Troll Løypa (days 1-4)
Day 1 26-01-2013
Høvringen – Rondvassbu 20
km in 7h30min
OFF-TRACK
Started off on cut-tracks past Smuksjøseter to Peer-Gynt Hytta. Just before Smuksjøseter we were welcomed by Storm , the very big and furry Leonberger.
Left the beaten track after Peer Gynt. There seemed to be little snow in the terrain until we passed a refuge and saw that all snow had drifted here to form a drop of 1.5 meters to its entrance.
Arriving at Rondvassbu we found it to be densely populated by a DNT-fjellsport group of 17. First day of enjoying cabin food: meatballs and mashed potatoes (must admit we looked a bit envious across to the fresh meat and veggies the DNT group brought) OMNOMNOM J
Day 2. 27-01-2013
Rondvassbu – Bjørnhollia 14 km in 5h15min
“SVIMMEL”
Near
white-out first half of the day. Just followed the valley to Bjørnhollia. Both visibility
and the Rondvassbu-“sauna” (have not yet discovered how Norwegians can be
economical with fire-wood) made our heads feel like a block of firewood (could
come in handy to heat up next cabin). No big fun up on a windy mountain with
“svimmel”,“hodebank”, and queasiness.
However
going down through woods lightened things up: toe-dipping in elv (Michiel),
tree-hugging, shrub-trampling, branch dodging, etc.. Nice change of scenery
from cloud and rock to birch trees and roots.
Finally got
fire and operation re-hydration going inside with wind howling outside cabin. Feels
like proper winter-tour already!
Animal
sightings: two flocks of Snø-rype and a big snow hare.
Day 3. 28-01-2013:
Bjørnhollia - Eldåbu. 18km in 6h30min
"RUDOLPH / SUNSHINE REGGAE"
All clouds from the day before were being blown away by strong winds this morning. Got us sandblasted on the first ‘motbakke’ of the day, but also gave a glimpse off the sights we missed the day before.
Making good progress and dropped down 100m again into next valley towards lunch time which sheltered us from the wind. Take your hat off and sweat!!
After lunch in the sun we nearly walked over a trampled piece of moss: Typical sign of reindeer. Some careful looking around revealed 5 animals moving up a hill. Stopped to take out binoculars and looked at them, then continued onwards. After two minutes you suddenly become aware of a grey spot on the mountain to your right that is moving..... Turned out Rudolph and his buddies had been behind a small hill- out of sight to us- and were now moving along. Rough estimate was around 120 animals at least!! Interesting patterns they make when they move, stop, regroup, etc. Bit like a harmonica.
Last part of day we descended towards Eldåbu while being treated to great colours of the sunset. Hardly seem any other place that has such firy colours in the sky. Second hytte we have to ourselves, looked forward to Brun Lapskaus but as they only had the Lys version on stock we settled for that instead.
Day 4. 29-01-2013
Eldåbu - Gråhøgdbu. 16km in 5h55min
BAMBOO
The day’s colour-theme was white/grey and got progressively worse to complete white-out. Plodding through the "bamboo-jungle" of sticks now marking the trail from Eldåbu onwards. To be honest these markings do help to reduce navigation time significantly when visibility is as low as today and otherwise also to give you a fixed point to focus on in this all-white world. It’s difficult holding balance when you have no fixed horizon and have about 15kg on your back. Well, every now and then you end up in an unexpected snow heap which makes good fun underway :-).
Without views it's much more a day to just focus on setting a pace and rhythm as you go. Quite relaxing actually. Either it completely clears the head, or at other times you're just sunk in your thoughts, letting the legs do the work.
Animal sightings: a snø-rype and a tourist bus when crossing the road at Venabygdsfjellet.
Now at Gråhøgdbu; found our names in the visitors log from last year. So much has changed since we were here last time! The water could not be found, so we had to start melting snow instead. Warming ourselves at the stove now and wishing for some better views tomorrow.
The day’s colour-theme was white/grey and got progressively worse to complete white-out. Plodding through the "bamboo-jungle" of sticks now marking the trail from Eldåbu onwards. To be honest these markings do help to reduce navigation time significantly when visibility is as low as today and otherwise also to give you a fixed point to focus on in this all-white world. It’s difficult holding balance when you have no fixed horizon and have about 15kg on your back. Well, every now and then you end up in an unexpected snow heap which makes good fun underway :-).
Without views it's much more a day to just focus on setting a pace and rhythm as you go. Quite relaxing actually. Either it completely clears the head, or at other times you're just sunk in your thoughts, letting the legs do the work.
Animal sightings: a snø-rype and a tourist bus when crossing the road at Venabygdsfjellet.
Now at Gråhøgdbu; found our names in the visitors log from last year. So much has changed since we were here last time! The water could not be found, so we had to start melting snow instead. Warming ourselves at the stove now and wishing for some better views tomorrow.
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