Climbing within the Coronary heart of Troll Nation

The Trollheimen Mountains of central Norway are one of many nation’s most numerous mountain ranges. Situated within the transition zone between marine and alpine environments, Trollheimen options historic woodlands, lush river valleys, crystal-clear mountain lakes, and jagged rocky peaks. Complementing the pure wonders is a wealthy and assorted human historical past. From Stone Age settlements to Iron Age burial websites to characterful turf-roof farmhouses, Trollheimen has a millennia-spanning fusion of environmental, cultural, and historic parts that’s all its personal.

From a mountain climbing perspective, Trollheimen stays comparatively unknown outdoors the Norwegian out of doors neighborhood. An under-the-radar gem whose title interprets to “residence of the trolls,” an evocative moniker that was coined within the latter a part of the nineteenth century as a option to drum up vacationer curiosity within the area (apparently with middling worldwide outcomes). I visited Trollheimen within the fall of 2022 as a part of an prolonged journey to the Nordic area. In the course of the journey, I did a sequence of shorter hikes—together with the Trollheimen Triangle—which ended up being included in my e book Wanderlust Nordics: Exploring Trails in Scandinavia (2023). The article under consists of pictures, primary trekking notes, together with logistical and GPS info.

The Litlsvartaa River in Svartådalen Valley.

At a Look:

Distance: 58 km (36 mi)

Period: 2-3 days

Issue Stage:  Reasonable

Complete Elevation Achieve: 2,720 m (8,924 ft)

Begin/End: Gjevilvasshytta mountain hut

Crossing the Minnilla River.

Highlights:

• The attractive surroundings and autumnal shades of Svartådalen Valley.

• The tarn-dotted Mellomfjellet Plateau.

• Picturesque lakes on both aspect of Riarskaret Cross.

• Considerable berry foraging alternatives from mid to late summer time. Additionally, on the culinary entrance, the path’s historic mountain huts have a long-established repute for serving wonderful native delicacies.

Kamtjonnin Lake

Planning Data:

• Getting There & Away: Throughout summer time, a periodic bus service runs between Gjevilvasshytta Hut and the close by city of Oppdal (23 km/14.3 mi away). If you’re coming by non-public transport, parking is offered each on the trailhead and the alternate parking zone, 1.5 km (0.9 mi) away to the northwest.

• Season: Mid-June to late September

• Permits & Charges: No on each counts.

• Guidebook: Ute Koninx’s Climbing in Norway – South: The ten Finest Multi-Day Treks (Cicerone Press) offers an in depth abstract of the path, together with trekking notes, primary maps, aspect journey recommendations, distance and time estimates, and logistical info. The e book is offered in Kindle or paperback.

• On the lookout for One thing Longer?: Sadly, time was not on my aspect once I visited Trollheimen. With just a few additional days up my sleeve, I might have favored to have hiked the Trollheimen SignaTur, a 152 km (94.5 mi) loop across the area. Koninx’s Cicerone Press guidebook has an in depth description of the route.

GaiaGPS Overview Map of the Trollheimen Triangle.

• Water: H2O is considerable all through the path. Many hikers select to filter, although water in Trollheimen is normally thought-about protected to drink when taken from fast-flowing streams.

• Meals: You possibly can both convey your individual provides, purchase on the huts, or take a hybrid strategy. Notice that in case you’re mountain climbing out of season, the huts could also be closed, and also you’ll need to convey all provisions with you (which was the case once I hiked in late September 2022).

Gjevilvasshytta Hut – The beginning and ending level of the Trollheimen Triangle.

• Really helpful Pre or Publish-Journey Tour: Vang Burial Website: Situated on the outskirts of Oppdal, round 20 minutes drive from the start of the Trollheimen Triangle, Gravfeltet Vang (Vang Burial Website) is the biggest Iron Age Burial web site in Norway and one of many largest in northern Europe. The location consists of greater than 900 burial mounds, most of that are from the Viking Age (750 A.D. – 1050 A.D.), however a few of which date again to the early a part of the Migration Interval (300 A.D. – 700 A.D.). The dimensions of the mounds ranges from 3 m to 17 m (10’ – 56’) in diameter, and excavations have found a variety of things, together with swords, jewellery, and different decorative objects. The unearthed artifacts derive not solely from the Nordic area however from locations as far afield because the British Isles and southern Europe, proof of the widespread commerce connections that existed relationship again to medieval instances. The Vang Burial Website is free to go to and consists of quite a lot of interconnected strolling trails dotted with recurrently spaced info boards (in Norwegian and English). 

Vang Burial Website is situated on the crossroads of historic commerce routes, linking collectively Sunndalen and the Møre coast to the west, Trondheim Fjord to the north, and the Dovrefjell crossing within the south.

Woolly guardians of historic treasures

Lodging:

• Wild tenting is feasible all through the Trollheimen Triangle. 

