Road trip to Kongsberg, part 1
Index
| Date | Peak | Height | PF | Location | WCP/FP | MAP |
| 04.06.24 | Kollenatten | 1023m | 125m | Flå, Norway | MAP | |
| 04.06.24 | Bergshammaren | 1263m | 160m | Sigdal, Norway | MAP | |
| 04.06.24 | Tekslehogget | 721m | 220m | Flesberg/Rollag, Norway | MAP | |
| 04.06.24 | Kolkinnåsen | 463m | 120m | Flesberg, Norway | MAP |
Tuesday: I had to be in Kongsberg the next day, and rather than flying from Sogndal to Oslo, then taking the train from Oslo to Kongsberg, I figured I’d do a repetition of the “successful” trip did in 2022. I got 9 new pf100 tops on my way to and from Kongsberg.
I didn’t have the same ambition for this trip, as I would have to drive directly from Kongsberg after work on Thursday, as we would be getting visitors in Sogndal.
I like road trips. I don’t find them exhausting. So, I was quite happy when I got going from Sogndal after some morning work and breakfast.
I would prefer several short hikes instead of one long hike. The goal was simply to get as many easy tops as possible and be in Kongsberg before they stopped serving dinner.
Kollenatten (1023m)
The first easy top was Kollenatten near Haglebu.
I drove Stavnsvegen (just south of lake Helgesetvatnet) and parked just before the toll road began.
I hiked Stavnsvegen for 350m before I left the road and followed cabin roads until I found the path that is found on the map.
The path was visible and easy to follow.
Above the forest, I enjoyed the views.
After the road trip in 2022 and Easter vacation in this region earlier in 2024, I’m starting to become familiar with the mountains.
Eventually, I reached the top and had a “quiet celebration” for my first top on this road trip.
I had no idea where my next top would be. That would have to wait until I was back in the car. Little did I know that I would basically just be crossing the main road…
Trip statistics: 3,6km, 190 vertical meters, 0h:43m
Bergshammaren (1263m)
I was confident that I had visited Bergshammaren back in 2022, but when I double-checked, I learned that I hadn’t. This was a bonus, as it would be a fairly short hike, although there would be more vertical meters than Kollenatten offered.
I parked by Berghammarsætra and soon found a forest path.
It was 340 vertical meters up to the nameless 1212m top just south of Bergshammaren. 340m in “my line of work” is practically nothing. The ascent was swift.
I had a clear view towards Kollenatten – which I just had been to.
I also had a good overview of the Haglebu area…
From the 1212m top, I had to figure out how to ascend Bergshammaren. It looked steep all over the place, but like often – there’s always a neat way up. And I wasn’t the first one to discover this one.
And in not too long, Bergshammaren was “in the bag”
I immediately recognized Haglebunatten, which I visited (along with 3 other tops on the same hike) on my way up from Kongsberg, 2 years ago.
I promised myself that the next time I drove through here, I would pay Anfinnatten a visit.
I like roundtrips and the map suggested that there were opportunities for it. I followed a visible path down the north side of the mountain, looking for a crossing path that would take me down to Bergesetre.
I found the path without any difficulties and followed it down to Bergesetre. Here, I found another path that took me back to Berghammarsætra.
Excellent. The time was 15:15pm and I had 2 new tops. I wanted to be in Kongsberg before 20:00 and had enough time for (at least) one more top.
Trip statistics: 4,8km, 420 vertical meters, 1h:06m
Tekslehogget (721m)
At lake Soneren, I turned right, planning to drive to Kongsberg via Nordskogen. I stopped and looked for easy hikes in the area and discovered Tekslehogget. This seemed to be a really cool top!
I turned onto Tekslevegen, past Tovstjenn and parked where the road forked near Hovet.
Based on the map, I decided to hike up to Hovet (the farm) and locate the path there. That was not the best choice. I should have followed the road to the right.
It didn’t take long to find the forest path and while a bit overgrown, easy to follow.
I expected to find a pointy top, like I had seen from the trailhead, but I didn’t expect to find a large mountain massif with steep cliffs!
I wasn’t sure which of the 3 humps was the highest, so I visited them all. It turned out that the northernmost was the highest.
This was a very cool place!
This was clearly the highlight of the day, but I didn’t have time to hang around. I also felt light rain in the air (the forecast mentioned rain in the evening)
I took the same path down but turned left in the lower forest – where the path forked. The new path took me down to the gravel road that I should have been following in the first place.
I was quite surprised when I returned to the car. Only 41 minutes had passed since I left it. It felt so much longer!
Trip statistics: 3,4km, 270 vertical meters, 0h:41m
Kolkinnåsen (463m)
After Tekslehogget, I was mentally ready to drive straight to Kongsberg. But the time was only 17:00 and I had 3 hours before I wanted to be in Kongsberg. As the drive wouldn’t take more than an hour, I decided to look for yet another easy hike.
Kolkinnåsen in Flesberg seemed like the perfect candidate. I took the road to Flesberg and parked near Kjeldebakken.
I followed a tractor road in the direction of the top.
Higher up in the forest, I noticed a path going up to the left and followed it.
The rain had taken a pause, and I blessed my fortune.
Eventually, I reached the top – with an antenna.
In the distance, I could see Tekslehogget.
Across the Flesberg road, I could see Fleksåsen and thought about it for 30 seconds before concluding that I was done hiking for the day.
With 4 new pf100 tops, I was quite content!
Time to head back down…
…and set course for Kongsberg.
Trip statistics: 2,3km, 120 vertical meters, 0h:27m
