Sunnmøre – Sogndal mix
| Date | Peak | Height | PF | Location | WCP/FP | MAP |
| 01.12.25 | Rjåhornet | 600m | 107m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 02.12.25 | Garneshornet | 454m | 37m | Ulstein, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 03.12.25 | Melshornet | 668m | 560m | Hareid, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 04.12.25 | Aksla | 188m | 188m | Ålesund, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 05.12.25 | Røvhaugane | 160m | 0m | Sogndal, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 06.12.25 | Helebrandseggi | 920m | 90m | Sogndal, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 07.12.25 | Mælen | 974m | 31m | Sogndal, Norway | – | MAP |
| 07.12.25 | Fjordstien | – | – | Sogndal, Norway | – | MAP |
Rjåhornet (600m), Dec 1 2025
Monday: Another week, and it gets darker and darker after work. Fortunately, this will change in 21 days, come winter solstice.
The weather was nice throughout my working day but deteriorated gradually in the afternoon. It was raining when I drove to Leikong to hike Rjåhornet (just like I did last Monday) but it was just raining lightly when I headed up the forest. But I had a feeling what could be awaiting on top.
I enjoyed another episode of the Lars Monsens Univers podcast series. This was about a nurse who turned into quite an adventurer. Very interesting!
The weather was still not too bad.
I truly enjoy these small breaks from civilization. I get a much-needed balance in my everyday life.
It was quite windy when I arrived on top of Rjåhornet. I would call it a bit unpleasant. Not a place to hang out. But the building on top provides shelter, so it’s possible to get my head straight. Walking in this wind feels like being in a train tunnel.
It was nice to get off the top, and now it started to rain. I put on one more episode – this time it was about bears. Also very interesting and I didn’t notice the rain at all.
Trip statistics: 6,7km, 610 vertical meters, 1h:49m
Garneshornet (454m), Dec 2 2025
Tuesday: Another day with nice weather until my working day ended. Then it began to rain. No complaints though. The other way around is just as frequent.
The goal for today was Garneshornet above Garneskrysset (junction). A short distance from civilization. If the weather was tolerable, I might continue up to Garnestua (654m). Time would tell. At least, the forest part was OK. I enjoyed new episodes of Lars Monsen’s Univers.
When I got to Garneshornet, there was just no way I would continue any higher. On the below picture, it looks nice and calm…
…but the reality is shown in the below video clip.
So, I turned around and was satisfied with 400m+ vertical meters on such an afternoon…
Trip statistics: 3,7km, 435 vertical meters, 1h:24m
Melshornet (668m), Dec 3 2025
Wednesday: At 3pm, I called it a (working) day with a good conscience. I had gotten a lot of good work done and there was no point in letting this good weather go to waste.
I decided to drive to Ulset (on Hareidlandet) and hike Melshornet. On my way there, I could enjoy a full moon.
The Ulset route is a route I’ve done many times in the past decade. This would be my 44th visit to the top and most hikes has started at Ulset.
There was hardly any snow left. A bit weird, but not unusual in these parts at this time of year. It was getting darker and darker by the minute, and the nice moon was just a yellow cheese, from a photographer’s point of view.
To my surprise, I met 3 slow-moving young men on their way down. We didn’t talk, as I was deep into another episode of the Lars Monsen universe. But I said “Hallo” and they replied in English.
Today’s choice of podcasts would challenge me. The first interview was with a person I don’t particularly like, but I decided to give this person a chance. The second interview was with a hunter. I don’t like hunting. I understand the need of population control, but I don’t understand the desire to kill. But I wanted to hear this person out.
The person I disliked didn’t really grow on me. “Dislike” is a strong word, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I respect most people, not comitting crimes. But if this person was sitting next to me in an airplane, I would not be interested in engaging a conversation.
The hunter described the excitement as something happening before and after the kill. There was no excitement during the kill, according to him. I think I understood what he meant. I can relate to mountains. The excitement is the planning and when it’s over, letting the experience sink in. I don’t feel anything when I reach a top I have been thinking about for years.
But I don’t kill anything. If it’s such a big thrill to track the animal, then wouldn’t a camera work just as nice as a rifle?
I’m not going after those who have a natural respect for animals and participate in the seasonal hunt for deer or moose. The food matters. There’s many in my own family.
I just dislike people who enjoy killing for their own entertainment. Not to mention those who cross half the planet to kill a beautiful animal in a remote part of the world. They’re petty in my book.
Maybe my real problem is that I don’t really have faith in the population control.
The podcasts didn’t change my mindset, but I firmly believe in listening to people, even if I disagree with them.
