The rockslide helped. Our original plan was to start hiking just down the road from the Skarvheimem cabin and walk 19km (11.8 miles) along the river bed. Just a few km in, a change of plans due to trail damage had us hike up over a ridge instead. This added 3.2km longwise and a whole bunch of vertical. The distance was not the issue, as you may imagine! Here is a photo documentary of the walk.
Morning view from the cabin
Ready to hike?
We started at a little restaurant/camp area where we ended up (8 hours later) having dinner. Getting started was a thing. By 10:30, we were walking.
Stopping for photo opportunities was a must. We had more cameras than people on our hike. Good news: the tripod actually got used!
The valley hike was very pretty, but in the end we were really glad we had to hike up over the ridge.
Don’t get too close to the edge!
Lunch break. We were joined by many lemmings
There was some wind at the top of the cliff.
And then it was down, down, down. Hard on the knees. The trail was so steep that in places metal cables had been installed. Those were a good thing.
Waterfalls, rock-covered trail, going up when you should be going down, and never quite getting to the water were all things. The wind was impressive when it was funneled up the valley and concentrated into tight eddies.
The sun peeked out occasionally with spectacular long yellow light.
Finally a road. The pace sped up as a taxi was summoned. We made it back in time for dinner, though walking up the three stairs to the restaurant was not easy!
This hike is among the most beautiful I have ever experienced. More is in order.
