4. – 6. June

The original plan was to start on Sunday and do Trolltunga and Kjeragbolten. But as there was still a lot of snow on both of them especially Kjerag and the weather forecast was really bad for Sunday and the following days, we decided to go on Thursday just to Trolltunga. As we went on Thursday afternoon even Adele, who was in the second Kayak/Sailing group could join.

So we were Anne, Jannis, Adele, me and all our luggage in Annes small VW Golf and drove 6 hours to the base of Trolltunga which is located near Odda on the Hardangerfjord. Even the ride in the car was really nice because the nature looks so much different without or with just a bit of snow, the handrailing rivers/streams and big unfrozen lakes.

So finally we arrived there in the early evening and talked to a few people coming down how the conditions are like – most of them recommanded us snowshoes. Unfortunaltely the tourist office was already closed and we did not want to go and drive somewhere else to get snowshoes as we wanted to start the hike on this day. We debated what we should do and kept asking the downcoming people. We also asked our fellowers students at home about snowshoes and the conditions but some suggested it and some not – of course the weather and the snow is always different. So finally we decided to do it without because we met a few hikers who made it without snowshoes to the top and did not look that well equipped and trained.

The first 2 km are without snow but really steep whitch makes it hard with the big backpack with all our sleeping gear. But after 2 hours and 2,5 km we arrived some holiday huts on a flat area and decided to put up our tent in this area. We had dinner at 23:30 and it was still a bit light that we did not need our head torches!

The next day we started quite early at 8 AM because the snow gets slushy, heavy and wet in the afternoon when the sun is warmer and we also wanted to be there as one of the first ones. We left most of our luggage in the tent and shared a backpack with extra clothes, food and water in between two. The first 2 km of the path were going uphill again – this time in the frozen snow but without the big heavy backpacks. Most of the following 6,5 km were slightly going uphill and downhill and covered with snow, you can easily walk on if you do not miss the path. It was a really nice and warm walk in the sun and time flew by!! On the way we saw 2 more tent groups, so we were not the first ones on the tongue but at the same time I did not want to carry my big backpack all the way up and down again especially in slushy snow – my poor knees!

Also on the way we had amazing views in the distance or to the lake below and at around 12 AM we arrived the trolltunga: Awesome feeling to step on it, lay down and look in the valley!! So we had lunch there, made some pictures, enjoyed the sun and started to go down. By the way just a few people had snowshoes and most of them carried them because it was harder to walk uphill in the formed, frozen snow… On the way back the snow changed a bit as it was supposed to be, but not really bad. Then we arrived our tent, put it down and did the last downhill track and were back at the car in the early evening – we made it!!

The weather forcast did not look too bad for the next day, so we decided to look for a good camping spot and do another daytour on the fjord the following day. We found a really good one with an amazing view! In the night it was raining quite hard but when we got up it changed luckily. After we packed everything again we drove up north for 60 more km, along a nice road right next to the fjord with blossomed cherry and apple trees on the landside and arrived Eidfjord, a cute village with a loooot of tourists because all the cruises stop there – because of the nice views of course! We went a bit out of the small town to a little farm called Kjeasen Farm 550 m in the hills where an old woman should live. We could not see anybody there but had a really nice view down into the fjord. After a lunch break at the fjord, we startet the 7 hour drive back to Kristiansand.

Our group consisted of 4 Germans so it was quite easy to talk and discuss about different topics. So even on the long rides in the car it did not get boring but sometimes a bit annoying when somebody discussed really hard on a topic and you can not escape while driving in the car. But most of the time we had a lot of fun, laughs, shared food and helped each other if necessary.

It was a really nice last trip with perfect weather in a typical norwegian part of the nature! I am glad that I joined this journey!