Dog surgery and some nice skiing…
Index
| Date | Peak | Height | PF | Location | WCP/FP | MAP |
| 06.01.25 | Leinehornet | 364m | 364m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 07.01.25 | Rambjøra | 132m | 109m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 08.01.25 | Huldrehornet | 271m | 113m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 08.01.25 | Ulsteinvik | – | – | Ålesund, Norway | – | MAP |
| 09.01.25 | Hasundhornet | 533m | 93m | Ulstein, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 10.01.25 | Røddalshorn | 563m | 100m | Sande, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 11.01.25 | Rjåhornet | 600m | 107m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 11.01.25 | Høgåsen | 240m | 240m | Ulstein, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 12.01.25 | Sollia | 661m | 661m | Herøy/Sande, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 12.01.25 | Hornseten | 190m | 152m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
Leinehornet (366m), Jan 6 2025
Monday: The second week of the new year didn’t start great. I didn’t feel in shape at all. I had a slight headache, and I was tired. I guess I had a hint of a cold. At least, it felt that way.
I really wanted to just hit the bed, but instead, I drove to Leinøya island to hike Leinehornet. There was a cool light out in the ocean, and I hoped that there would be a track up the mountain by now.
At Leine, I couldn’t just park alongside the road and had to actively search for parking. Then we got a short walk along the streets before we got to the trailhead.
It started promising. Someone with snowshoes had set the trail. The snow was soft, but it would have been much worse without the tracks.
When we got to a gate, the tracks ended. Disappointing! But I had my hopes that as soon this path merged with another path, we would find tracks.
We did. The track (from a single person) didn’t help much in carrying any weight, but at least the tracks seemed to follow the path, which made things easier. Karma was my big hero. It was hard work for her, but she never signaled that she wanted to turn around.
I had brought my camera, and the dog got a welcomed break every time I started to organize a shoot.
I like the time of day when it’s light enough to take a picture within a couple of seconds and dark enough to show the town lights.
The longer exposure, the greater risk of getting a picture out of focus. It’s almost always windy here.
It was really nice to reach the top. My inherent laziness didn’t get the best of me today, either.
Going back down would be so much easier…
Trip statistics: 3,5km, 355 vertical meters, 1h:24m
Rambjøra (132m), Jan 7 2025
Tuesday: So far, 2025 had been going well. But today, hardship would begin. Karma had a planned major surgery today. In Ålesund. She would get rid of a monster lump that we hope is benign. While she was sedated, the Vet also performed an ultrasound examination and concluded that it’s best that the womb should be removed. But not today.
The surgery went well, I picked up Karma – in an utterly confused state – and drove back home.
Once I concluded that she was peaceful and stabile, I allowed myself a quick walk up to Rambjøra. I didn’t really feel good about leaving her, but she was just sleeping anyway.
Trip statistics: 2,9km, 140 vertical meters, 0h:44m
Huldrehornet (271m), Jan 8 2025
Wednesday: Karma seemed to be doing good after the surgery. After work, I needed to move the body and so I put a suit on Karma and left her back home. I decided to go for a quick hike up to Huldrehornet. I considered to go skiing again but ended up on foot. I had been up there 4 times (!) in the past 5 days and so the path should carry most of my weight.
Even if I felt I was in a hurry, I took the extra time needed to take some pictures along the way.
I am not a photographer and basically have no clue what I’m doing. But I love doing mistakes and try to find a way to learn from them. I’ve got miles to go, but the pictures aren’t totally crap.
I would just have to get used to doing a hike or ski trip by myself and walk the dog afterwards. She’s supposed to take it easy up to 14 days.
Trip statistics: 3,1km, 250 vertical meters, 1h:00m
Ulsteinvik, Jan 8 2025
Wednesday: After the Huldrehornet hike, I figured I could walk Karma in Ulsteinvik and practice on after-dark photography.
Challenge #1 – how not to make everything look yellow. Oh well…
Taking pictures was a bit awkward, as I only had a mini tripod. I’ve got two large ones but for some reason, my EOS RP doesn’t fit. I need to look into that.
Challenge #2 – how not to photograph a shipyard without making it seem it’s on fire. Hmm…
But okay, it was fun, and Karma seemed to enjoy herself. Lots of yellow snow to check out!
Trip statistics: 3,2km, 10m vertical meters, 1h:11m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP) from the walk:
Hasundhornet (533m), Jan 9 2025
Thursday: Today, I let Karma join me for a hike. Well, hike … we would follow snowy roads all the way to the top of Hasundhornet. I was a little bit late out the door and the colors faded on the way up Ringstaddalen.
