Norwegian Mountains

Veten, 486m

Fylke/Kommune : Hordaland/Bergen
Maps : 1115-I Bergen (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Maps : 1116-II Sæbø (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary factor : 383m
Hiked : Dec 2002 (1st time)
See also : Høgstefjellet
See also : Geitanuken
Veten and Hogstefjellet

Veten and Høgstefjellet

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Introduction

Veten and Høgstefjellet are the dominating Åsane mountains, located on the northern tip of the Bergen peninsula. These mountains are tremendously popular, offering good access, trails and views. In addition to a good view towards the Bergen mountains, you have also a wide Nordhordland/Osterøy panorama to the north and east. You will find a large cairn on Veten, marking the high point.

An old mail road (Den Trondhjemske Postvei) runs between Veten and Høgstefjellet. At the access points for this road, you will find information boards with text in various languages. Snapped from the information board;

Den Trondhjemske Postvei

On 13 May 1785 a weekly post connection between Bergen and Trondheim was established by Royal decree. Up to that time, following the creation of the Norwegian Post Office in 1647, all post between Norway's then two most important cities had to go via Oslo - which was both inconvenient and expensive for Bergen's industrious tradesmen. A direct postal connection was also of interest to the district's officials, military, sherrifs, priests and bailiffs, as well as the important fisheries that provided the basis for flourishing businesses and increasing trade. A more efficient and faster postal service needed a better road. The designated "Safest and Most Convenient Post Tour" followed the shortest route up and down mountains, across fjords, lakes and rivers - as many as 15-17 along the 700-kilometre route. The journey along the Post Road was always arduous, whether travelling on horseback, in a rowing boat, or crossing the wind-swept mountain passes on foot in the winter. The post normally took 9-10 days between Bergen and Trondheim.

Six cubits (3.7 metres) wide with good ditches was the requirement for the Tronheim Post Road, but for a long time it was no more than a footpath or bridle path. It was not really a coach road until well into the nineteenth century. The building of the road was the responsibility of the "Roadmaster General" Nicolai Frederich Krogh, who lived in Trondheim, and then Christopher Johannes Hammer, a resident of Bergen.

Primary factor:

Veten (M711: 486m, Ø.K: highest contour is 485m) has a primary factor of 383m towards the higher Vardegga (Vidden) The saddle is found near highway E39, between lakes Langavatnet and Haukåsvatnet (Vikaleitet) Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), you cross the 105m contours on the high route, but 100m. The saddle height has been interpolated to 103m.

Trail descriptions:

Notes: Class ratings are in reference to YDS. Click here for more information.

The trails described below are not necessarily the *easiest* trails to this mountain.

Route 1: Falkanger - Veten (all seasons)

Difficulty : Class 1
Exposure : No
Comments : Trail all the way
Distance : Approx. 1,5Km to the top
Time : Approx. 1 hour to the top
Starting Elev.: Approx. 225m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 270m (total)

Map of the area
Map of the area
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Detailed map
Detailed map
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Access

From Bergen, follow highway E16/E39 northbound. At the E16/E39 junction in Åsane, turn left onto highway E39. Follow this road for approx. 6,6Km. Turn right towards "Steinestø/Hordvik" Follow this road for 700m. Turn left towards "Hordvik/Salhus" Follow "Hordvikvegen" for approx. 1,7Km before you turn left towards "Falkanger" (the left turn is sharp) Drive all the way to Falkanger (1,9Km) and find a large parking area to your left.

The route

Continue 100m up the road until you see the information board for "Den Trondhjemske Postvei". Locate a trail that begins on the other side of the fence.

The trail climbs up Veten's northwest ridge. In the beginning, you can see the houses at Falkanger. The trail then enters a spruce forest, and you will descend slightly inside the forest. Once out of the forest, the trail continues to a viewpoint before reaching a boggy meadow below the two steeper faces of Veten. The trail (which should be easy to follow all the way) runs straight up the steeper faces, but it does never get airy. Note that there is an unsigned trail fork once above the second face. Turn left here, and Veten summit is just two minutes away.

