For Information, maps, trailhead and route descriptions, click HERE.
I invited my colleague Terje Bergset for after-dark "research" on Solavågsfjellet. Although he lives in this region, he has never been up here before. We agreed to meet at Solavågseidet 18:00PM, but I drove in earlier and asked around for the paths on this hill. I rang 4 doorbells. The first two were answered by very sceptic old ladies, whom; a) had never been to the top, b) didn't know of any paths to the top and c) strongly encouraged me not to go into the forest after dark. A man answered the doorbell at house #3. He told me that many hiked up from the road end at Solavågen. I drove there to see if I could locate the path. There were more than one. I drove a house nearby and asked which path would take us up to the high point. I am 100% positive that this guy was drunk. He just nodded to this - and all subsequent questions. The time was now 17:55PM, and I had to get back to Solavågseidet to meet Terje.
Terje and I agreed to follow the only path that was shown on Norgesglasset. The path only went up to 100m elevation, but that was better than no path at all. We drove to the trailhead, found the path and were on our way by 18:10PM. Terje had to be back home by 20:00PM, which took away some of the freedom to "get lost".
We followed the path up to 100m elevation, where the path ended. My dachshund "Troll" was in the backpack, and would remain there for the rest of the hike. We fought our way through some bushes and found the path that headed upwards. The path wasn't much traveled, and pretty soon we decided just to focus on the overall direction. Even if it was dark, the terrain was easy to follow. I had studied the 1:15,000 map carefully and knew the terrain "inside out". This was very helpful. I used my GPS actively to stay on the best course, and after a short scramble up to Dorgerhaugen, we reached the high point 18:55PM.
We spent 5 minutes at the top. Terje took a few pictures while I signed the guestbook and Troll marked the upper forest as "his forest". Then we headed down. Effectively, we (more or less) followed our ascent tracks and were back at the car 19:35PM. All in all, this was an easy forest walk, even in the dark, but it was important to find a route outside the bush regions.
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If the route mentioned above should be of interest, here is the route description:
Access
From Ålesund, follow highway E136->E39 towards Bergen. When you reach the RV61/E39 junction near Solavågseidet, continue straight ahead (towards Sulesund on RV61) for 1Km. You see a small group of houses on your left hand side. Turn left onto the road that leads to the houses. This road forks. Turn left and find parking where convenient.
The route
Head up to the easternmost/northernmost house. A forest path runs up to your right from this house. Follow this path all the way to a pass at 100m elevation, just below the powerlines.
Turn right and try to locate a path (marked by blue paint on the trees) that runs up a tiny valley between the ridges that leads to Ruskenakken (up to your right) and Dorgerhaugen (up to your left). You won't find these names on the 1:50,000 map.
When you are in the Ruskenakken - Dorgerhaugen pass, turn left and find a convenient route. Follow the Dorgerhaugen ridge towards the southeast, which leads to Solavågsfjellet's high point. Descend your ascent route.
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