Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal
Garnestua from Garnes, Mar 24 2009
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Sunset, seen from Garnestua
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Today, the afternoon hike went to Garnestua. I headed out from Garnes, on a route I've previously only descended. The path isn't easy to find, as low bush is more or less covering it. But once on it, it's not too difficult to follow, and it provides a fairly direct route to Garnestua, should you want a variation to the routes from Kvalneset or Løsetvatnet.
I headed out 5:40pm, from the RV61/RV653 junction at Garnes, and didn't expect to run into snow until I passed Garnesvatnet (420m), as Garnestua's southwest side has more snowmelt than the surrounding mountains. I also expected that there would be a lot of snow above the lake. Both assumptions turned out to be correct, and the snow was particularly strenuous to walk in.
Tracks in the snow
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But that was OK, because the horizon behind me was shifting colors and scenery every other minute. And it was quiet. Quiet as the night. And no wind. Just solitude and wonderful nature.
I reached the summit 6:55pm, 1h:15m after leaving the trailhead. As the sun had gone down, and I had forgotten my headlamp, I kept a steady pace down the mountain, and was back at the car 30 minutes after leaving the summit. Walking in the deep snow had taken its toll, and I didn't feel a strong urge to hike yet another mountain. Better call it a day.