Trip report Jan 30 2005

The weather this Sunday was tremendously depressing. Pouring rain and fog in the mountains. I had no other ambitions than to "walk the dog"

It didn't matter which mountain I picked. There would be no views, anyway. I chose Veten and figured I could try out a trail that I hadn't done before. The Falkanger trail had been recommended by some friends, and 12:15PM, me and the dog were heading up the mountain. I had asked a local about the trail, and he explained it to me. He had a serious look on his face when he told me that "it would get rough up there today" I considered, but ended up not taking the bother to explain that I would probably be OK. I thanked him for the info and headed upwards.

Troll freaked at the first mud pit, which was at the information board. I congratulated him with walking h u n d r e d meters, and stuffed him in the back-pack. Even with snow, the trail was easy to follow. Most of the snow on the trail had melted, and the trail never caused any confusion.

Up a long ridge, through a forest, across a boggy meadow, up a steeper hill, and I was just below the top of Veten. A steep face was above me, and I found the trail that traversed this face. I can imagine this part of the trail demands caution when there is ice all over. Once above the steeper part, I noticed a potential trail fork, and turned left. At 12:55PM, we were standing on Veten summit.

It was quite windy, and the only place to enjoy lunch was behind the summit cairn. We didn't stay long, as we were both wet to the bone. I tried to count the number of times I had been up here, and concluded that this had to be the fifth time. Troll decided that he could walk down. He is able to rise great enthusiasm when he knows we're on our way home. And once wet, he doesn't care anymore. The walk back down didn't take long.

Pictures from the Jan 30 2005 hike

Move cursor to read notes, and click on the images to see full version.
Some of the thumbnails may have been cropped to fit the format.

1. Nordhordlandsbrua (171KB) 2. Leaving Falkanger behind (126KB) 3. Limited view from the Veten trail (354KB) 4. Foggy mountain (121KB) 5. Below the summit (103KB) 6. The summit cairn (83KB) 7. Troll not happy to be here (139KB)

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Trail descriptions:

Notes: Class ratings are in reference to YDS. Click here for more information.

The trails described below are not necessarily the *easiest* trails to this mountain.

Route 2: Dalabygda - Veten - Teigland - Dalabygda (all seasons)

Difficulty : Class 1
Comments : See description above
Distance : 7Km
Time : 2-3 hours round-trip
Starting Elev.: Approx. 90m (Dalabygda)
Vertical Gain : 400m

Map of the area
Map of the area
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Detailed map
Detailed map
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Access

From Bergen, follow highway E39/E16 northbound. At the first roundabout in Åsane (10 minutes from Bergen), turn left. Drive 100m and turn right onto the "Åsamyrane" road. There is also a sign towards "Trondhjemske Postvei". At the first Y junction, go left. After approx. 1,8Km from the start of the Åsamyrane road, you arrive the (signed) parking area on the right hand side of the road (very near the end of the road). 200m earlier, you might have noticed the "Postvegen" sign. This is your trailhead.

The route

Walk back 200m from the parking area and turn right when you see the "Postvegen" sign. Head up "Trondhjemske Postveien", an old mail road. Hike up to Rimmaskardet, the pass between Høgstefjellet (on your left) and Veten (on your right). When you reach an old stone building on your left, continue approx. 100m, and you will see the "Veten" trailsign.

Go through the stone fence and follow the trail that takes you all the way to Veten summit. The trail switchbacks a little at first, but then takes a direct approach to the summit.

From Veten summit, locate the path that runs SE towards Håkeberget. By the looks of the trail, this is probably the most used trail to Veten. The trail runs over Håkeberget (428m), and descends towards two distinct hilltops. The route runs on the left hand side of the leftmost hilltop, towards Sæterstøl.

Near Sæterstøl, the trail takes you through a gate (with "Veten" trailsign), and onto a paved road that curves down towards Teigland. Follow this road almost until highway E39, and turn right onto "Teiglandsveien". This gravel road takes you back to lake Langavatnet. Before you reach the lake, you need to leave the gravel road and go through a gate in order to get onto the trail that runs below the mountain and back to Dalabygda.

