Warriors of the North on Sølensjøen

The third mini-expedition of Warriors of the North is successfully over. After canoeing on Rogen (2019) and hiking in the north of Femundsmarka national park (2022), we decided to return to the water. We explored Sølensjøen lake and its surroundings, using our muscles and two canoes rented from Femund Canoe Camp. 

Our team is well balanced, covering all the skills needed to survive and enjoy the nature

We spent five days in the nature, paddled 55 km and hiked 30 km. It was necessary to use trolleys to transport the canoes from the road to the lake (7 km on gravel road; went very well). 

Sølensjøen is a medium sized lake (14 km long, 3 km wide, max 58 meter deep) in Rendalen region with good population of grayling, sik, abbor and trout. 

Along the gravel road

First day the lake was not very calm

and big grayling were hunting in the waves. We got two amazing 55 cm males during our first stop. 

Fillets from 2 grayling...

Our first camp.

Second day we arrived to the northern end of the lake, where we stayed for two nights.

Obviously, we had fish for the dinner.

Fishing in the mount of the Sølna river was very good. We got many perch , one nice grayling and one big pike that escaped because we had too small net. 

Third day we paddled and hiked upstream the beautiful Sølna river

and got some nice fish for the dinner. 

Forth day the weather improved a lot and we headed south, along the west bank of Sølensjøen. We visited Fiskevollen, biggest and oldest fresh-water fishing village in Norway. 

There are big pike in the water....

It is time for a lunch break! According Louka's schedule, we had to eat every third hour.

This beach at Mefurua is an obvious place to stop.

But just for a while! We have continue further south, to catch IT!

Stollvika - here we spent our fourth night. Sandy beaches, observing an osprey catching a fish, getting some grayling for dinner - fantastic place!

Just a fire....

Next day, the water surface was like a mirror. 

We did a short trip up to Nordre Ørsjøen lake and got some trout there as well. 

In the afternoon we continued further to the south...

and found our last camp in Håbudammen, under the Sølen massive. Its highest peak has 1775 m and we were discussing hiking there, but decided not to. 

Last evening offered a spectacular sunset and the next day we drove back home, full of energy and already planning our next trip.