Eventually, I reached the top and had other things to focus on. Like, how to take pictures in this strong wind. I reckoned it would take numerous attempts.
But I’ve been on windy mountain tops before and have a bag of tricks.
I was quite thankful that the weather was nice. The two past hikes weren’t exactly fun.
One of the “tricks” was to have a dove jacket in my rucksack. 30 seconds of exposure is a long time on a windy mountain, and then the camera spends the same amount of time on Long Exposure Noise Reduction (LENR).
On my way down, I listened to another podcast which I really enjoyed. The interview was with the psychologist Johanne Refseth. A person who started her outdoor adventures from scratch. Pretty much like I did.
It was a nice hike!
Trip statistics: 7,2km, 555 vertical meters, 2h:05m
Aksla (188m), Dec 4 2025
Thursday: I was in a good mood since the very morning. It was nice to see the full moon from my terrace.
At 11am, I left my home office to stop by the Ålesund office for some speech from the management.
At 3pm, I left the office and drove to Gangstøvika to hike across Aksla – for the first time since Karma left us. This was the typical hike after work in Ålesund.
I looked very much forward to get to Fjellstua for the classic Ålesund picture, but first I had to stop by Rundskue – the Aksla high point.
I like the Aksla ridge a lot. I never get bored here.
There was a lot of Christmas decorations (top picture) along the forest trails. As long as it isn’t plastic, I’m all for it. Good job!
And then I got to Fjellstua…
It was a little bit windy, but I was able to shelter the camera and got a series of half-decent shots.
It was nice to be back. I have missed this place.
On my way down the stairway to Byparken, I met our friend Leif (from Sogndal), out walking with colleagues. We were equally surprised to meet here.
I continued downtown…
I wanted to take some pictures of Brosundet.
Now I had to decide how to return to Gangstøvika. Should I follow Borgernes Veg, like I always do, or should I get more vertical meters by returning via Aksla.
I decided to do the latter.
I missed the Sulesund ferry by 30 seconds. Just like this morning. Oh well…
Trip statistics: 10,1km, 420 vertical meters, 2h:12m
Røvhaugane, Åberge, Dec 5 2025
Friday: I logged off work 2:30pm and sat course for Sogndal. It’s nice to get 1-1,5 hours with some daylight before it goes completely dark. I had a nice drive, though. The weather was OK and the roads were dry.
I didn’t do my usual hike on my way to Sogndal. I spoke to Anne on the phone, and we agreed to do an easy hike across Røvhaugane. Just minutes after I arrived in Sogndal, we were on our way.
It was a little bit too dark to get the kind of pictures I am happy with, but I decided to bring the camera anyway.
We stopped by Røvhaugane, and there was still glow in the fireplace. Someone had clearly had a nice afternoon up here.
I look forward to reaching the usual photo-point below Åberge, but as I have already mentioned – it was a little bit too dark.
No complaints, though. All pictures serve as memories in the long run….
Trip statistics: 4km, 220 vertical meters, 1h:19m
Helbrandseggi (920m), Dec 6 2025
Saturday: I spent the morning hours working, and then we agreed to hike to Helebrandseggi, in the Kaupanger forest. I just love this forest!
There were few traces of winter in the lower forest.
A bit high up, the paths were icy.
We saw a few traces of storm Amy (October), but nothing major.
And then we entered the winter zone…
I volunteered to set the track…
And then we were up…
But now what?
The weather wasn’t too bad, and I wanted a round-trip hike. So did Anne, and we agreed to head north and descend somewhere near Syresete.
I was quite happy. I had definitely gotten some new tracks for my GPS map on my way up to Helebrandseggi and hopefully – some new tracks going down the mountain.
I’ve been in the Kaupanger forest many, many times, but this is a forest I don’t think I’ll ever know inside and out.
Eventually, we could see the road from lake Breidesetevatnet, which we would join.
The road was icy, but we survived.
In the evening, we ordered takeaway pizza and enjoyed a nice evening at Anne’s place, watching TV.
Trip statistics: 9,5km, 580 vertical meters, 3h:00m
Mælen (974m), Dec 7 2025
Sunday: This hike is featured on a separate post…
Fjordstien, Sogndal, Dec 7 2025
Sunday: After the nice hike to Mælen, we decided to celebrate by going out for dinner. The motto is “celebrate while you can”. Tomorrow it might be too late.
We walked down to Sogndal. I was very motivated for a beer and some meat.
It was an OK-ish meal. Anne ordered duck, and I should have done the same. My meat tasted like rubber. I’m not saying there was anything wrong with the food. I guess you like this particular dish or you don’t…
But the dessert was nice!
Trip statistics: 4km, 80 vertical meters, 0h:48m
