Constitution day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were thinking about leaving a day before but we didn't have time to pack and get ready so we left on the constitution day. Arriving in Reine we saw the festivities and then went to the ferry harbour. We arrived at Værøy in the early afternoon. Weather was a bit gloomy and the wind increased. We found ourselves ok tent spots at Nordlandshagen. My tent was almost lying flat so I was a bit worried but I had huge stones as anchors and also put some inside. Then we went hiking up Nordlandsnupen and looked at an a very nice old house, which might be the oldest on this island. Then we made food inside Andrejs tent since it was bigger than mine and the wind was crazy outside. There used to be an airport here but due to a tragic accident where all passengers died, it was closed in 1990. Then it was sold as a private property and a man moved in there with his kids using this as a regular house. Then he met a woman from Senja and fell in love. She also moved in and started a Chocolate factory which was very successful until the whole building burned down in 2015. Now there is nothing left but the landing stripe...

The ridge from Smallidalstind

The wind increased during the night and early morning. I woke up several times around 4 and 5 and checked my tent. Some of the rocks were apparently too small and some of the tent cords came loose. When I came out last time I could hardly hold on to the tent and it was scratching on the rock. Ole came out of his tent and helped me get it down and take out my stuff. So this was an early and brutal start. There was an old concrete dugout where we put most of our stuff after we had breakfast. Then we were heading up towards Smallidalsmulen. Up on the ridge we could look down at another valley and continued up to Smallidalstind. From there we followed the ridge towards Trolldalstind. This was a wonderful hike and the weather was perfect. This hike took 9 hours from camp and back. We found another place for our tents when we came down again. And I realized that I had a million holes in the bottom of my tent from the sharp rock. I have no idea how many tiny holes but I had to use at least 23 pieces of tape...

Heading for Stokkvika

Grey morning.

Loads of these on the beach...

Following the steep coast.

Draugvika. 

I found a secure way up.

The fog is like a lid over this place.

Looking back at "Yttersia".

Stokkvika behind me.

Lots of wood here too.

The lake.

My tent.

Ole has arrived.

I knew this morning was going to be gloomy and I also ran out of gas before having the coffee in my pot. Luckily the water was hot enough for a cup of tea instead and I also had a bowl of cereals. I knew the weather was going to be like this today, with a little rain in the morning and then clearing up. I have been told from a local that it's possible to follow the coast as long as it's not too wet. So walked half the route last nite just to see conditions and they looked good. But I didn't go far enough to see the really steep and scary section. And suddenly I was there. My backpack was heavy and the grass was wet and steep. Suddenly the only way that looked possible; and there was a rope. It looked like the kind you use for boats and it must have been there for ages. It was almost torn off, only hanging in one or two fibres so I made a knot and then hoped for the best while slowly going backwards down, trying not to put weight on it knowing very well that if I would fall here this would not hold me...it would go off immediately. I was so afraid in this section cursing myself for not turning around instead. But it went well. And when I saw the place where to go up before Stokkvika it looked like a bad idea. But turning back was not an option. I was also out of phone connection for almost 24 hours. Anyway as I got closer I saw a hidden passage which was safe. I was so relieved. Heading up from the last bay I finally got connection again up on the ridge. I asked Ole if we could meet here and he said yes but I was not sure he would actually come. But he did come over the mountain later in the evening. We set camp and made a fire up on the hill this time.

Heading west again

Lovely waking up to this view

The ridge where I camped.

Coffee down at the beach.

Musli and coconut cream.

Barefoot in the sand. 

Gjerdvika.

Camp Gjerdvika 

Cooling my only beer.

This is where I came down from.

My home for the night.

Lots of firewood here.

Well since thursday was a day off, I also took friday off to go for an adventure. My original plan was that I had a boat ride from Moskenes ferry harbour out to Hell. But as I got on the bus wednesday after work, the skipper said there was a lot of wind...and wondered if I had a plan B? Which of course I had since normally things don't go as planned. So I got off the buss in Å and hiked to the end of the lake as far as I could get into the valley. It took me two hours to the couloir and then it took me 2 hours up to 520 m since the snow was deep here and it was steep and a bit slippery. I put on my crampons halfway up when the snow got harder. Then I left my heavy backpack and went up a small peak 626 m at summit. Then I went down and got my backpack,  heading over to the nearby ridge which was a lot more suitable for camping. The next morning I woke up to an amazing view and the weather was amazing. Since I was closer than I ever been to Gjerdtinden I had to explore how far I could go without any risk without any rope. There was a lot of snow left at the top of the steep couloir but I was quite close so I had a good look and will be back another day. Then I was out of water and headed down the valley where I soon found some. I continued down to Gjerdvika. This amazing place! And I have it all to myself. This day it was hot so I had to take off some clothes. It's so wonderful to walk barefoot in the sand. But first I needed coffee and something to eat. Then I just walked around on this lovely beach and also had a swim in the ocean to cool myself. Then I set camp and made dinner next to the campfire. Life is good.

In my backyard

 

Hiking in the backyard today since winds are so strong...

Verberget

 

 

Today after work we first went to Svein who was not at home but said we could just go ahead and try out the cyclocross he had for sale in the garage (among his 12-13 other bikes). It was quite windy today and we just wanted a short hike so we went to Verberget and followed the ridge then we made some coffee and ate the food we brought. When going back we followed the slabs by the coast back to the sheeps.