Energy bars

On our hike to the top of Skoften yesterday, we brought along with us some delicious homemade energy bars...So should you go for a hike, you might want to consider making these ahead of time! The mixture of flavours, especially of syrup and peanut butter is really good! (But I may be biased, as I'm addicted to peanut butter!) Ok....lots of energy in these energy bars, and that energy comes from lots of calories...but by hiking before and after eating one of these, you'll burn those calories right off again!

Energy Bars
(makes about 20)

Ingredients:
3 dl crushed bran flakes / rolled oats
1 dl dried / shredded coconut
2 dl nuts (any type), coarsely chopped
1 dl sunflower seeds
1 dl raisins
1,5 dl peanut butter
1,5 dl dark syrup / agave syrup

Preparation:
1.) Mix all the dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl.
2.) Melt the peanut butter and the syrup in a pan on medium heat, whilst stirring continuously.
3.) Mix the melted peanut butter and syrup with the other ingredients.
4.) Pour into a small baking tray (20 x 30 cm) that is lined with baking parchment.
5.) Use the back of a spoon to flatten and spread out the mixture.
6.) Put the baking tray into the fridge for at least 20 minutes, to let the mixture set.
7.) Cut the mixture into squares and wrap each square individually with baking parchment.
8.) Put the squares into the freezer and just take out as many energy bars as you will need for each trip. They will thaw just enough during the first couple of hours of your hike, so that they can be eaten without breaking any teeth, yet still be sticky enough to not fall apart.

Hubby rating: 6-

Enjoy!

Skoften

Another Sunday, another hiking day! With only one more Stikk UT (Get OUT) post left to reach the minimum requirement of seven different posts to get this year's achievement mug, my hubby and I packed our backpacks with goodies and drinks, and drove 4 km north from Molde to Malmefjorden to hike up Skoften.

We parked the car at Ukkelberg, ready for the hike up through the forest to the top at 369 metres above sealevel. After opening the gate, the happy cows out on summer pasture readily came to greet upon us and follow us to the next gate right at the edge of the forest.

Following the trail upwards, it soon became pretty clear that this trail is used by the local elementary school for outdoor science classes, as different posts along the trail informed about the surrounding flora and fauna.
The many nest boxes - each with their own room number as part of Hotel Skoften - also gives the pupils the opportunity to do some bird spotting.

But why this trail was so popular for families with small children, first became clear halfway to the top. At a small clearing in the forest,  right after climbing up the trail's steepest part - made easy by the supporting ropes along the trail -, there is a jungle gym with zip lines, slacklines, spider web ropes and lots more to challenge and stimulate the kids' balance and coordination. The bivouac conveniently placed right next to it, gives shelter to the accompanying parents.

With no children of our own, nor any nieces or nephews coming along with us today, we moved onwards to the top. While writing our names into the achievement book, we were enjoying great views all around from the top of Skoften. The rumour of a whale splashing around in the fjord down below - Malmefjorden - kept us looking through the binoculars, but we only managed to spot some driftwood floating around.

With clouds moving in fast, we followed the trail back down to the car park again. Thank you for another great hike, hubby!

Hjertøya

I've fallen in love today! In love with an island... the island of Hjertøya or Heart Island.

It's Sunday morning, and the alarm clock was set for 6 AM. Yes, I know....ridiculously early for a Sunday! Fortunately I don't have to get up...My hubby does though, as he has to help out at the farm of the in laws. The weather forecast has finally shown that we will have a couple of days with warm, sunny weather - exactly what they and many other farmers in the area need for the second harvest of silage balls.

My hubby sneaks out of bed, trying not to wake me even more than the alarm clock did...but I am already brightly awake. While still lying underneath the duvet, I start to wonder what to do today - all by myself as a gressenke (grass widow - the Norwegian word for a farmer's wife left home alone during the harvest of silage). It doesn't take long before a plan comes to mind...

A tiny notice on the last page of our local newspaper had informed me that - even though the normal season had already come to an end one week ago - the boat to Hjertøya - one of the islands in the fjord of Molde (also known as Moldivene / Moldives) would be in service for one more day. After living in Molde for more than three years, it was about time that I would discover this "pearl out in the fjord" that everyone had been telling me about...

With a backpack filled with some salami pesto wraps for lunch, some oatmeal chocolate cookies for my sweet tooth and lots of other goodies, I step onto my bycicle and race downhill to the city centre to catch the first service out to the island.

After only 10 minutes out on the fjord, the boat moors at Hjertøya and I am off to follow the trail all along the southern coastline to reach my sixth Stikk UT-post and the most western point of the island - Hjertøytangen.

Whereas the trails managed by the DNT - The Norwegian Trekking Association - are marked by the traditional red T 's, the volunteers of  Hjertøyas venner (Friends of Hjertøya) have marked this trail with lovely pink hearts.

I have the trail all to myself and after hiking for nearly 45 minutes I reach the tip of the island. First, I have to write my name into the achievement book...

