Norwegian Mountains, Nordland
Straumsfjellet from Nordfjellmark, July 16 2009
To the main Straumsfjellet page (maps, route descriptions, other trip reports, etc.)
The route
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Day 13 of my 2009 summer vacation in northern Norway;
Having visited quite a number of mountains close to Brønnøysund during my vacation, I decided to go further inland. Straumsfjellet came up as a good possibility, and after some research - Nordfjellmark seemed to be the best starting point. I had been to Nordfjellmark as a child, but didn't remember much from that visit. As such, the summer theme continued - going back to my roots...
At Nordfjellmark, I was greeted by an old friend of my parents, and the new generation was wholeheartedly welcomed to his farm too. Since he knew that I had become a man of the mountains, he had more or less been expecting me. At least at some point in time. As we spoke, a rooster came proudly walking along, and then followed one of the hens...
Knowing the local mountains inside and out, he gave me good information about how I should approach Straumsfjellet. And so the idea of a round trip emerged.
Before I had arrived at the farm, I met a small creature on the road with an all too familiar shape and form. This was a very emotional encounter, as he (Max, I think it was) resembled good old Troll in so many ways.
Max the dachs
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1:07pm, I was on my way to Straumsfjellet. After crossing the river (on rocks) from Markavatnet, I headed up Storlitinden's northwest ridge. If I hadn't been so used to cumbersome terrain, I just might have found this ridge to be .. just that. But all in all, the ridge was fairly easy, and - it took me up - which was the main point. And 50 minutes later, I was on top of Storlitinden (approx. 515m) and had a fine view towards the valley below.
Nordfjellmark
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The hike to Straumsfjellet was just a transport leg. Nothing much to look at, and very few distinct features. It also seemed clear that this was not a place you want to be, should the fog come creeping in. 2:34pm, I was standing next to the summit cairn and observed that most of the higher (and interesting) mountains were fogged in. Thus, the stay at the summit was short and I returned the way I came.
Sea fog moving in across Bindal
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Back at Storlitinden, I decided to head down the north ridge. The first section was easy enough, but then a sudden drop forced me to look for an easier route. With grass up to my hip, I put the cumbersome label on this section of the route.
Back on the ridge - further down, I came across a vague path that I followed until I couldn't see it anymore. Markavatnet (and the forest road I aimed for) was still a bit ahead of me, so I had to continue - very off-trail- down the ridge until I met a creek coming off Straumsfjellet. Here I turned west and -eventually- found the forest road.
The only real surprise during this hike was meeting a horse in the middle of the forest road. At first, the horse seemed surprised too, but then it stepped off the road and continued eating grass. Any attempt in making contact with this animal turned out futile. The grass came first, second, third and last.
The time was 3:54pm when I returned to Nordfjellmark. The owner of the farm was out exercising his dogs, the rooster and his hens had disappeared, and not even Max could be seen down the road. I left Nordfjellmark in utter silence, but still very satisfied about the visit.
Storlitinden seen from Nordfjellmark
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In the evening, I went to the annual Roots Festival in Brønnøysund. September When (a popular Norwegian band) was playing, evening turned into morning, and the day had become a very, very memorable one :)
Next report: Sundsfjellet & Skårfjellet