Pictures from the June 10 2005 hike:

Me and my dog "Troll" had a nice Friday evening round trip across Veten. We started out 19:15PM and reached the top approx. 20:00PM. I spent some time on the top, taking pictures. We headed up from Dalabygda, and headed down via Håkeberget. We were back at the car 21:15PM.

1. Arriving Dalabygda (172KB) 2. On the mail road (176KB) 3. Passing a cabin of stone (145KB) 4. Veten comes into view (116KB) 5. Another cabin of stone (164KB) 6. Troll lags behind (202KB) 7. The mail road (158KB) 8. Hogstefjellet (116KB) 9. Veten summit (103KB) 10. Veten summit views (268KB) 11. Veten summit views (310KB) 12. Veten summit views (255KB) 13. Nordhordlandsbrua (118KB) 14. Bergen towers (162KB) 15. Husdalsfjellet seen from Veten (207KB) 16. My little buddy (150KB) 17. Not so exciting, uh? (127KB) 18. Falkanger (182KB) 19. Bergen view from Veten (306KB) 20. Walking across Haakeberget (194KB) 21. Aasane Senter (241KB) 22. Nice evening colors on Haakeberget (158KB) 23. Birkelandsnipa seen from Haakeberget (156KB) 24. Passing Teigland (185KB) 25. Dalabygda birds (278KB) 26. Dalabygda birds (225KB)

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Pictures from the Dec 25 2002 hike:

Move cursor to read notes, and click on the images to see full version.
Some of the thumbnails may have been cropped to fit the format.

No trip report. The route went as described in "route 2" above.

1. Arriving Dalabygda (115KB) 2. Lake Langavatnet seen from the mail road (122KB) 3. Old building along the mail road (155KB) 4. The Veten trail begins in Rimmaskardet (138KB) 5. Aasane seen on the way to Veten (138KB) 6. Veten summit, 486m (99KB) 7. View towards Knarvik from Veten (152KB) 8. View towards Bergen from Veten (229KB) 9. Nordhordalandsbrua bridge (142KB) 10. Austlendingen (812m) seen from Veten (107KB) 11. Troll is trying to impress me.. (111KB) 12. The mail route and Hogstefjellet seen from Veten (174KB) 13. The route across Haakeberget (158KB) 14. The trail leading to Dalabygda (184KB) 15. Arriving Dalabygda at the end of the hike (119KB)

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Pictures from other hikes:

1. On the saddle to Hogstefjellet (263KB) 2. Veten seen from Hogstefjellet (256KB) 3. Veten/Hogstefjellet seen from the air (123KB) 4. Aasane mountains seen from Vidden trail (212KB) 5. Aasane mountains, Dec 2001 (190KB) 6. Veten, Dec 2001 (190KB) 7. Aasane mountains seen from Askoy (345KB) 8. Veten seen from Knarvik (207KB) 9. Aasane mountains seen from Storsaata (171KB) 10. Aasane mountains seen from Storsaata (370KB) 11. Aasane mountains seen from Vikinghytten (192KB) 12. Veten seen from Vedafjellet (178KB) 13. Veten seen from Nordhordlandsbrua (181KB) 14. Approaching Bergen - Aasane mountains (107KB) 15. Veten seen from highway E16 (147KB) 16. Veten seen from Hordvikneset (116KB) 17. North view (zoom) from Loevstakken (399KB) 18. Nordhordlandsbrua (109KB) 19. North view from Herlandsfjellet (311KB) 20. North view from Herlandsfjellet (215KB) 21. Aasane mountains (277KB) 22. View from above Turnerhytten (668KB) 23. Bergen seen from Løvstakken (530KB) 24. Veten seen from Hordvik (303KB) 25. Håøytoppen summit views (18mm, part 2/2) (445KB) 26. View from Grønetua (889KB)

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