Ulriken-Vidden-Floyen is a hike we've heard a lot about - supposed to be 5 hours and relatively flat, except for the beginning and end. So we set aside Sunday for it. Naturally, it was all cloudy, since we planned on being out all day!
We started out by taking the cable car to the top of Ulriken. You've seen pictures of fantastic panoramas from there on this blog. Here's what it looked like Sunday - AFTER the clouds lifted, somewhat.
The trail markers, those cairns, led us after the clouds lifted. Before that, we wandered around rather aimlessly, using the compass, in the misty, moisty morning.
We ran into some Norwegian wildlife!
Me and my new friends.
This was the toughest part, getting down this mountainside. Up there was the new summit. We're a little confused, actually, about the name of that mountain. The trail markers all pointed to Vidden, so that's what we are going with. The map didn't show that name, though. :(
This is from the top of the previous picture. Here are two lakes, the lower one is a dam. The upper one, Øvre Jordalsvatnet, drains into the lower one, Tarlebøvatnet, down a waterfall.
Here's Tarlebøvatnet, showing the water flowing over the dam and on down to Bergen! If you click on the Vidden link in the first paragraph, you'll see a map and you can find us. 
We started out by taking the cable car to the top of Ulriken. You've seen pictures of fantastic panoramas from there on this blog. Here's what it looked like Sunday - AFTER the clouds lifted, somewhat.
The trail markers, those cairns, led us after the clouds lifted. Before that, we wandered around rather aimlessly, using the compass, in the misty, moisty morning.
We ran into some Norwegian wildlife!
Me and my new friends.
This was the toughest part, getting down this mountainside. Up there was the new summit. We're a little confused, actually, about the name of that mountain. The trail markers all pointed to Vidden, so that's what we are going with. The map didn't show that name, though. :(This is from the top of the previous picture. Here are two lakes, the lower one is a dam. The upper one, Øvre Jordalsvatnet, drains into the lower one, Tarlebøvatnet, down a waterfall. Here's Tarlebøvatnet, showing the water flowing over the dam and on down to Bergen! If you click on the Vidden link in the first paragraph, you'll see a map and you can find us.
Surprise! From here, you can see Arne, a town that you can't get to without driving a long way around or taking a train through a tunnel east from Bergen under the mountains. We couldn't figure out what it was until we studied the map later that night.
Ed's continuing quest to sit on all the benches in Europe led to this beauty!
This is painted on the side of an old WWII structure, probably German. It says, "Bernt, we miss you. Safe journey!" We have seen it several times when we go up to Rundemann, but this time we took a picture to share. Interesting, isn't it? I wonder what the story is behind it.
Ed's continuing quest to sit on all the benches in Europe led to this beauty!This is painted on the side of an old WWII structure, probably German. It says, "Bernt, we miss you. Safe journey!" We have seen it several times when we go up to Rundemann, but this time we took a picture to share. Interesting, isn't it? I wonder what the story is behind it.From here, it's downhill through familiar forest land. The trail up to this point was all above the tree line. It gives you the grand views (if it's sunny), but I really like ferns and trees. And I really don't do well with downhills! My arthritic knees have been yelling at me for 2 days about it. So the "5 hour hike" took us 8 hours. It is still fun, and I can't help but smile at all those young runners leaping across the mountains.
Were you practicing for when I come to visit?
ReplyDeleteVidde is the name for a plateau so the signs were juts pointing into the plateau for the byfjell rather than back down the hill.
ReplyDeleteI'd guess you were on Trappefjellet or langelifjellet from the angle of the photograph, hard to be sure. This might help http://www.bergenskart.no/bergen/index.jsp
The Bernt refered to was Bernt Einar Røstad a 26 year old student from NHH who went missing in 2001 whilst out on a walk with a tour group. he was later found dead in Isdalen
Yep, Debbie, we were seeing how it is, and yes, we can definitely do it. Just give us all day, and pray for a clear day with far views!
ReplyDeleteThanks for explaining, Anonymous. That was a really sad thing about Bernt. Here's the story, Google-translated to English. http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fparaplyen.nhh.no%2Fparaplyen%2Fakiv%2F2001%2Fjuni%2Fnhh_studen&sl=no&tl=en&history_state0= His body was found the next Tuesday in the mountains.
After reviewing the map again, I'd guess we were on Langelifjellet. Plus now we know another new word in Norwegian! Vidde - mountain plateau. Keep on writing!
At night, on the 16 of June 2001 me and 3 friends drove to the mountain and painted the grafitti you saw on your walks. My best friend, Bernt, had then been missing for 6 days. We had a little hope he was wondering around and that if he saw the grafitti - he would know we were waiting for him. We found him 4 days later.
ReplyDeleteHe was on a trip with a friend. Not a tourgroup.
Now and then I make a google search for his name. I dunno why. Today I ended up here.
Treasure your friends and your loved ones while you can.
Fred og kjærleik
Stein