Norway: Summer 2005

Sunny Newcastle was the beginning of our adventure where we (Nic, Nancy, Tam, Ali, Dirk, Dave of the J, Rob and me-Kate) embarked upon the Fjord Line Ferry and survived a 24hour crossing to Bergen! We then drove up to Jotenheimen National Park where Boverdalen campsite welcomed us. Our first peak of the trip was Kyrkja 2032m (meaning church, look at the photo-it really did look like a church spire!) where we got splendiferous views of the surrounding mountains in the Leirvassbu area.

The next exciting peak was Galhoppigen which is the highest peak in Norway (however there is still some argument over this as Glittertind on some maps is higher!!!), I also had an amazing hot chocolate at Spiturstulen hut!

The Hurringaine region was the next area to be explored…due to a rather lot of rain we spent one day playing RISK in a very nice hut (Turtigo)…Nic was determined to take over the world and we (Tam, Ali, Rob and I) were determined not to let him! The next day our ambition was to climb to the Fanaraken hut which at 2069m is the highest hut in Norway-rewarded by yet another hot chocolate!

Rondane National Park was next on the agenda where we headed off to wild camp near Ronvassbu. We climbed up Storronden 2138m which was followed by gale force winds which nearly made the tents blow away-entertainment value! The second stage of the trip involved eight more UBES members (Dave v, Alice, Becca, Gillian, Andy, Nuala, Vicky and Neil) joining the party at Oppdal were we travelled to Gjevilivsshytta and had a BBQ on the beach! Glittertind at 2464m was a beast of a mountain and probably the most exciting of the trip with a wee bit of snow action!We then all completed a three day triangular walk from Gjevilivsshytta to Jeldalshytta and finally to Trollheimshytta where luxury was had…an open fire, bunkbeds and scrumptious SMASH!

Gjendsheim was the next brief base while we prepared to walk the Besseggen Ridge 1743m (Neil, Rob and Ali needed to be firmly held back as three bus loads of teenagers arrived at the hut!) The ridge gave amazing views, as there were two lakes, one on each side of the ridge, but each was a different shade of blue-lots of camera action was had!

Hjelle was the next port of call where we visited Vettifosson which is Norway's highest waterfall and stayed in an amazing tepee!

We ended the trip on a high in Bergen where we sampled the locally caught fish from the markets and visited Bryggen (the old part of the town dating back over 900 years!) where all the houses are made of wood!

Wow what a trip... an action packed month!