Camping in Uradalen with Uranotind behind

Tuesday 24th August
The winds were light with shifting cloud but the view out west still looked gloomy. The prospect of climbing either peak felt very daunting. In the end I decided to go trail walking as the slopes up either peak looked like shattered boulder slopes. I had had enough of setbacks and slow progress and was keen to see new horizons. At least with trail walking there is a greater degree of certainly with what you can do. After a quick look at the map, a good route emerged using trails which visited large parts of Jotunheimem I hadn't visited before.

Looking down Skogadalen

The eastern bit of Sgogadalsnosa

Today we would walk west down Skogdalen to Skogadalsbøen and then up the valley of Urdadalen. We set off at a brisk pace down a good path. I noticed the valley floor rose up in steps with quite a flat region behind each step. This I presumed was the terminal moraine from past glaciers.

One of the brooding glaciers feeding Skogadalen

The bottom bit of Skogadalen

At the final drop before the tree line, I noticed a dam which cut the river off. A nearby waterfall entering the valley was also cut off. This I presumed was part of a hydroelectric scheme where the streams were cut off and diverted to a large reservoir. I've noticed this in Scotland where all major streams in a basin are diverted at a certain altitude to a central reservoir which is then used for hydroelectricity. If I am right, all the other valleys entering Utledalen have streams diverted to a hydroelectric scheme at this altitude. The streams I presume are cut off at a fixed height so they are at the same gravitational potential as each other.

Looking back up Skogadalen to Mjolkedalstind

One of the pleasant pools seen on the stream in Skogadalen

As we descended, the vegetation thickened up into shrubs and then into birch forest. It was nice to be back among trees after so long in a tundra environment. The trees however did slow down progress a bit, even on the path. We arrived at a path junction just before the DNT hut. The cloud was thinning and evaporating. Already the upper part of the valley was in blue sunshine and I was looking forward to the time when the Hurrungane Mountains would reveal themselves in their alpine splendour.

Guridalsnosa and the valley leading to Fannarken

Looking down Utladalen

It was 3pm and we were now on our way for Urdadalen. The bottom of this valley is a huge boulder field with many of them the size of small houses (some of them the size of big houses!) thankfully the path stayed on the edge of the field and so we were spared the worst of the rock hopping. Beyond the boulder field, the valley resumed to green shrubs and grass. We continued to gain height while the vegetation thinned to very nice grass. It was however, too early in the day to stop considering the time we set off in the morning. We thus continued further towards the head of the valley where Uranostind dominated the view ahead. We continued close to the highest point in the valley where grass exists and then camped at a fine place with Hurrungane fully in view. I felt happy with going trailwalking now rather than attempt peak bagging.

Walking up Uradalen

The splendid Hurrungane seen from Uradalen at breakfast

Wednesday 25th August
The day dawned bright and frosty. Hurrungane was bathed in morning sunshine. My plan was to hike beyond Fondsbu to the lake:- Gravatjetnet. In the end we instead managed to get close to the huts near Fondsbu.

We set off nice and early. Dad set off on a strong pace leaving me trailing behind feeling weak from no food (breakfast eating three hours ago). We stopped at Urdadalsbandet for biscuits before continuing down to the lake: Urdadalsvatnet. The day was so far cool but it was now heating up fast. The path going round the lake was very rocky which slowed down dad a lot. It took 1 ½ hours to get to the outlet. I felt the time slipping away but I was keen to keep going to an intended lunchstop at Kvitevatnet. Up here near 1400m, the ground was extremely rocky with little grass. The slopes leading to Uranostinden looked very stony and off putting.

Uranostinden seen from Uradalsvatnet

Fleskedalsnosa seen from Uradalsvatnet

Falketind seen from the east

I identified a small summit overlooking Kvitevatnet that could be climbed quickly and easily. It was within my height criteria for the peaks known as 'The Dyers'. We ascended it very quickly and easily in a round trip of ¾ hours from the sacks left by the trail. The views from the top especially to the south made it very worth while. The path round the southern part of Kvitevatnet was easier with shale rather than boulders but it was short lived. The path went round Rustegge and a boulder field appeared again slowing down progress. Eventually though the path became easier and we soon arrived at our intended camp at a stream called Sløtab above the huts next to the road.

Hjelledalstind seen from the east

The fearsome looking south ridge of Uranostind

Looking south from the summit of Koldedalsnosa

Uranosbreen with Uranostind and Langeskavltind

Falketind, Snoggeknosa and Hurrungane

High cirrus cloud was moving in from the south. There was rain on the way and I knew the good weather wouldn't last long. I hoped the rain would stay away.

Koldedalsnosa seen from the south