This was actually the first time I’ve started out from Fjelle, where the road ends in winter. I’ve been to Hasundhornet on skis before, but from the other side.
The snow didn’t carry my weight, but Karma had an easy walk. She looked thrilled about being “in the mountains” again.
The road to Hasundhornet was easier than the road from Fjelle. As we were approaching the top, there was hardly any snow left. I would have preferred to go skiing, but I didn’t want Karma to run behind me.
It was windy on top and taking pictures was tricky. The first one looked alright before I zoomed. Then it was crap.
The second one turned out better.
The third picture turned out like the first. Crap when I zoomed. Oh well. We were here for the walk, not primarily the pictures.
I enjoyed hiking with Karma again, but I’m going to take it very easy with her in the coming week.
Trip statistics: 5,1km, 200 vertical meters, 1h:37m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the hike:
Røddalshorn (563m) & Dragsund, Jan 10 2025
Friday: The weather this afternoon was quite alright, and so I decided quickly to go for a ski trip to Røddalshorn, while Karma rested back home.
The light was a bit flat, but I had brought a headlamp to get more contrasts in the snow, even if it wasn’t dark yet.
After 5 minutes, it started snowing! That was hugely disappointing! This was not forecasted. Big bummer, but I was not going to turn around now…
On my way up, I met two other guys – equally disappointed.
I decided to take the same descent route as Anne and I did the week before, hoping that the lee side would have more snow.
The light was terrible, but the snow was good. The headlamp was a massive help. I managed to get myself down, safe and sound.
Back home, I was feeling the “how could you leave me here” eyes from the dog and took her on an easy walk to Dragsund. I decided to “suit her up” to protect the wound.
Røddalshorn: 4,2km, 400 vertical meters, 0h:56m
Dragsund: 5,2km, 80 vertical meters, 1h:11m
Rjåhornet (600m), Jan 11 2025
Saturday: The weather was quite good and after breakfast, I decided to go for a solo ski trip to Rjåhornet, starting from the fjord (at Leikong).
I decided not to follow the old tractor road, because it was rocky and there was no sole under the snow. Instead, I found myself a truly aggravating route up the thick forest, which I planned to follow on my way down.
I was quite happy to get above the forest and enjoy the beautiful light. I was slightly concerned by the fact that I couldn’t see the top of the mountain. What was going on up there?
I figured I could worry about that when I got there. Maybe everything would change in an instant, like on Røddalshorn the day before.
I also enjoyed creating a route that would serve as a “guideline” for my descent. That meant as long I was skiing near the track, I shouldn’t expect any surprises in the form of cornices, humps or anything else that could send me to the hospital.
By the time I had the final hillside in front of me, the conditions were the same. I didn’t know if it was fog, frost smoke or a local snow shower up there. As the light was also quite flat, I decided to ski along the power line, just to get some reference points.
When I got up, I concluded that fog was “what was going on” …
Man, I looked forward to the descent, even though with the fog on top.
But suddenly, the fog began to lift.
And now I could see mountains in the horizon. Big bonus!
The descent was super-enjoyable. I filmed the entire descent, but unfortunately, the camera angle was wrong, and I was basically just filming the top of my backpack.
When I got back down, I just wanted to go back up again. But now, it was the dog’s turn to get some fresh air.
Trip statistics: 6,4km, 610 vertical meters, 1h:50m
Høgåsen (240m), Jan 11 2025
Saturday: I was quite sceptical about taking Karma to a hike up Høgåsen. But we had been to Hasundhornet the day before, and that went well. OK, there was a snowy road to Hasundhornet and today, we would be on a trail. However, the trail was easy and well worn.
We started out by the Kleven Shipyard entrance and followed the path up the forest.
Karma seemed genuinely happy about being on a trail again.
Snow showers were roaming around. It was snowing in Ulsteinvik when we took the Dimnøya exit, and I could see another shower coming in.
Better get the treats and pictures over with and get off the mountain before the shower came. I didn’t want her bandage to get wet.
Trip statistics: 3,8km, 230 vertical meters, 55mins
Sollia (661m), Jan 12 2025
Sunday: This was the last day before bad weather was moving in – again. I decided to go for a ski trip to Sollia – the highest mountain on Gurskøy island. Karma would have to stay at home.
I like Sollia, but not so much skiing the mountain, because of the two uphills on the way down. So, I decided to ski from Tjørvåg. I didn’t want to follow the summer path, as I didn’t want to cross the creek. So, I drove to the nearest farm and spoke with the owner. He said I could park there and enjoy an easy start by following the tractor road.
