It really is something special. Two years ago, I hiked through Dovrefjell a little later in the season. I didn't meet anyone for a whole week and had no cell phone reception during that time. The solitude and tranquility were indescribable.
I have often hiked in such terrain in the rain. This is always a potential danger in Norway, at any time. But I would be lying if I said I liked it. The first time I got into a situation like this, I was very scared and fell a few times. Nowadays, that doesn't happen anymore. I slip sometimes, but I've learned to react. You have to concentrate really well and especially when you're taking steps downwards on boulders, i.e. falling down with your weight onto the boulder, it can be quite dangerous as you don't know how slippery the rock is or whether it's loose. But that's a risk you can minimize relatively well with enough experience. I always use my trekking poles to check if the rock is lose and to determine the grip. I also often adapt my route to the weather. For example I try not to be in unknown high terrain during fog and strong rain etc. But that's not always possible, as the weather forecast in the mountains is often not too reliable. In my opinion, however, the real danger in these situations is hypothermia. This year I got caught in a pretty heavy blizzard in the middle of a kilometer-long scree field with no place to set up the tent. You can see the end of it at 07:02. I was definitely hypothermic there because I was completely soaked by the rain and snow and the wind was blowing constantly. My weather app said it was -11 degrees with windchill. Due to the rocks I was unable to walk quickly. So I got very cold. Luckily I made it to that spot and could warm up again in dry clothes and my quilt.
@@hikinghermit Fully recognize what you describe except for the blizzard part. That must have made it scary as hell! Good that you managed to warm up in the end. I was in Dovrefjell in 2023 (Trollheimen in 2024, can also recommend the latter). Had my first experience with the slippery rocks when I hiked from Snowheimhytta to Amotdalshytta. Not over Snohetta but a route going around it, first to the southwest then bending to northwest. That day like the three before started with rain and fog and until then I had not seen anything about the area and perhaps may even have passed muskox nearby but invisible. Around noon the sky cleared a bit. I saw Dovrefjell for the firts time, made a lot of pictures and was feeling happy. Then I came to a steep wall of big green stones and saw the red T somewhere above me. Thought ok, I must go up. I was half way, fog closed me in and it started to rain. Step by step made it up the stone wall and thought this was it. It appeared the route went around a lake and the green wet big stones continued for 3 kilometers and took 4 hours to cross. Just before dark made it to the hut. For next times I purchased small spikes (Kahtoola exospikes) I can put under my hiking boots for additional grip. Noted that you also hiked in Rondane. that also looked pretty stone rich! Considering that area for 2025. If you have other recommendations... Like the fjells and total silence and emptiness.
@@WanderRon-ny8rw Yes, the hiking trails in Norway are often quite pragmatic and simply the easiest route through sometimes very difficult terrain. Sometimes the trails are more like climbing than hiking. But that's also part of the charm. You can only walk on these paths and that's what I find so attractive about the country. The fact that it's relatively easy to get into areas that can only be reached on foot. No bicycles, no cars, etc. Rondane is beautiful. It's probably my favorite park in Norway and even though it's so close to Dovrefjell, it's very different. Especially the colors of the mountains are different, it's drier and rougher. There are some really spectacular mountain peaks, such as Digeronden. It is well worth hiking in the park and exploring the different valleys and climbing the mountains in good weather. I can also highly recommend Jotunheimen, also good peaks (the highest in Norway), lots of lakes and rivers. The Hardangervidda and the area between it and Jotunheimen is also highly recommended. And if you want to go a little further north, then the Lofoten Islands are of course a dream destination, but Senja is even better because it's less busy. However, as a hiker on Moskenesoya you also have peace and quiet as soon as you leave the south coast.
Absolutely spectacular scenery! Norway and fjords are simply unmatched!
Very true. Even when you return to a place you know, you are still speechless.
Hoping ro get to Norway next year to experience this solitude. Thanks for taking us on your journey. 🇬🇧
It really is something special. Two years ago, I hiked through Dovrefjell a little later in the season. I didn't meet anyone for a whole week and had no cell phone reception during that time. The solitude and tranquility were indescribable.
