Safe Return Doubtful

Stord Island is dominated by a short mountain range running north south for about 8 kilometres. I am stopped up at one of the two hikers’ car parks, at 380 metres, with views down over the fjords, Leirvik town, and the mainland, so looking eastwards.

Roja and I took on a circular hike that began by climbing the gravel track to the cell phone mast just before the peak of Kattnaken, at 724 metres. This was a relatively easy trek of about 2.5 kilometres, with the new hip going really well on this terrain, which otherwise might have been boring..

There is a wide plateau at about 700 metres, with lots of gentle rises and dips, but currently with a fair bit of lying snow, and otherwise, very wet with the snowmelt. It’s hard going off the tracks, though necessary sometimes to skirt round snow, which is soft, and for the heavier person, can mean the occasional foot going through it.

We headed south along the ridge for about four kilometres, soon joined by another male solo hiker, a Russian from St Petersburg, who has lived in Norway for twenty years, working is the gas extraction industry. He told me that May was a month favoured by many Norwegians, as it has a Bank Holiday in each week, meaning 4 days of work per week throughout. Today is Labour Day, always 1 May, but changes around Europe as many countries do what the British do, and attach it to a weekend. It is, I believe, the holiday that is observed by the most countries; almost everywhere there is a Labour Day in early May.

The car park soon filled up; I got occasional views of it from the ridge, at the height of the afternoon, there would have been about forty vehicles there.

At the southern end of the ridge is the peak of Stovegolvet, also at 724 metres. There is a fine 360 degree view of Stord Island and the surrounding archipelago. There’s a smart cabin just away from the summit. Regular readers will know that I’m not a fan of things built at the top of mountains. This cabin has 27 beds, in 5 bedded rooms, at a cost of about £25 a bed. I met a family headed up there last night. Despite my dislike of such structures, I have to admit seeing the sun go down, then rise a few hours later, and to spend a night in such a place, would be appealing.

The weather has taken a turn as forecast. There was quite a bit of rain last night, at the head of a warm front from northeast, bringing settled, and very warm conditions. This afternoon the temperature got up to 18C, pleasant with the breeze. Tomorrow, in Bergen, just 80 kilometres to the north, it is forecast to be 25C, and continuing like this for the next few days.

I was down from the mountain by mid-afternoon, having taken lunch up by the cabin at the summit. We enjoyed a chilled out afternoon, the first of this course so far, and most welcome.