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Lukefjellet seen from Våganipen(No Javascript) |
Lukefjellet is the 2nd highest mountain in Søre Fusa. Only Våganipen (819m) rises higher. Along with Våganipen and Helleknappen, Lukefjellet forms a circle of mountains around lake Fagravatnet. Våganipen is famous for the summit views, and the views from Lukefjellet aren't far behind. Only Våganipen obscures a small angle of the northwest view.
Several routes lead to Lukefjellet. The route described in this document begins by lake Henangervatnet, runs up Hjortedalen valley and Henangerskardet pass. From here the route is off-trail towards Lukefjellet. This is also a popular route for those who want to visit Våganipen, although it is far from the easiest trail.
The Lukefjellet summit is shared by Kvam and Fusa kommuner, while Tomravardafjellet lies completely within Fusa kommune.
Lukefjellet (M711: 767m, Ø.K: 767m) has a primary factor of 154m towards the higher Våganipen (819m). The saddle is found near the south end of lake Fagravatnet. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), you cross the 615m contours on the high route, but not 610m. The saddle height is interpolated to 613m.
Tomravardafjellet (M711: 707m, Ø.K: 712,5m ~ 713m) has a primary factor of 70m towards the higher Lukefjellet (767m). The saddle is found west of lake Svartavatnet. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), you cross the 645m contours on the high route, but not 640m. The saddle height is interpolated to 643m.
Note: Class ratings are in reference to YDS (Yosemite Decimal System).
Note: The trail described below is not necessarily the easiest trail to this mountain.
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Hjortedalen - Lukefjellet - Tomravardafjellet (summer/autumn)
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Access
From Bergen, follow highway E16 towards Oslo. At Trengereid, exit right onto highway 7. Follow highway 7 down to Samnangerfjorden, pass Bjørkheim and then two tunnels before you exit right on highway 48 (Tysse/Rosendal). This exit is approx. 13,9Km after you turned onto highway 7. At Kilen, approx. 34,6Km after you turned onto highway 48, exit right onto highway 549 towards Sævareid/Baldersheim. Follow highway 549 for approx. 1,6Km. Look for a small turnout on your left immediately after a bridge. Park here.
The route
Go through a gate and follow the forest road into Hjortedalen valley. The forest road ends by a meadow, and turns into an old forest road which can not be driven. The older forest road then heads up into forest. When you reach a vague junction by a small boulder field covered with green moss, go right (even if the trail to the left looks newer). Walk upwards and cross a small stream. Once over, the trail forks again. Go right. You should be able to follow this vague trail which leads to the river coming down Hjortedalen. By the river, you see a waterfall ahead. The trail now cuts sharp to the right and climbs into the forest.
In the forest, stay left. The trail will vanish here. A bit higher up, you meet a trail coming from your right (I don't know where this trail comes from). Join this trail. It will take you back to the river, which you cross via a bridge. The path is now quite visible and climbs now steep on the east side of the river. Next, you head into another forest, but the trail is quite visible now. Once out of the forest, you climb gradually towards Henangerskardet pass. When you reach a cabin at approx. 540m, you will leave the trail, which climbs towards lake Fagravatnet through the rightmost pass.
Instead of follow the trail, continue off-trail up the pass on your left. This route will take you to the northeast end of lake Fagravatnet. I chose to climb down a short section to gain access to a small valley with a visible trail which I followed to lake Svartavatnet. When icy, this downclimb is class 2+, and a bit tricky. You may consider following the high ridge that leads to Tomravardafjellet and downclimb near lake Svartavatnet instead.
Once down by the west end of lake Svartavatnet, follow a gully up to the right. On top of this gully, follow natural corridors in the terrain in south/southeast direction until you reach 700m elevation. Then head eastbound to the summit, which is marked by a modest rock. A small, but more distinct cairn is found a few yards away, towards Mundheimsdalen. The terrain from lake Svartavatnet is a bit complex, and it is difficult to determine the easiest route. Through following corridors you will avoid climbing up and down in the rocky terrain. When icy, some parts of this route calls for some caution. An ice axe is a very useful tool in these conditions.
Head back to lake Svartavatnet, following your ascent route. Climb up to the ridge leading to Tomravardafjellet. There are two small cairns on each side of the summit plateau. Return to the cabin below Henangerskardet by heading northwest until you join a ridge that you can follow downwards. When it is safe to leave the ridge, do so, and seek left to a stream in the basin. Follow terrain near this stream down to the cabin. Then follow your ascent route back to the trailhead.
After a significant pause, I looked forward to walk in the mountains again. I wasn't quite sure about the weather, and decided to stay away from the higher mountains. I decided on Lukefjellet, as I was curious if there was a trail up Hjortedalen. After days of rain, temperature had dropped noticeably, and I pondered on the idea of bringing crampons. I settled for the ice-axe, as I expected to carry the dog upwards. We left the trailhead 11:00AM, and when we reached the end of the forest road, the dog gave me the "I'm done" look.
After some back and forth, trying to locate the trail, we were finally on the way up the steep forest. The length and steepness of this valley took me by surprise. I had anticipated something less strenuous. If I ever had some plans to include Våganipen and Helleknappen on this hike, they were no longer in my mind. High in the valley, Troll started walking. Just before we reached the cabin high in Hjortedalen, an older man, in the sixties surely, came running up from behind. He was heading towards Markhus, via Våganipen. Wow, I said to myself. I explained I was heading to Lukefjellet. He hadn't heard of the mountain. I pointed in the direction of the mountain, repeating the moves with my arm, as if to indicate that the mountain was a far, far away. My self-esteem had taken a serious hit.
I watched the old man with thin clothes and rubber boots run up the valley while I was putting Troll back in the backpack as we were about to leave the trail. My new route took me to lake Fagravatnet, but on the northeast side. I was on top of a cliffband which I needed to downclimb. I could either downclimb at my present position, or follow the cliffband upwards and look for an easier way down, higher up. I chose to get it over with, and started climbing down to the valley below. The ice made this far more tricky than strictly necessary. But eventually, we were down in the valley which we followed to lake Svartavatnet.
The terrain was now difficult to read and the landscape was in general rough. I decided to follow a gully upwards from the lake. It was steep, but not too steep. However, the ice added difficulty to this climb. But once on top, the route towards the summit was fairly given. Ice gave me further challenges along the way, but 13:15PM, we could celebrate Lukefjellet summit. The weather was holding up, although mother nature presented herself in black and white. Troll was eager to walk again, and I knew he would walk the whole way down. I decided to stop by Tomravardafjellet on the way back, which we reached 14:05PM. I decided to explore the hillside down to Hjortedalen, and found a route that took us directly back to the cabin. After a quick hike down the valley, we reached the car 15:15PM.
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