So as another bright day dawned we repacked our sacks, had another excellent hostel breakfast and clambered into the minibus to take us to a point on the road just beyond Øygardsstølen. Perhaps we’d become inured to the cost of Norway but we were the only two minibus passengers that day and it cost us the equivalent of £55 for this short drive. Again the option to walk or hitch were there, we just wanted to get going.
Originally our plan was to stay at Langavatn hytte as we were being a touch wary based on our previous experience. As we waved goodbye to the taxi and set out along the access road for the lake/reservoir to the south of Øygardsstølen, our rucksacks felt good on our backs as did the sunshine on our faces. The first section continued along the track with the lake to our left. Many of the lakes up here have been harnessed for Hydro power (when I was at school we used to called this HEP but that seems to have gone from common use!)
At one stage we passed an ancient British bus and a collection of tents – possibly some university geology expedition’s campsite. At the end of the track, the path dropped down to the side of the Langavatnet lake. For a while the path became a series of small stepping stones just above the water level but in comparison to our first two days the going was simple and fun. We arrived at Langavatn hut at 1pm and took ten minutes to have a look round our first purpose built Norwegian mountain hut. This one was a provisioned one with shelves lined with sardines, tea bags and candles controlled by an honesty box system. We were fully stocked so didn’t need anything but it gave us time to decide that as the going was good we’d head onto the next hut at Blåfjellenden around eleven kilometres away.
We set off for what turned out to be a most satisfying day in the mountains. The first part of the route worked its way down to another lake before we climbed up and over a little hill and dropped down into the long valley of Blåstødalen in which Blåfjellenden sits. The walk was long and tiring but pleasantly tiring and we had the reassurance that as the hours ticked by so did the kilometres. At last we were walking at a pace we were used to. At time the path was a solid stony affair, at others it wound its way round and over marshy spots. Only at one stage did we follow the wrong route briefly but keeping an eye on the map soon got us right again. At six thirty we crossed a small steel bridge and climbed, tired and content, up to the Blåfjellenden hut door.
Moments later we were back out for a spot of skinny dipping to wash away our woes before returning to the hut for dinner and to soak up the stunning views that this hut enjoys.
The Facilities
Again Blåfjellenden is a purpose built hut. To be fair it is two purpose built huts in case one burns down! Situated on a wee rocky bluff above the valley it has stunning views both up and down the valley. It has a stock of gas and candles but otherwise you need to bring your own food. A separate toilet block is nearby and there is a fine stack of logs should the hut get cold in the evening. There was even a blow-up shark in the entrance area should you have need for one! There were three four-bedded rooms downstairs and more upstairs with the ubiquitous pile of mattresses in the corner of one should a large number of folk descend in one go.
Water is available via steel bucket from the nearby stream (so be careful where you skinny dip).
So we’d enjoyed a successful day and after spending hours poring over the map to decide exactly where we were going to go the next day we opted to return to the fjord side and head back north. Tomorrow we’d aim for the Flørli area and find somewhere to camp.