Next, I get comfortable at the picnic table right there at the end of the island, feel a gentle breeze brushing my cheeks, hear the seagulls and start enjoying the great lunch I brought with me. Life is good! Just wish my hubby could have been there with me...

Soon after more and more hikers arrive, and the great feeling of being all alone out in nature is gone. I decide to slowly return and follow the hearts back to the dock...discovering other great picnic/camping spots along the trail. Instead of walking back the entire way along the coastline, I decide to walk along the nature trail for the last bit... a trail with several posts that inform about the surrounding nature and have activities for children.

All of a sudden I'm out of the forest, understanding why many talk of this island as "the pearl out in the fjord"... as the centre of the island turns out to be a paradise, especially for families with small children. With a large field for camping, soccer, outdoor games and BBQing right next to a shallow beach, this must be a great spot to spend a summer's day! It's near the harbour and the island's museum, as well as the island's little café.

The café across the bay...

The museum

The boat back to Molde arrives sooner than I wish to leave...but I'll be back next summer...together with my hubby! This island has definitely found a soft spot in my heart!

Kaizers Orchestra

It's that time of the year again...The one week in which normally peaceful town of Molde turns into the mecca for jazz lovers from far and near...It's time for Moldejazz - the Molde International Jazz Festival.

Personally I can't stand jazz....To me it seems like most jazz musicians have decided to form a band, but haven't agreed upon playing the same piece at the same time. Luckily Moldejazz also offers some concerts for people like me!

The non-jazzy concerts are normally held at Romsdalsmuseet - the local open air museum - and with the Norwegian band Kaizers Orchestra on the programme this year...we just had to be there!

It was pouring down during most of the concert, but Kaizers Orchestra was brilliant and absolutely worth getting soaked for! After opening with their latest and weather appropriate song Tusen dråper regn (Thousand Drops of Rain), they played all the greatest hits from their last album and from the last decade. Definitely a day to remember!

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...

Moldevatnet

While it was raining during the day, it finally cleared up early in the evening. With a scarce number of sunny days here in Norway, we want to make the most of those hours of sunshine.... So we got out together with the sun and went for a lovely stroll in Moldemarka - the forests surrounding Molde - to our second Stikk UT! post: Moldevatnet.

Moldevatnet is one of the lakes in the forest, and quite an important lake as well, as it supplies the inhabitants of Molde with clean drinking-water.

After a rest at the dam, writing our names into the achievement book and collecting the Stikk UT! code for this post, we walked back home - refreshed and with new energy to tackle the rest of the week.

Julneset

It's Sunday, it's beautiful weather, we can't waste a sunny day as it somehow seems that we won't get many of them this summer....but we are both quite tired. With two weekends in a row celebrating the upcoming wedding of friends - first with a fabulous bachelorette party, next with a spectacular party for the groom to be - the batteries seem to have gone completely dead in both our bodies. We need to reload them as Monday is right around the corner and busy jobs are waiting. The best way to get the energy levels back up is sometimes to use a bit of energy, so that's what we did.

Today we have been to the first of many different Stikk UT! (Get OUT!) posts in our area. Stikk UT! is a concept created by the local Intermunicipal Outdoor Recreation Board to promote better physical and mental health by getting off the couch and getting out and about in the beautiful nature in Molde and the nine surrounding municipalities. Each municipality places 10 different posts out in nature - either on a gorgeous islet in the middle of the fjord you can paddle a kayak to, on the top of a high peak, or right on a culture trail passing different historic monuments - varying the posts to suit for families with strollers or for those who want a more challenging hike.

Each post is marked by the Stikk UT! mailbox, filled with the normal "achievement book" that you write your name into, but also with a special code connected to that specific post. For each of the posts you visit in the Stikk UT! period of the middle of May until the end of October, you register that code either online at the Stikk UT! website  or by sending a text message from your phone. After visiting seven different posts you have earned both bragging rights and the Stikk UT! mug with that year's specific design.

The post we visited today is the one at Julneset, a bit to the west of Molde's centre. After parking our car at the ferry quay at Mordalsvågen, we followed the cultural trail through the forest to the tip and top of Julneset - a stroll of 1 km that suits both families with children and two tired adults very well as the top is at only 30 metres above sealevel. The trail passes the remnants of many different bunkers that where being used by the Germans during the second world war to keep track of all the boat traffic out on the fjord.

Even though it was very windy right at the tip of Julneset, we decided to do a bit of fishing and see whether we would have some fresh fish for dinner that evening. It didn't take that many throws before we both felt the fish bite, but unfortunately we only seemed to be able to attrack pollacks too small to make a meal out of.


So it became more a game of catch and release....until some of the small pollacks where too damaged to throw back into the fjord....then we started to feed the damaged pollacks to the eager seagulls, fighting with each other for every little bite of fish.

A little bit of fishing led to a little bit of sunbathing at the less windy top of Julneset. We could have been there until the sun had set, but our stomachs started to long for dinner...so then it was just to pack our fishing gear together and follow the trail back down to the car park....this time with recharged batteries, ready for the week to come!

