Vestlandet

We used Norwegian May holidays to visit Vestlandet, the land of fjords. We stayed on a spring farm cabin Kålsete situated above a charming town Vik. It was an excellent basecamp for our trips around Sognfjord. It was great to experience the fjords without huge cruise ships and with not so many tourists around. Weather was excellent, almost summer temperatures, flowers and green forest till 600m above the fjords, snow above 800m, lakes in the mountains were starting to melt. 

This is the northern portal of the Storehaugtunnellen, the last tunnel we encountered on our way to Vik. There are some very looong tunnels in the area - for example Lærdalstunnelen with its 25km is the longest road tunnel in the world. 

To reach Vik, we had to climb up and drove through Vikafjell, really nice mountain area, where people were still skiing.

View down from the road nr. 13 to Myrkdalen, just before reaching Vikafjell

On our way there we stopped in Auralandsvangen. This is a view to Vassbygdevatnet from road Fv50

We enjoyed very nice weather and walked a few km into Aurlandsdalen, following an old farm road from Aurland to Hol. We were amazed by the contrast of almost summer conditions and winter that we experienced higher up. 

Next day we hiked from Tveiti camping to Hola - Kallbak - Kongsli and back. Very steep start provided some excellent views. The path connects several old spring and summer milkmaid farms. 

A typical profile of a hike starting from a fjord level.

Second day we skipped a steep part, drove up to Skard (570m) and did 7km round trip to Middagshaugen. Amazing views  to Fresvikbreen glacier and to Sognfjord, especially from Jentestein. However, this picture shows a view towards another direction - towards Aurlandsfjorden. 

I tried some evening fishing in the fjord, but without any luck at all. I have some theories about that, but...

Third day we walked to Kyrelvi waterfall above Vik. Fantastic view from there. 

The only raining time during our stay we used for walking around Vik. We liked the place a lot and we must come back to taste the local milk products and visit an organic slaughter house. 

Charging station in Vik...

Our stay was too short and we had to go back to Oslo...we chose a longer way back, because we wanted to take a look at Hardangervidda. And as a bonus, there are several major tourist attractions along the routes nr.  13 nd 7. This one is road Stalheimskleiva, one of the steepest roads in the north. An old one-way road with 13 sharp curves. 

This is Skjervfossen waterfall near Voss.

Entering Hardangervidda via Hardangerbrua

Start of the Hardangervidda plateau and very impressive Vøringfossen. Almost no tourists, great weather and several breath taking viewing platforms. 

Driving route nr. 7 along the northern edge of Hardangervidda was long and monotonous . 

and I am not sure this place will make it to my list of future destinations. But maybe...

Finally we came down from the mountains and found some green colors in Numedalen. And as a bonus, there are many old churches and farms along the route that are worth to visit

Ice fishing season 2020/2021

Another season of my favorite fishing style is over. It was probably my most intensive and variable  season so far. It started on Store Åbortjern in December with a trout and ended in April on Store Skillingen with my biggest perch so far (850g). I was mostly exploring Nordmarka and also made a few longer trips to fish for arctic char (Savalen 2x, Femundsmarka, Tunhovd, Flatningen). I drilled many many holes, experienced some really cold conditions and enjoyed it a lot (despite some frustrating moments). And it has been great to find a good companion in Tobias. 

In Nordmarka I tried my luck in following lakes: Store Åbortjern, Lille Åklungen, Store Åklunger, Kalvsjøen, Rottungen, Langvann, Elvannet, Nedre Øyvann, Nordvannet, Søndre Måsjøen, Harestuvatnet, Store Skillingen and Vesle Daltjuven. I was getting mostly perch - particularly Rottungen and Store Skillingen were delivering very good catches. Both mormyska and balansepilk worked well. Belma was not very happy with perch, as she prefers trout and arctic char. But I was not lucky with trout - got just 3 fish during the whole winter. And I was not so lucky with my favorite fish - arctic char, as well. Being three days in Femundsmarka and getting zero fish was disappointing. At least Tobias got several nice fish there. It was only Savalen, where I got a few røya and one of them was my biggest so far (>1kg). And for the first time, I got a pike on the ice (Store Skillingen). It was nice experience, as it was not so small (70cm) and it tasted well.

Next season I would like to try a trout on Mjøsa, get nice artic char in Femundsmarka and discover some larger lakes in Nordmarka and Østmarka. And now, it is time to get some trout near Oslo and travel to Orkla in June with Tobias, meet Karl Heinz and Ray and try salmon. Skitt fiske!

Almost green

 While there is still some hard snow in highest parts of Nordmarka and some lakes are still frozen, we put the skies and ice-drill into the garage, trying to enjoy spring time. We are making small trips around Oslo almost every day, mostly exploring local nature reservations. 

Nice place called Henivangen, near Buvatnet

Trees reflections in Buvatnet, ice is melting

Nittedal church

Nordmarka from Røverkollen

Viewing platform on Røverkollen

forest somewhere

Oslo fjord

another forest somewhere

above Holtnesdalen

End of winter moments

Great Easter skiing in Rondane, above Mysusæter

Store Skillingen near Harestua became my favorite local ice fishing destination 

Spring colors at home

Driving up Rondanevegen to reach some snow combined with Maud map

Nice sea shore near Oslo (Tofte) combined with Rondane

Evening view from Hulvika combined with the airplane from Maud polar expedition

Tofte combined with Rondane

There are so many nice beaches near Oslo

Flatningen lake with a spring touch

Delingsdalen combined with Arctanderbyen (great tip for a short architecture visit in Oslo)

Oslo from Ekebergparken combined with Otta

Torso of Maud waiting for a reconstruction in Tofte

Savalen 2021

After two months, we came back to Savalen lake to enjoy longer days in the nature. I was surprised that the water level and the ice were several meters lower compared to December. It created some strange sculptures on the ice and it was necessary to adjust my ice fishing locations. 

These two pictures are taken at the same moment - around 6:50 in the morning. The moon was going down on west, while the sun was rising on east. Artic char is most active early in the morning = very early waking time for me as well.

We were lucky enough to get two nice røya for the grill.

Early fishing means a lot of time for other activities in the afternoon. The weather had a spring feeling, with around 7 degrees  = challenging skiing conditions requiring a klister …

Some high art movies in the cabin

On the way back to Oslo, we drove the scenic road nr. 27, that goes along Rondane national park. This time the visibility was amazing.