Patchellhytta & Slogen

Bzzzzz..... Is it another mosquito trying to get a sample of my apparently quite tasty blood, just like the hundreds of other mosquitos that have tried just before? No, thank God....it's just the alarm clock!

It's Sunday morning, 7 AM .....and we are waking up at one of the many cabins Den Norske Turistforening (DNT) - the Norwegian Trekking Association - has all across Norway. Patchellhytta is the name of the cabin we just spent the night at - a cabin in the Habostaddalen valley, right in between Stranda and Øye, just a little southeast from Ålesund.

Every muscle in my body tells me that what we did yesterday, definitely won't pass by unnoticed...What did we do? Well....it won't be an understatement if I say that we hiked and climbed up the most spectacular mountain we have ascended in Norway...so far that is...

It all started on Friday evening. We had planned on renting a couple of sea kayaks to paddle off the coast of the island of Averøya - discovering it's many small bays and islets, and camping out on one of them during the weekend....but the weather forecast made us change our minds....What to do now? Plan B: we pack our hiking equipment and sleeping bags, and drive southwards to Stranda - following the sun.

A couple of hours and ferries later, we arrive at the start of the trail taking us from Liaseter to the Patchellhytta cabin, up the Habostaddalen valley. My hubby has been here before and knows what's up ahead...I am still clueless of the majestic and beautiful valley right at our feet - a valley that would make any human feel tiny and insignificant.

While following the trail marked with the famous red T 's as all of the DNT's trails, I almost feel like some sort of divine power up above is orchestrating a fabulous concert, where the loud thundering of the many mighty waterfalls all of sudden is given a decrescendo to let us become aware of the unrythmical yet melodious tinkling of the sheep bells.

After hiking for nearly an hour, the valley broadens and not only the cabin comes into sight, also the main goal of this weekend - the peak of Slogen (1564 metres above sealevel) .

Me with Patchellhytta and the summit of Jakta in the background

Slogen

We continue along the trail towards the cabin, and after securing one of the few two person bedrooms for the night and a short lunch break, we're off to hike up Slogen. I'm quite anxious as my hubby has been trying to prepare me mentally for the last 50 metres before the summit - apparently so steep that I will need not only both hands and feet, but also a good portion of mental strength....

Nearly two hours after we left the cabin - enjoying incredible views of the Habostaddalen valley and the surrounding peaks, we have come to the steep bit... My stomach turns into a knot, but I am determined...I will reach the summit!

Half an hour later my stomach turns into a knot yet again...This time from the view from the summit - a view of 1564 metres straight down the the fjord down below. I did it! I did it! I can't belief I am at the summit of Slogen!

View of Øye and Norangsfjorden

With dark clouds moving in faster than we like, we only get a little bit of rest before we start the long way back down to the cabin - a cabin that looks tiny from so high up.

Halfway down the mountain we meet upon a lady sitting all alone. Whereas Norwegians normally are quite introvert and hard to get in touch with, up on the mountains and out in nature it is common courtesy to greet the hikers you meet along the way and have a little chat - probably only to make sure that everyone is ok and not left alone when in need of help. The lady tells us she is waiting for her brother to return from the summit, who she agreed upon to meet up with again down at the cabin. She started the descend, but didn't dare to walk further down all alone...so we offer her to come along with us, as we see that she did have neither warm enough clothes nor food with her.

Back at the cabin, she thanks us for the help on the way down...but she doesn't seem to relax yet as she is quite aware of the long way down her brother still has to come. My hubby and I are both pretty hungry and tired from the long hike up the valley and up Slogen....so after preparing dinner, we say goodbye to our hiking companion and settle in for the night, with the alarm clock set on 7 AM sharp. "Nighty night, honey! Thanks for a lovely day!"

Bzzzzz....It's the alarm clock waking us up at 7AM. Why so early? Well, with the cabin completely filled up to it's maximum capacity of 50 persons, you kind of want to be the first to be able to use the kitchen to boil water for a morning wash and for a harty breakfast of oatmeal porridge....

It's still early when we leave the cabin, clean for the next hikers to use. The valley seems to have woken up together with us, as we start to hear birds chirping, sheep bells tinkling and water rushing down the falls...We have the trail to ourselves. In two hours we'll be back at Liaseter - back in society, back to reality...