Thursday 6th June
The high cloud from yesterday had gone. I was given clear blue skies and much lighter winds. Now it was a bit of a struggle keeping cool on the ridges. I headed off up the western stony slopes of Sagtindan. It wasn't too long before a view of the ridges came into view. This was to be the day when I would climb the most number of peaks in the entire trip. The peaks climbed encircle the corrie of Verilsdalsbotn.

Climbing out of Brakdalen in the morning

Brakdalsbelgen and its north ridge seen from the north west

Peak "1996" seen from Sagtindan

Sagtinden is has broad western slopes but the eastern side falls sheer into the corrie below. The peaks are spectacular, sometimes the ridges are a little narrow on the main spine but not too scrambly. The first significantly good peak was Brakalsbelgen at 1915m. The ridge from this angle looked OK, but closer up, the ridge looked like a steep tilted slab with one or two bits of snow for entertainment!!

Brakdalsbelgen seen from Sagtindan and the big cliffs dropping away sharply

The final hump crossed before my ascent of Brakdalsbelgen

Peak "1996" seen from Brakdalsbelgen

Ljosabelgen seen from Brakdalsbelgen

I had second thoughts, about the ridge but right up close it looked OK. There was only one section of snow worthy of care. But the slab was well broken and very grippy. I soon reached the summit. The next summit was Ljosabelgen and the going was now much much rougher. Boulders the size of cars rocked under my feet as I clambered over the narrowish ridge towards the summit. With the summit reached, the ridge narrowed again and dropped down steeply to the next col above the corrie of Krokatbekkbotnen.

Trolltindan seen from the south

The north ridge of Ljosabelgen

The next summit beyond a minor summit of Hoggbellet looked very steeply - quite formidable but in the end it turned out to be easy boulder hopping. The summit was an unnamed peak at 1996m. Beyond I dropped down to the col before Storsmeden. This was the only ridge that was snow covered on this day. The drop into the corrie of Kalbekkbotn was steep but took a marked DNT path (labelled as an unmarked path on the map).

Trolltinden and the knife edge ridge seen from the main spine of the ridge

In Kelbekkbotn looking upto Storsmeden and Veslesmeden

The corrie was impressive - large snow fields were all that stood in the way between me and the campsite above Rondvassbu. There was loads of melt water - often walking in the 100ft wide stream was the easiest option to walking in the snow. I arrived at the campsite and had another hot evening. A great day.

Friday 7th June
Today was the last peak bagging day. I was climbing the 2000m summit of Veslemeden. It wasn't a hard peak. There was a marked DNT trail all the way to the summit and it took me about two hours to get there. The route was a slog, only on the final summit ridge was a view revealed of the summit and the impressive summit ridge to Storsmeden. Not a breath of wind, the day was very hot. In the deep valleys, a heat haze was seen rising up out of them.

Velsesmeden seen from the southern approach from Rondvassbu

Storsmeden seen from the southern slopes of Veslesmeden

Storronden (right) and Rondholet - where I walked 6 days before

I got back to my tent and packed up. I was time to leave. Back down to the track I took in nearly a week ago. It was sad to leave but my last camp was still on the plain in full view of the mountains. I took it easy that afternoon, washing myself and my clothes (not that it helped!), sunbathing (not that I wasn't tanned already) but more than anything else, I wanted a shower, a bed and food that wasn't beanfeast!

The impressive surroundings of Rondvatnet

Saturday 8th June
Up at 8 and off for a walk down the river of Store Ula to visit some waterfalls. The first waterfalls were Stornufossen - impressive but not as good as the Vestlufossen - they dropped 100m in one fall. Trouble was the Vestlufossen was on another river so it meant a bit of a diversion. It was also below the tree line and I had an annoying tendency to attract black flies - arrrgghhh! They didn't bite but got in your face. The falls when seen were impressive - but it was now time to go home.

Stornufossen with the Rondane peaks behind

Store Ula flowing swiftly into the forest

Vestlufossen

My original plan was to camp on the slopes above Otta but thunder clouds were brewing. I got down to Mysuseter and was just about to continue up slopes on the other side when the first crack of thunder was heard. The safety instinct in me told me to just quit and head down the road. The toil started then and then soon finished in Otta. I took an early bus back to the Airport leaving a lot of memories but yearning for the comforts of home. It was a little lonely on my journey - met very few people outside the officialdom of Bus Drivers, Shopkeepers and Stewardesses this trip. Having a friend with me would have made the trip nicer.

Finally, my plane waiting to take me home!

I got to the airport with 12 hours to kill. I was tired, Gardermoen is a very modern airport - but very dull. Very little choice in eating establishments beyond hotdogs, burgers and pizzas. No observation area for plane spotting. I was glad to get on the plane. A great relief to hit my bed!