A superb revisit to Vanylven’s highest top
| 26.08.26 | Litleblæja | 1032m | 88m | Vanylven, Norway | – | MAP |
| 26.08.26 | Blæja (Storeblæja) | 1142m | 654m | Vanylven, Norway | – | MAP |
Wednesday: I had lots of private things to take care of after work, but they all were set aside, because of the wonderful weather. Who in their right mind stay indoors when the temperature is 19 °C at the end of August?
As I hadn’t done any hikes to Vanylven in 2026, I decided to do something about it. The plan was to revisit the Litlebjæja – Storeblæja ridge – Blæjeegga, which I did in August 2010 and not repeated later. I took the 3:45pm ferry from Årvika. It helps to start the working day early…
I also skied Blæja in 2017, with friends – across lake Blæjevatnet. But I never felt the need to bring Karma up here.
I would start my hike from Røfsdalssætra. A trailhead I know after a number of hikes in this area.
A signpost said the Røfsdalen road is a toll road, but I never saw any place to pay, and I didn’t see any cameras. So perhaps it’s free. I found my usual parking (279m elev.), protected by a cattle guard and headed upwards. I stopped and had a chat with some cabin owners who were curious about where I was going, this late in the day.
After several hikes up from the cabins, one should think I knew the route by now. Not so. Again, I lost the path – this time at around 450m elev. And got exposed to some plants that made me itch for the rest of the day. To the point of bleeding…
Finally, I got above the forest and looked forward to focusing on the mountain…
In 2010, I hiked from Londgjerda, which meant I had never hiked Litleblæja from this side of the valley before. I followed the path to the Helgåna river, and then I went off-trail toward Litleblæja.
The route seemed obvious enough, though. I was really interested in the northeast ridge but settled for the northwest ridge.
At the foot of the mountain, I found a vague path, painted with blue and followed it upwards.
The *big* question for this trip was how I would return. Would I return across Sandfjelltuva or would take my chance along lake Blæjevatnet? I had already asked my buddy Bjørn Skoge – who knows this area inside and out – about the lake, and he told me that I could hike by the lake on both sides, although tedious – due to rocks.
The route to Litleblæja never seemed to end…
But eventually, after 1h:25m, I reached the Litleblæja viewpoint.
This wasn’t the Litleblæja high point, but the views were good!
Then I continued towards Blæja…
I didn’t remember much from the ridge route, other than one potentially tricky point – which I paid extra attention to, back in 2010. Time would tell if I still found it tricky…
I spooked some sheep and their escape route was along the path I had planned to follow. As such, I had to deviate from the path and pass below them. Once sheep realize there is no danger, they normally stop and so did these…
Now, I could focus on the remaining part of the ridge…
So far, there had not been anything airy about the route at all. In fact, Now the route ran well below the ridge crest, and I didn’t understand what the fun in that was. Still, I didn’t bother leaving the path…
Eventually, the terrain got steeper – and a bit more interesting…
I was clearly approaching terrain where I shouldn’t stumble…
When I noticed chains, I figured that this had to be the place where I might have felt a bit uneasy back in 2010. Back then, I was constantly exposed to rough terrain, which I am nowadays not. So, there was a certain excitement…
But I don’t understand what that was all about, back then. Yes, it is a little bit steep, but nothing problematic and no drama whatsoever…
A second section of chains followed. I didn’t feel any need to hold on to these either. That said, I know it’s significant which way you’re going, given what is your “best side”. I can feel totally relaxed moving with my left side towards the mountain, and really stressed when going the other way…
Eventually, the steep section was history, and I could look forward to reaching the top…
It was nice to be back on Blæja!
I dedicated some time for taking pictures, before deciding on what to do next.
I had brought my 100mm lens today as well…
I didn’t notice until I got back home and uploaded the pictures. While photographing Lisjetoren and Storetoren, I also got Lodalskåpa in view – 79,3km to the southeast…
It was time to move on. I still didn’t know what to do – return via Tinden – Skorretehornet – Sandfjelltuva or descend to lake Blæjevatnet.
The route up to Tinden looked strenuous. It was only 100 vertical meters (+), but it was a Wednesday evening. I had already enough vertical meters and I needed a ferry to get me back home…
The shore didn’t look so bad, did it? I keep saying I am a “master on rock” and maybe this was the time to “put your money where your mouth is” …
The mountain ridge route (incl. Sandfjelltuva) would require somewhere between 200 and 300 vertical meters and why go through that when I could just descend and follow the lake? So that’s what I did…
The descent looked steep from above but was never steep at all. Yes, the route along the lake was rocky, but I am good on rock.
On the 1,3km route along the lake, I had an average of 3km/h.
When the rocky section was over, I started to think about the ferry back to my island. I figured the 9pm ferry would be a reasonable goal.
The progress was good, and at some point, I wondered if I could make the 8:30pm ferry. I rushed it a little, only to slip and fall on my ass. Then I decided to slow it down…
Back at the car, I was still in a position where I could reach the 8:30pm ferry, if everything was going my way. The exit from the parking didn’t go my way and I vaguely touched the gate. The car entered panic mode, and it felt like a major collision. Then I decided to settle for the 9pm ferry…
Which was a good call, as now I had time for extra photography – like the “Syvden alps”
My 100mm lens suddenly was acting weird, and it was difficult to get focus. I wondered if my fall had anything to do with it. After all, the lens was in my backpack when it happened. But after “flipping a few switches” the lens seemed to be working again…
At Koparneset, I noticed my hands were bloody from scratching whatever was itching. I decided to lower my legs into the fjord. It didn’t help…
The 9pm ferry took me across the fjord, and the plan was to drive non-stop back home, get some dinner and then start working on the pictures. This plan didn’t include any further stops for pictures, although there was a nice sunset in progress. But then I noticed the moon. It’s been a long time since I saw the moon and naturally, I had to stop…
Trip statistics: 9,9km, 1080 vertical meters, 3h:55m
