Norwegian Mountains

Gaustadfjellet - Trip report Dec 29 2001

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The hike:

The hike went up the standard route from Gaustad along the southeast ridge. Although snow was covering the ground, it was quite doable to follow the trail most of the way. I descended the same way.

Map of the area
Map of the area
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Detailed map
Detailed map
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Trip report, Dec 29 2001

Gaustadfjellet had always fascinated me, due to its shape. I always think of the sugartop mountain in Rio when I look towards Gaustadfjellet. Thus, a hike was in order. And from distance, it looked as a trivial mountain, even with all the fresh snow the last weeks.

I found my way to Gaustad farm, where I stopped and had a long and interesting conversation with farmer Gaustad. He explained why Gaustad was a historic place. I enjoy talking to people who live nearby the mountains I hike. One learns things about the area that would be missed if one just sets off towards the mountain. In addition, they normally give good advices about the trail.

Farmer Gaustad suggested I should hike through the nearby gate on the left-hand side, but I couldn't find a good place to park. But I found the old forest road further down the road, which farmer Gaustad also told me about. When the road ended, I discovered a fresh track from a human, which I willingly followed. After a few minutes, my trust in the human ahead of me, decreased, as the tracks revealed someone looking for a way up the mountain.

I got up on the ridge, and had to make a deciscion whether to make my own way, or to follow the "walkabout" tracks crossing the ridge from left to right. On the final climb up to the summit, the tracks led me into a hopeless bush area with large rocks and holes covered by the snow. As I stood there and gave the whole situation a thought, I heard someone yell from further up the mountain. It was the "walkabout" man who told me that I shouldn't climb up where I was. After a hazardous crossing of the bush/rock area, I joined him on the regular trail which he found on the way down.

The summit didn't invite for a long stay. It was freezing cold, and my hands were shivering while I was taking the photographs. And Troll? Obviously he had to be carried all the way up, as the snow was approx. 40cm deep on the regular trail. And in windy places, the snow was waiste-deep. But thanks to two trailbreakers, Troll managed to walk all the way down.

Back in Bergen, I didn't feel that 317m was quite enough for a Saturday, so I decided an evening hike up to Ulriken (605m) was called for. Halfway up the mountain, all my energy was gone. I was fighting for every step of the way. Troll was in big confusion over my speed and kept running back to check up on me. But we reached Ulriken in grace and enjoyed a good view of Gaustadfjellet, where we summited a couple of hours earlier.

Pictures from the Dec 29 2001 hike:

1. Gaustadfjellet seen from Knarvik (165KB) 2. The trailhead and the forest service road (132KB) 3. Just arrived on the ridge. View towards south-east (200KB) 4. Just arrived on the ridge. View towards the summit (265KB) 5. Once on the ridge, Brakstadfjellet comes into view (320KB) 6. The final part of the ridge. The summit. (180KB) 7. Getting close. Only this climb remains (341KB) 8. On Gaustadfjellet summit (203KB) 9. View of western Radoy (310KB) 10. View over of Radoy (363KB) 11. North-east view from Gaustadfjellet (252KB) 12. View towards Osteroy, Vaksdal and Gullfjellet (389KB) 13. View towards Bergen city mountains (259KB) 14. Eldsfjellet, highest in Meland kommune (323KB) 15. Coming down from the summit (213KB)

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