Posts In The “Norway” Category
A popular outing for Bergen residents is the 8-mile (13km) hike between Mt. Floyen and Mt. Ulriken. With a funicular railway at one end and a cable car at the other, you don’t have to climb up or down to take in the sweeping city views at each summit. The cable car at Mt. Ulriken…
Seven mountains surround Bergen and the city rises up from vibrant Vagan Harbour into the steep hills behind. We moored right downtown and spent our first day on a walking tour of Norway’s second-largest city. It’s easy to see why many consider Bergen to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Below…
Herdla, a small island north of Bergen, is full of military ruins. During World War II, the occupying German forces turned most of the island into a military base and built an air strip and torpedo battery there. Norway kept the torpedo battery in operation during the Cold War, modernizing it several times until it…
On May 11th of this year, we passed north of 61°30′ latitude and returned back south of that line recently as we approached the Bergen area. This latitude is significant because our insurance policy, Jackline, explicity excludes travel north of this without purchasing an additional rider. Prior to this, the farthest north Dirona had ever…
Briksdal Glacier is one of the few European glaciers not constantly receding—the size changes depending upon temperature and precipitation. Between 1935 and 1951, the glacier receded 800m and exposed the lake below, but from 1967 to 1997 it expanded and covered the whole lake and was the only glacier in Europe that was expanding while…
The annual Skala Opp race from Loen to the summit of 6,062ft (1,848m) Skala regularly draws over 1,500 participants, and the record for reaching the top is 1 hour and 7 minutes. After a hike of just under four hours, we were pretty tired and couldn’t imagine running up. Whatever pace you choose, the views…
Via Ferrata means “iron path” in Italian and is an increasingly popular mix of protected climbing and alpine hiking where participants use climbing gear to safely ascend exposed routes with spectacular views while attached at all times to iron cables, rungs, ladders and bridges. A number of Via Ferratas have opened in Norway in recent…
We re-rounded the infamous Stad on our continued southbound return trip along the Norwegian west coast, travelling 135 miles fjord-to-fjord from Hjorundfjord to Nordfjorden. Conditions at Stad weren’t quite as settled as on our northbound leg, but we had an easy run around. The winds fell as we ran up Nordfjorden, with spectacular scenery reflecting…
Starting September 2, the Hurtigruten coastal ferries switch from their summer run to Geirangerfjord to a cruise down Hjorundfjord. On the first day of that switch we were excited to see “our ‘Gruten” the Kong Harald appear at the mouth of Norangsfjorden, an arm of Hjorundfjord. (This is the ship we travelled on from Kirkeness…
The hike to the summit of 5,131 ft (1,564m) Slogen is considered one of the top ten in Norway due to the scenery en route, the views from the top and the fact that it rises directly from Norangsfjorden. It was the most strenuous hike we’d done so far, with an elevation gain from trailhead…
Norangsfjorden is similarly scenic as nearby Geirangerfjord, but smaller and not nearly as busy due to a 42-ft (13m) bar that prevents larger ships from reaching the head. From the anchorage at Honningdalsvagen we made a short, 23nm run to anchor of the village of Oye surrounded by waterfalls and 5,000ft (1,500m) peaks. Below are…
Geirangerfjord is one of the better known and popular fjords in Norway and is part of the West Norwegian Fjords UNESCO World Heritage Site. Full-sized cruise ships regularly travel the waterway, as do the Hurtigruten coastal ferries, local ferries and countless other craft. We’d already visited Geirangerfjord on a road trip up the Trollstigen route…
Ålesund is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Norway. After a devastating 1904 fire destroyed much of downtown, the city was rebuilt in an art nouveau style with many of the buildings overlooking a canal that runs through downtown. From Åndalsnes we travelled 55 miles south to Ålesund, stopping for a few nights…
Trollveggen (“The Troll Wall”) is the highest vertical mountain wall in Europe. The face is 3,600 ft (1,100 metres) from base to summit and scaling it is one of the ultimate mountaineering challenges. With several other difficult climbing peaks in the area, nearby Åndalsnes is considered the mountaineering capital of Norway. Their modern visitor center…
The dramatic Trollstigen route near Åndalsnes winds up a steep 1:12 gradient through 11 hairpin turns so tight that vehicles longer than 43 ft (13.1m) are prohibited. En route, a narrow bridge carries the road over and beside the spectacular 1,050 ft (320 m) Stigfossen falls. In 2012, Trollstigen was officially opened as a National…
Andalsnes is close to some of Norway’s most spectacular and unique scenery, including 5900ft (1800m) Trollgiven, the highest vertical mountain wall in Europe and the dramatic Trollsigten route, a narrow roadway that climbs at a gradient of 1:12 through 11 hairpin turns with a viewing platform above. And an hour or two’s hike from town…
After five weeks in Trondheim, we departed for Norwegian destinations farther south. We really enjoyed our stay, and it was an excellent place to leave the boat while we returned to Seattle for work. From Trondheim we travelled 140 miles south and anchored for a few days in Vagsetervagen while a storm system passed through….
We completed a number of boat projects in Trondheim, including replacing a steering pump and the nav computer. Most were waiting on gear sourced on our return trip to Seattle—we spent much of the ten days after the trip installing and stowing parts. Below are highlights from July 14th through August 14th in Trondheim, Norway….