Moldeheia

Pentecost....another long weekend, another great opportunity to go hiking and explore some new peaks. After getting up early to decorate the living room with balloons and serpentines, and serving my hubby a great birthday breakfast in bed, we get up and pull all the hiking guides for Molde and the Romsdalen valley out of the book cupboard to find out which peak to ascend. After all, isn't it great to spend your birthday doing the thing you love most...hiking?

Even though we have been living in Molde the last three years, we haven't explored the forests and peaks in the Moldemarka as much as we should, so we decide to hike up Moldeheia (530 metres above sealevel).

We walk to Øverlandsvatnet - the lake right north from our home - and onwards into the Moldedalen valley, before starting the ascend to the peak of Moldeheia. It is an easy hike up to the top, with great views all around.

After hiking for about an hour, we reach the peak and sign our names in the book - which is kept save in a metal mailbox at the top. The book informs us that Moldeheia also isknown as Tusenårsvarden (Millenium Beacon), as the stone beacon on top of Moldeheia was build on top of a capsule containing children's drawings, newspaper articles, descriptions of what life is like and other special items in June of the millenium year.

After enjoying the great view from Moldeheia, we start to descend to Skihytta - a cabin open to all cross country skiers and winter hikers on Sundays between September 1st and May 1st - and then return to Øverlandsvatnet and home for some well deserved chocolate birthday cake!

Finnan

It's Sunday. Most people are still asleep, either sleeping off their hangover or just enjoying the last day with no alarm clock waking them up....Me though? Well, I was awake by 7:30h in the morning. I guess it's the bright sunlight peeping in from behind our curtains that poked me, telling me that I shouldn't spend such a lovely summer's day in bed. While my hubby is still asleep, I sneak out of the bedroom to check the weather conditions outside. Both my hubby and I have been checking the weather forecast quite often since Friday morning. Would this weekend give us the weather window that we have been waiting for quite a while now? Would it bring us a clear sky day, so that we can spend one more day out and about on our skis before we really have to put them away for this season?

The weather forecast told us that we could just forget about it, but with mountains all around us and the weather changing nearly by the hour, you never really can rely on the forecast. It's better to just wake up, check the sky and the thermometer... So that's what I did, surprised to see a clear sky for miles around and a temperature of 17 degrees Celsius. The day we had been waiting for, was finally here! With a big smile on my face, I storm back into the bedroom, waking up my hubby with the great news: "We are going ski mountaineering today!"

After a sturdy breakfast, trying to load up on energy, we empty our storage booth for skis and other necessary equipment, fill up the car and off we are! We know exactly where we want to go - the peak of Finnan (1786 metres above sealevel) at the top of the Trollstigen (Troll's Path) - a road with 11 hairpin bends ascending nearly 800 metres from the Isterdalen valley. This road is closed during winter, but is opened up for traffic in the end of May / the beginning of June again - the perfect opportunity to go ski mountaineering on the last bits of snow on the peaks up on the Trollstigen plateau.

Whereas the snow down in the valley has disappeared completely, the peaks at the top of the Trollstigen are still covered with enough white magic. We park the car in one of the small parking areas 2 km from the visitor's centre, put our ski boots on and start to ascend Finnan.

After ascending for nearly five hours with only one short lunchbreak, after running out of energy several times along the way, after seeing an avalanche not far from our route, we finally reach the summit of Finnan. All pain, frustration and anxiety from the ascend is forgotten as soon as I look around and see the beautiful view.

Tears are rolling down my cheeks from sheer happiness. We made it to the summit! I am so grateful for everything my hubby has learned my about the great outdoors and skiing throughout the 13 years we have been together.

The wind at the summit starts to increase in strength, a sign that we should turn around and enjoy some off piste skiing back down to the car park again. Even though the sun has turned the snow into slush, the adrenaline is rushing through our veins and life is smiling at us. We definitely made the right choice to get out of bed early on a Sunday!!

Weekend...

...is waking up early, get wood for the fireplace, start baking homemade chocolate buns to surprise a still sleeping husband with...

...going outside for a cross country run in the forest, getting home to take a nap on the couch and be surprised by a lovely dinner made by the world's greatest husband. Life is good!

Weekend...

... is hiking to the peak of Bjørnen (933 mtrs) together with my husband - enjoying the beautiful autumn colours, the lovely crisp autumn air and last rays of sunshine before the darkness of winter sets in...

... walking across the marshes to the base of the mountain...

... facing vertigo on the edge right underneath the peak, enjoying the view of snowcapped peaks on the horizon...

... and meeting a "lost prince" on the way down...

Another great hike, another weekend to remember !!!

Weekend...

... is going for a hike on Tusten (704 mtrs) together with my husband early in the morning - in between a couple of autumnal rainshowers - to enjoy the view of Molde and all the peaks surrounding its fjord...

... and have breakfast at the top of the mountain...

Have a great weekend !!