Sehr schicke Aufnahmen, danke fürs mitnehmen!👍Beste Grüße Ralf
Danke fürs Zusehen :)
You had quite a lot of stretches that were steep with the large size bolders/rocks and crossed these in the rain. How did you experience that?
I have often hiked in such terrain in the rain. This is always a potential danger in Norway, at any time. But I would be lying if I said I liked it. The first time I got into a situation like this, I was very scared and fell a few times. Nowadays, that doesn't happen anymore. I slip sometimes, but I've learned to react. You have to concentrate really well and especially when you're taking steps downwards on boulders, i.e. falling down with your weight onto the boulder, it can be quite dangerous as you don't know how slippery the rock is or whether it's loose. But that's a risk you can minimize relatively well with enough experience. I always use my trekking poles to check if the rock is lose and to determine the grip. I also often adapt my route to the weather. For example I try not to be in unknown high terrain during fog and strong rain etc. But that's not always possible, as the weather forecast in the mountains is often not too reliable.
In my opinion, however, the real danger in these situations is hypothermia. This year I got caught in a pretty heavy blizzard in the middle of a kilometer-long scree field with no place to set up the tent. You can see the end of it at 07:02. I was definitely hypothermic there because I was completely soaked by the rain and snow and the wind was blowing constantly. My weather app said it was -11 degrees with windchill. Due to the rocks I was unable to walk quickly. So I got very cold. Luckily I made it to that spot and could warm up again in dry clothes and my quilt.
@@hikinghermit Fully recognize what you describe except for the blizzard part. That must have made it scary as hell! Good that you managed to warm up in the end. I was in Dovrefjell in 2023 (Trollheimen in 2024, can also recommend the latter). Had my first experience with the slippery rocks when I hiked from Snowheimhytta to Amotdalshytta. Not over Snohetta but a route going around it, first to the southwest then bending to northwest. That day like the three before started with rain and fog and until then I had not seen anything about the area and perhaps may even have passed muskox nearby but invisible. Around noon the sky cleared a bit. I saw Dovrefjell for the firts time, made a lot of pictures and was feeling happy. Then I came to a steep wall of big green stones and saw the red T somewhere above me. Thought ok, I must go up. I was half way, fog closed me in and it started to rain. Step by step made it up the stone wall and thought this was it. It appeared the route went around a lake and the green wet big stones continued for 3 kilometers and took 4 hours to cross. Just before dark made it to the hut. For next times I purchased small spikes (Kahtoola exospikes) I can put under my hiking boots for additional grip. Noted that you also hiked in Rondane. that also looked pretty stone rich! Considering that area for 2025. If you have other recommendations... Like the fjells and total silence and emptiness.
@@WanderRon-ny8rw Yes, the hiking trails in Norway are often quite pragmatic and simply the easiest route through sometimes very difficult terrain. Sometimes the trails are more like climbing than hiking. But that's also part of the charm. You can only walk on these paths and that's what I find so attractive about the country. The fact that it's relatively easy to get into areas that can only be reached on foot. No bicycles, no cars, etc.
Rondane is beautiful. It's probably my favorite park in Norway and even though it's so close to Dovrefjell, it's very different. Especially the colors of the mountains are different, it's drier and rougher. There are some really spectacular mountain peaks, such as Digeronden. It is well worth hiking in the park and exploring the different valleys and climbing the mountains in good weather.
I can also highly recommend Jotunheimen, also good peaks (the highest in Norway), lots of lakes and rivers. The Hardangervidda and the area between it and Jotunheimen is also highly recommended. And if you want to go a little further north, then the Lofoten Islands are of course a dream destination, but Senja is even better because it's less busy. However, as a hiker on Moskenesoya you also have peace and quiet as soon as you leave the south coast.
@@hikinghermit Thanks very much!
Ok
Jupp.