• There are three full-service mountain huts (clockwise) alongside the path: Gjevilvasshytta, Trollheimshytta, and Jøldalshytta. Hut areas must be booked nicely prematurely in the course of the peak summer time season in July and August.

Campsite close to the headwaters of the Gjørdøldalen Valley (Shelter pictured is the Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid).

Path Notes:

The Trollheimen Triangle begins and ends on the historic mountain hut of Gjevilvasshytta (est. 1819), situated a 30-minute drive from the regional hub of Oppdal. Strolling in a counter-clockwise route, the primary stage to Jøldalshytta Hut extends for 21 km (13 mi) and takes a mean of 5 to seven hours to finish. Setting out from Gjevilvasshytta, the trail winds its manner up by means of the birch forest of Gjørdøldalen Valley, rising above treeline after 5 kilometers (3.1 mi).

Turf-roofed cottage close to Gjevilvasshytta Hut.

The path then crosses a large saddle, passing beneath Høghøa Peak (1,308 m/4,291 ft) because it descends progressively into the marshy, lake-dotted Høghødalen Valley. On the 11 km (6.8 mi) mark, you’ll attain a footbridge over the Minnilla River earlier than persevering with northwards over rolling fells to Skrikhøa Peak (1,061 m/3,481 ft). From right here, you’ll be afforded far-reaching views over the Gammelsæterdalen Valley, in direction of which the path continues its lengthy and principally gradual descent to Jøldalshytta Hut, fantastically located overlooking Jølvatnet Lake.

Crossing the wind/rain-swept saddle near Høghøa.

Footbridge over the Minnilla River.

Jøldalshytta Hut (picture taken early the next morning, throughout an all-too-brief window of sunshine).

The second stage to Trollheimshytta Hut affords hikers three alternate routes. If situations are clear(ish), it’s exhausting to go previous the excessive traverses over Geithøtta High (1,316 m/4,318 ft) or Trollhetta (1,616 m/5,302 ft). The third route is a 16 km (9.9 mi) primarily low-level affair that traces the course of the Svartåa River. With heavy rain on the playing cards, I opted for the latter possibility. It ended up being a beautiful valley stroll, resplendent with storybook bridges, luxuriant meadows, charming turf-roofed cottages, and peak fall foliage. 

Trollheimshytta Hut is situated within the coronary heart of “troll nation.” Once I arrived, it was closed for the season, however the adjoining day/emergency shelter was open and supplied welcome respite from the rain.

Having fun with a protracted (and dry) lunch within the Trollheimshytta day shelter.

The third and closing stage of the journey measures 21 km (13 mi) and is the hardest of the path’s trio of sections. Leaving Trollheimshytta Hut, you’ll quickly cross a footbridge over the Slettåa River earlier than commencing a protracted and steep climb.

Zig-zagging up by means of a sequence of rocky terraces, the path beneficial properties round 700 m (2,297 ft) in elevation over the course of the next three kilometers (1.9 mi). After some huffing and puffing, you’ll prime out at Skallen Peak (1,226 m/4,022 ft). In wonderful climate (I’ve heard), your efforts might be rewarded with beautiful vistas over the rivers, lakes, and woodlands of Svartåmoen Nature Reserve. In chilly, wet, windy, and cloudy situations, I had an ironic chuckle, wolfed down some chocolate, placed on an additional layer, and saved shifting.

Departing Skallen, proceed south over Mellomfjellet, a rocky, tarn-peppered plateau that feels a world away from the forested environs of Trollheimshytta and the Svartådalen Valley. About an hour from Skallen, you’ll arrive at Fossådalsvatnet Lake.

Fossådalsvatnet Lake

Skirt its jap shore and climb steeply as much as Riarskaret Cross (1,307 m/4,288 ft), which is the very best level of the stage. From Riarskaret, descend by means of a treeless panorama, passing the roundish Kamtjønnin Lake earlier than rising into the expansive Gjørdøldalen Valley.

Kamtjønnin Lake

Gjørdøldalen Valley

After strolling a lot of the day in chilly, moist, and windy situations, there aren’t many issues higher than a scorching meal, adopted by crawling into your dry sleeping bag/quilt and drifting off to the land of Nod accompanied by Mom Nature’s pitter patter soundtrack.

The next morning, I awoke to blue skies. From my campsite, the path contoured across the edges of Gjørdøldalen’s boggy flooring earlier than reaching a footbridge over the river Gravbekke.

Taking a pointy flip to the south, the path parallels the Gravbekke for a lot of the next 5 kilometers (3.1 mi). Alongside the best way, hikers are afforded attractive views over the expansive Gjevillvatnet Lake. Ultimately, you’ll attain the street on the alternate parking zone, from the place it’s an extra 1.5 km (0.9 mi) again to the Gjevilvassyttha trailhead. 

Publish-hike meal and drying out session.

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