvre Kjørnes and headed into the forest, in the direction of Drogi.
We followed footprints – most likely made by Anne’s friend Kjersti.
If I am to skip a hike or ski-trip to a mountain top for a forest hike, it’s an additional bonus that there is some vertical gain…
I had been hiking this route 3 times earlier, but I had a hard time recognizing anything with all the snow. It was also a bit tedious to hike in the snow and I looked forward to getting onto the route from the Lem cabins and down to Vikane. Chances were good that more people would have been hiking there.
Eventually, we didn’t know where we were and had to check the map. I thought we were above the quarry, but we were below the quarry – just above the Lem cabins.
We crossed the road and sat course for Vikane – and Kjørnes.
Eventually we reached Kjørnes and now had 150 vertical meters ahead of us before reaching the car.
A nice hike with my small family!
Trip statistics: 6,2km, 300 vertical meters, 1h:41m
Tylderingen (1105m), Feb 7 2024
Wednesday: On my last full day in Sogndal (this time), I was determined to get to Tylderingen before going home. I’d been waiting for OK weather on Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon, but I didn’t get it. Wednesday looked better and so I took Karma and drove up to Fretland.
Thanks to other skiers, Karma had a track she could follow.
That said, she spent a whole lot of time outside the track.
The weather was OK so far and the snow was delightful. I couldn’t wait to ski down here.
The light was maybe a bit flat. Which has become an increasing problem the older I’ve gotten.
But it helps to ski close to a track. That gives me the contours I need.
As we passed 900m, the snow changed from 10/10 to 1/10. A hard crust that was a mix of pure ice and crust that didn’t hold. The light was super-flat, and I was not very happy about this.
As if that wasn’t enough, there was light snow in the air and more snow was definitely moving in.
I just hoped that we could get down below 900m before it got too bad. I really wanted to enjoy that beautiful powder snow.
One more picture and we were off.
I couldn’t see my tracks at all, which was a problem – as I really wanted to follow them down from the upper part. I put on a pair of glasses and turned my headlamp to max. That helped and we got off the upper part without getting astray and running into more icy terrain.
Below 900m, everything was just beautiful. Karma ran like she’s always done, and she knows where I am. I don’t have to be skiing close to her. She sticks to the ascent track.
The snow came 5 minutes before we reached the trailhead and it was only light snow.
This was a great ending to a nice Sogndal stay!
Trip statistics: 7,4km, 600 vertical meters, 1h:41m
Going home + Rambjøra (132m), Feb 7 2024
Thursday: Anne was going to Oslo for the weekend, and I was going home to Sunnmøre. It was a lovely afternoon and I decided to stop a few times for pictures.
The weather was great and the landscapes (Indre Sogn, Sunnfjord, Nordfjord and Sunnmøre) are all spectacular.
I thought back and forth about stopping in Volda for some skiing. Sunnmøre had a good dump of fresh snow recently and it was just there for the taking.
But in the end, I decided to drive home. I had to clear the snow from my front yard and afterwards, I would take the dog for a walk to Rambjøra.
There was ~10cm of fresh snow in my front yard, but with 4WD, I was able to drive my car up the small hill and park outside my front door. Which was good, as I had the car full of stuff I had to get inside.
When my front yard was clear of snow, I took Karma to Rambjøra.
There was no point in going skiing here. The fresh snow was sitting just on top of the ground. No sole. The skis would be (even more) ruined.
It was a nice hike, but now I was really hungry. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast…
Trip statistics: 2,4km, 140 vertical meters, 0h:40m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the drive and the hike:
Røddalshorn (563m), Feb 9 2024
Friday: This Friday offered beautiful weather. I attended a funeral earlier in the day. The father of a good friend. I was thinking that I also wanted to leave this earth on a day like today.
This was yet another reminder to live while you can. So, I decided to go for a ski-trip to Røddalshorn after work. Of course, I wanted to ski a much higher mountain, but that would mean I would have to walk the dog afterwards. Better try to combine things.
The second round of snow dump this year offered great snow, but straight onto the ground. No sole. A little caution would have to be applied when skiing down this mountain. I couldn’t wait to begin the descent, though.
A couple of people had been up here already. I spotted a colleague on the way down and a buddy had been up here earlier in the day. So, Karma got a little help from their tracks. That said, the snow dump was just 20-30cm of powder snow and Karma had no problems plowing through it.
This mountain will never be crowded like Melshornet in Ørsta/Volda, but this is the go-to place after snowfall on Ytre Søre Sunnmøre.
And then we were up…
The usual rituals followed. Daddy took pictures and Karma got treats.
Then it was time to head back down.
Oh my, the snow was just gorgeous…
Trip statistics: 3,8km, 400 vertical meters, 1h:08m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:
Rambjøra (132m), Feb 9 2024
Friday: After the ski-trip to Røddalshorn, I decided to bring Karma and take a walk up and down Rambjøra.
It was definitely winter again in Myrvåg. But according to the weather forecast, this wouldn’t last long. Better take advantage of it while it lasted.
Karma seemed a little surprised – and maybe a little reluctant – about the trip, but her motivation grew proportional to the distance walked.
In not too long, we were on top.
I spent a little time taking pictures. First, one towards Ulsteinvik.
Then, towards Skorpa and Nerlandsøya islands.
Afterwards, we returned home for de-icing…
Trip statistics: 2,4km, 150 vertical meters, 0h:44m
Sollia (661m), Feb 10 2024
Saturday: This hike is featured on a separate post…
Røddalshorn (563m), Feb 10 2024
Saturday: Uplifted about the nice ski-trip to Sollia, we drove back home and had something to eat. Then I drove back up to Leikongeidet – alone – to enjoy another nice descent from Røddalshorn.
But first, I had to get up…
The snow was just as nice as the day before. It would be a crime not to enjoy it. Maybe we have 5 days per year with conditions like these.
The only “issue” was that the light was a little flat.
When I reached the top and looked towards Sollia, I had absolutely no feeling about just having been there. At best, it felt like yesterday.
I was so happy that I could keep visiting tops on a daily basis. In 2023, I was sick for 3 months straight. That really sucked…
But now – time for the descent.
I’m not posting the below video clip to brag about my skiing or my ability to point the camera in the right angle, but it was kind of fun to see that I didn’t see any rocks on my way down, but I saw a whole lot of them when I watched the video…
Trip statistics: 3,8km, 400 vertical meters, 0h:57m
Rambjøra (132m), Feb 10 2024
Saturday: When I got back from the ski-trip to Røddalshorn, Karma gave me the “so you’ve been having fun without me?” look.
Well, not really. She only has one look and it can mean absolutely everything.
But to be on the safe side, I took her out on a hike across Rambjøra – my local forest top.
I brought my camera, as it was just that time of the day when there is daylight but the lights stand out.
I enjoyed taking pictures while Karma waited patiently.
On top, she got her well-deserved treats…
…before I decided that we should break trail towards Dragsundflata.
Trip statistics: 3,7km, 150 vertical meters, 1h:09m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP) from the hike:
Varden (333m), Rundebranden (294m), Feb 11 2024
Sunday: This trip is featured on a separate post…
Dragsund, Feb 11 2024
Sunday: My body was tired after the weekend outdoors activity, yet I found the energy to give Karma a much longer evening walk than she usually gets.
I enjoy walking the neighbourhood streets late evening. I like the lights and the quiet.
Karma was confused, but that’s a major part of being a dog, I presume…
Trip statistics: 3,4km, 50 vertical meters, 0h:40m
