Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Kvitneset - Flø, Aug 9 2009


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The route

The route
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The hike between Kvitneset and Flø is one of the absolute classics walks on Hareidlandet island. The distance is approx. 9km and it takes 4-4.5 hours. There is a path in the very beginning, but the rest of the route is off-trail, and runs along the shore. There are no difficult sections if you take the time to find the easiest way. But that may be a time-consuming task, so prepare for some easy scrambling along the way. And it is indeed practical to have another car awaiting at the other side.

I had been wanting to take this trip for quite some time, and now that my mom was on a short visit (with her car) I suggested that we should do this walk. The mountains were fogged in, so this was clearly the best thing we could do on this Sunday. We drove to Ytreflø, left one car there and headed out from Kvitneset 10:51am.

 

Heading out from Kvitneset

Heading out from Kvitneset
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After a short, but slightly aggravating path (rocky and overgrown) we soon were down by the shore and could follow the slabs in the direction of Buhammaren. Progress was slow, as mom was collecting shells and I was busy scrambling around...

So far, the terrain reminded me much of the terrain on Godøya (across Breisundet). The Gjuv - Alnes hike on Godøya had been one of my favorites, but it was just a question of when this walk would become even more enjoyable.

 

Scrambling around

Scrambling around
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Mom soon discovered that I was NOT following the easiest route, and my route involved scrambling. A lot of it, tool. Mom is from time to time under the impression that she doesn't want to scramble, but every time she does it she seems happy about it...

I was enjoying this route more and more. The sound of the waves beating on the shore was just .. lovely! I promised myself to return to this place and watch a good old storm!

It was also useful to get a good look up Skolmedalen. I had been thinking about this as a route to Skolma for a while, and now I could conclude that it didn't seem difficult at all. So, 11 days later, a friend and I reached Skolma along this route.

 

Mom is enjoying the shore

Mom is enjoying the shore
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After passing the northernmost point, we arrived at the big boulder section. Some of these rocks are as tall as houses, and finding a route can be time-consuming. "Scrambling across" isn't a working method on this part of the shore.

Although the vertical gain is minimal, the number of short ups and downs can take its toll. Chances are that you get just as tired as if you were to hike Skolma (635m) along one of the normal routes.

Big-rock terrain!

Big-rock terrain!
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But in the end, Ytreflø appeared in the distance and a fantastic walk was coming to its end. The terrain had kept on changing all the way, and there was no telling what was waiting around the next corner.

We reached the Ytreflø trailhead 3:08pm, approx. 4h:20m after heading out from Kvitneset. It had been a most memorable hike - one I absolutely would recommend to everyone!

A private moment above a pool

A private moment above a pool
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Pictures

The pictures were taken with a Canon EOS 450D + Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM F 4-5.6

 
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Kvitneset

0. Trip tracks 1. Big rock at Kvitneset 2. Big rock at Kvitneset 3. Welcome to Kvitneset 4. End of the road 5. Heading out 6. WW II bunkers at Kvitneset 7. To the shore

To the big boulder

8. Following slabs 9. The first (voluntarily) obstacle 10. Easy terrain 11. Mom looks for shells 12. I am busy with taking pictures of myself 13. Making use of the still water 14. Moving on 15. Skolmedalen 16. A cruise ship passing Godøya 17. Do not look down and do not stumble 18. This seemed as the best route 19. Towards the northernmost point 20. Lots of small pools 21. A steep escape from the pool 22. Passing Godøya 23. The terrain is still quite easy 24. Looking back on Buhammaren 25. Eltrane on Sula 26. Some caution is recommended 27. A quick rest 28. Mom is hanging around 29. A rugged beach

Big boulder terrain

30. Mom had mixed feelings about this one 31. Serious rocks.. 32. The mountains are still fogged in 33. Waiting for a splash that never came 34. A narrow spot 35. Pointy rock! 36. Yet another big rock 37. Yet another rock face 38. Letting the scenery sink in.. 39. Just hold your breath! 40. Sea rock 41. Moving on 42. The sea monster 43. Yet another-another big rock 44. Routefinding becomes a challenge 45. A complex shore 46. Tall as a house! 47. Beach walk, my a$$ 48. A solution always presents itself 49. Natural shelter

To Ytreflø

50. Past the big boulder 51. View down 52. Dead-end 53. Easier terrain 54. Soon leaving the rocky section behind 55. Super weather! 56. A pool moment 57. Getting back up.. 58. Cool formations 59. A lonesome rock (easy to climb) 60. Kjerringa 61. Godøya 62. Hoksteinen 63. A scrambling cow 64. Varmesteinen 65. Slow vs. fast 66. Ytreflø - end of the journey

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