I had to deal with a fence, but other than that, the ascent through the forest was OK. I tried to find a way that I could ski down without too much hassle.
The weather was OK. The light was flat, and I was hoping for sunshine.
When I got to the foot of Nonshornet, I realized that I wouldn’t get the light I wanted and so I made extra sure to set the track in a way that I could ski fairly fast and not be afraid of obstacles.
There was indeed light, but only here and there.
There was also light in the horizon…
I was curious to see how it looked like on top.
It was getting more and more windy, but little did I know what was awaiting on top…
Eventually, I had the top in sight, and I had to stop to put on an extra pair of gloves.
It was not only windy, it was cold too.
When I closed in on the top, I noticed two women who turned around before reaching the top. I spoke to them. It was just too windy up there, they said. Based on the snowdrift, I believed them. But they were super-happy about getting this ski trip before the bad weather sat in. They had stuck their nose in something close to an inferno on top, and they thought the weather was nice! The spirit of people along the coastline is special.
I would not be turning around (of course) and aimed for the top.
Because of the snowdrift and turbulence on top, this was not a place I could stay for long. I mean, the weather wasn’t really bad – like when you feel a touch of panic – but it was unpleasant.
The descent back to Nonshornet wasn’t particularly fun. I was basically just following my ascent track and couldn’t let myself “loose”.
It got better when I passed Nonshornet. It was big fun until I got to the meadow below Nonshornet, where the snow was wind packed. The forest was OK-ish. I had OK contrasts, but the terrain was a bit cumbersome. But all in all, I was very happy with 3 ski trips in the past 3 days, and altogether very happy with my activity so far in 2025. I could survive some days with bad weather.
Trip statistics: 9,6km, 650 vertical meters, 2h:20m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP) from the trip:
Hornseten (190m), Jan 12 2025
Sunday: After skiing Sollia, I drove home, changed clothes, brought Karma and drove to Eggesbønes to hike Hornseten. The route across Heida and up to Hornseten was of the kind I assumed would do no harm to Karma’s stitches.
They’re more at risk when she gets up. She can’t just slowly get on her feet like old dogs do (or should). No, she’s on her feet in a fraction of a second and I fear the day when the body isn’t ready for that sudden move. I’m speaking from experience with myself here. Maybe dogs are built differently. I hope so.
I had brought the camera today, but it wasn’t so exciting taking pictures in daylight.
By the time we reached the top, there was still daylight, and I felt a need for “hanging around” until darkness came.
The sun was setting, somewhere far, far away from here. So, it would probably be more fun to take pictures in half an hour from now.
I took some more pictures for my picture archive. Who knows, someone might contact me one day and ask if I have a picture of Nerlandsøya with snow that I might consider giving away for a good cause.
Back in the old days, I got many requests like that. I sold as many pictures as I gave away for what I felt was a good cause. But with the era of the cell phone, people stopped asking me for pictures. Until last year! A guy was writing a book about hiking in Helgeland, had a very low budget and asked for “donations” in form of pictures. I gave him everything he asked for and now this book has a bunch of my pictures.
We started on the regular round-trip hike, but when we got to the forest and the car was only one hill away, I noticed tracks on the path that runs through the forest and back to the Heida trail. I decided to follow it.
By the time we reached the trail we had been on earlier, it was getting just enough dark to force me to consider camera settings, in order to get a decent shot. I’ve got a million miles to go, but the result isn’t directly crap, I think.
The moon is a challenge though. I need to do something about that. But there’s not a whole lot I can do with my current 24-105mm lens …
Back home, I removed Karma’s bandage. I got a shock. I counted at least 20 stitches across her back (side to side). Horrific as it looked, it looked OK. That was a big relief. I had dreaded this moment ever since the operation. Not that I’m faint hearted, I just didn’t want her to have to suffer more than she already head. But in case you’re faint hearted, I’m not going to post the picture I took for the Vet…
In the evening, I got a genuine surprise. I was working in front of the computer, listening to music in my headphones when suddenly the whole house was shaking. My first thought was: has my washing machine gone off its hinges? Nah, I wasn’t washing anything. My second thought was that a snow plow was going berserk in the street. Nah, this was something else.
My third and final thought was earthquake. And sure enough, it was an earthquake. This is the first time in my life I’ve experienced something like this. I may recall a couple of times when something was shaking for a few seconds, but this lasted nearly 30 seconds. The dog was really confused. This was not in her “library” of sounds. Nothing got broken, though.
Trip statistics: 5,7km, 320 vertical meters, 1h:46m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:
