An unforgettable crossing of Rondane
Rondane National Park is located about 100 km north of Lillehamer. I used the train and bus transport links. Although Norway is a large country, the transport connection here works as a number one. The relief of the park is formed by mountains exceeding 2000 m and since it is mostly at an altitude of over 1000 m of vegetation up to the valley consists of lichens and shrubs, with plenty of blueberries and cranberries.
Route description
I leave early in the morning by train from Hamar via Elverum and by bus from Athens to the settlement of Straumbu, from where a three-day trek through the Rondane National Park begins. Along the way I want to visit the 2 highest peaks and experience the Norwegian nature on my own. 15 kg on your back is the first steps to know, especially when you are looking for a lost sidewalk that branches in a forest (almost rainforest) and I choose the path where intuition takes me. I meet a married couple (the last people that day) who were hunting and say that if I go on, the bridge over the river is torn down due to last year's flood and I have to find the way myself. Fortunately, the river is not a big problem in September, but I find the sidewalk after an hour and a half of penetrating the forest and the stones hidden under the densely growing lichen. I'm going relatively well, after a while I leave the forest border, when the views of the surroundings slowly open up to me. With this, the sidewalk gains in steepness until I reach the top of Hoegrenden, where there is a hut in the form of layered stones. I put things here, and the remaining 200 meters of altitude to the top go a lot easily. At Hoegrenden 2118m I see the whole mountain range and everything is completed by the setting sun. The next morning, I decide to descend quickly into the valley so that I can ascend again to the highest mountain of the Rondslottet mountain range, 2178 m. It is already quite crowded here. This is because a large car park has been built under the mountain, where a bus also runs regularly, so there is no shortage of tourists. It calms down until sunset and when I turn behind the hill to the lake, I see only a few tents on the other shore. The night is calm and quiet again. In the morning I pick cranberries and blueberries, make porridge and set off for the rest of the way to the parking lot, where before my bus leaves, I love the landscape, which seems to me like I'm on the moon and not on the ground.
On the way from Athens
I always thought that narrow bridges are the domain of Asia, even in Norway the driver had to be careful because he just drove a hair around the pillars of the bridge :-)
The hiking trails were barely noticeable
As soon as I enter the forest, where the arrows point me, a little wilderness awaits me :-)
Road to the top of Hoegronden
I finally found the sidewalk and could boldly continue. To the right the top of the day Hoegronden (2,118 m above sea level)
Views of Rondan
when I leave the forest border
Bivouac below the top of Hoegrenden
and here I spent my first night in the wilderness, wrapped in a sleeping bag, I woke up at night just stepping on someone / something on the rocks
Hoegronden 2118m
On top of that, I have not experienced such peace and quiet anywhere for a long time
Sunset over Rondane National Park
and he said goodbye to me on the first day
View of Rondslottet 2 178m
Morning views and right at the destination today, the highest mountain in the park
In the morning around 9:00
Morning hygiene in a local stream, I don't know anything refreshing :-)
View of Hoegronden
yesterday's peak of Hoegronden, today from the slope of Rondslottet, the stones you will look at
Rondslottet 2178
as in heaven when I walk, people have fun, the sun is shining and the clouds below you just complete the whole scenery
Prospects
Galdhoepiggen 2469m was the highest mountain in Norway
Campground
at the end of the day, when you pick blueberries and cranberries that grow all around
The third day in the morning
I don't even want to leave here on such a morning
NP Rondane
In all its beauty, have a nice time and see you again :-)
Cottage in the lake Rondvatnet
on the way from the park
Articles nearby
Giga List: The most beautiful tours in Norway
Norway is a very mountainous country and offers incredible opportunities for tourists. Due to the harsh weather, the local tours… continue reading