Some good hikes and trail maintenance
Index
| Date | Peak | Height | PF | Location | WCP/FP | MAP |
| 07.10.24 | Garnestua | 654m | 417m | Ulstein, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 08.10.24 | Nakken | 180m | 22m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
| 09.10.24 | Djupvikhaugen | 98m | 29m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
| 10.10.24 | Volsdalsberga | – | – | Ålesund, Norway | – | MAP |
| 10.10.24 | Storhornet | 497m | 497m | Giske, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 10.10.24 | Sloktinden | 442m | 34m | Giske, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 10.10.24 | Northern light | – | – | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | – |
| 11.10.24 | Øyrahornet | 417m | 42m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 12.10.24 | Djupvika | – | – | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
| 13.10.24 | Rjåhornet | 600m | 107m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
Garnestua (654m), Oct 7 2024
Monday: This hike is featured on a separate post…
Nakken (180m), Oct 8 2024
Tuesday: As Karma has had to go out to pee at 5am two nights in a row, I was restless all night. Around 3am, as I was awake anyway, I took her outside. She did what she was supposed to do, and we went back to sleep. This new behaviour was no longer exceptions. This was a trend, and I would have to talk to the Vet about it, sooner than later.
It had rained all day, and it was still raining when I finished my work. On days like these, I tend to choose trail maintenance. For some reason, I don’t notice the rain then.
So, I went up to Nakken with the brush cutter to do some good community work…
Others had done maintenance further down in the forest, but the upper part had not been maintained. Like always, it felt really good to *see* the path again.
On our way down the forest, I had a small accident. I was walking while cutting. Then I slipped and fell. Instinctively, I must have fallen in a way where I was able to get the rotating blade away from my foot.
My right foot stayed clear of the blade by a couple of centimetres, but the knee was under me, in a twisted position. I’ve been struggling with the left knee ever since mid-July, I had taken MRI and been informed that the knee had a number of issues. I was now waiting for an appointment with an orthopedist to discuss whether I should have surgery or not.
I was screaming in pain, and I thought that I had completely destroyed the knee. It was that painful. But after 5-10 minutes, I was able to get back on my feet. To my enormous relief, I was able to not only put weight on it, but also walk.
I took it real slow and easy down the forest…
Trip statistics: 1,7km, 165 vertical meters, 1h:33m
Djupvikhaugen (98m), Oct 9 2024
Wednesday: I was so happy when I woke up at 7am and noticed that Karma was still in her bed, peaceful. Hopefully, this could signal an end to the “have to pee at 5am” thing that had been going on for 3 days.
It was still raining, and after work I went to Djupvika with Elin (from the local trail committee) to agree on where the new path should go.
The first part of the path was obvious, and I had already cleared it with the brush cutter.
It didn’t take us long to agree on where the rest of the path should go.
Afterwards, we hiked across Djupvikhaugen before returning to our cars down by lake Djupvikvatnet.
Trip statistics: 3,3km, 220 vertical meters, 1h:03m
Volsdalsberga, Oct 10 2024
Thursday: I had an appointment with the Vet in Ålesund today. I never sleep well the night before going to Ålesund. If I’m lucky, I get 4-5 hours of sleep. I don’t know why. Perhaps I just dread getting up at 5am so much that I’m not able to sleep well.
But this night got much worse than usual. We went to bed around 23 and at midnight, Karma was frantic to get out. Not to pee, but to eat grass. She made a hungry sheep look lazy. There was something very desperate about it all.
Just before we got to the Vet’s office, they called me and said that the Vet was delayed due to surgery. Which meant that I had time to do a longer walk than I usually do, during my lunch break.
So, we went in the direction of Volsdalsberga. I had never been there before and enjoyed the “discovery” of a park that I didn’t know existed.
Back at the Vet’s office, he examined her urine and took blood samples. The samples were just fine, but her urine – still – had almost no concentration. Which is concerning in itself. So, no news compared to our previous round of tests. We concluded that she remains in “observation mode” but as long as she can do the afternoon hikes, that automatically rules out several critical conditions. Which much count for something, I suppose…
Trip statistics: 2km, 70 vertical meters, 0h:28m
Storhornet (497m), Sloktinden (442m), Oct 10 2024
Thursday: After work, I had a 2-hour window before the forecasted rain. Within then, I should be able to get to Godøya and get to the top of Storhornet. If it started to rain then, it was OK. I just don’t like going up a mountain in rain.
The weather was just great when we headed out from Gjuv.
I was a bit curious on how Karma would do, after taking blood samples and the monthly Librela injection. On a scale to 10, where 10 is “on steroids”, she was maybe on 4. At least she was moving without me having to actively inspire her.
When we got above the forest, I could feel light raindrops. I told Karma to “step on it”. I really wanted to reach the top before the rain.
I absolutely love hiking on Godøya island. This was my favourite go-to place in my Ålesund years (2006-2008). There is so much fun to do here.
We didn’t reach the top before the rain came, but it didn’t rain a lot. But I could see massive showers in the distance, I was pretty sure at least one of them would come our way.
On “weather days” like this one, there’s no better place to be…
We reached the top and it still wasn’t raining a lot. It felt like we were in very outskirts of a passing shower.
If the weather had been bad, we would have returned the way we came, but now I decided that we should descend via Sloktinden.
After a round of treats and pictures, we were on our way…
Despite of the rain showers – or perhaps because of the rain showers that weren’t here, and plus the nice light, this was altogether a marvellous afternoon. I enjoyed myself big time.
We even got a twin rainbow!
Descending across Sloktinden would mean 3km along a gravel road, but that couldn’t be helped. At least, there would be no cars on that road.
It felt wrong to leave the mountain, but we had a long way home…
Kudos to the effort put into the stone work on the path down from Sloktinden!
Then we had 3km left to go. Being very uplifted from the hike, the road was less boring this time.
10 minutes after we left the trailhead in the car, cloudburst!
When we got to Sulesund, the heavy rain shower had passed.
Trip statistics: 8,1km, 680 vertical meters, 1h:54m
Northern light, Oct 10 2024
Thursday: When I was walking the dog in the evening (close to midnight), I became aware of the northern light. So, I got in the car and drove to Kjeldsund for some pictures.
I only brought my cell phone and the result was so-and-so.
Øyrahornet (417m), Oct 11 2024
Friday: After work, there seemed to be nowhere to go to escape the rain. So, I settled for a short and nearby hike – Øyrahornet from Tjørvåg. It wasn’t winter just yet, so I assumed there was a limit to how unpleasant it could get…
I was sad to see the super-wet path in the lower part of the forest. I promised myself that the next time it is pouring down, I would bring some tools and see if I can route some of the water into the river. Unless it’s the river that’s flooding into the path. Not sure.
Higher up, it sure felt like winter!
The bench view wasn’t so marvellous as it usually is…
But it wasn’t unpleasant. It was just snow showers and little wind.
Once one shower passed, we just waited for the next…
All in all, an OK hike.
The last time we crossed the old dam, there was hardly any water there. That was not the case today…
Trip statistics: 4km, 430 vertical meters, 1h:15m
Djupvika, new path, Oct 12 2024
Saturday: In the rain, I found no inspiration to go hiking and so this would be a good day continue clearing the new path in Djupvika. I really look forward to the day the route is cleared and marked, and we can announce it to the local community.
But first, I took the brush cutter and continued clearing the Rjåhornet path. Afterwards, I got going on the new path.
In the evening, Anne came up from Sogndal and I looked forward to spending a few days with her.
Trip statistics: 2,7km, 180 vertical meters, 1h:22m
Rjåhornet (600m), Oct 13 2024
Sunday: Anne had agreed to help me with the new path I’m developing but when we got to Djupvika, it wasn’t raining, and it didn’t seem like it would rain just yet. So, I proposed that we should take a hike to Rjåhornet instead.
It was nice to be hiking with her again. It had been weeks since the last time, and very few since the summer break.
We wouldn’t get blue sky and sunshine today. But it was OK, as long as it wasn’t raining.
It wasn’t particularly windy either…
And then we were up!
Anne had recently been to Jordan and had brought treats. Having tasted one of the “cookies” the day before, I politely declined…
On the way down, I wanted to show her what I’ve been working on in the Djupvika forest, so we took a different route down from the meadow below Rjåhornet.
She liked the new path and we spent a little while clearing the middle part of the path – which was mainly about moving fallen trees.
Trip statistics: 8,2km, 640 vertical meters, 2h:59m
