[21-3 |] Crossing routes in the Trollheimen mountains [21-4]
[21-5 |] Five-day trip with a tent [21-6]
[21-7] On this tenting trip in Trollheimen, we are looking for opportunities off the main trails. [21-8] We start out from Jøldalen across Svarthamran, over Storlifjellet and down into Neådalen. [21-9] We make our way over to Folldalen and Snota and back via Finnskardet and Svarthetta. [21-10] We take advantage of the freedom provided by having everything we need on our back. [21-11] The trip is suitable for active children (with fit parents) from about 13 - 14 years of age. [21-12]
[21-13] We start from Åssetra a couple kilometers before Jølhaugen. [21-14] We can get here by car or by bus in Orkdalen and taxi, or hitch-hiking in. [21-15] We go across Ondusfjellet, on the southern side of Gråfjellet and up onto Kjølen east of Svarthetta. [21-16] We hike up the ramp on the southern side of Svarthetta up onto the crest of the mountain. [21-17] A detour can be taken up to Svarthetta, or we can set course right away south toward Svarthamran. [21-18] We make our first camp on one of the fine grassy ledges before the northernmost of the Svarttjørnin summits at Svarthamran. [21-19] We go westward down along the ramp with winter stake markers, up again and pass Fossådal Lake on the northern side. [21-20] If the weather is nice, the trip can be made over the top of Blåhø and down via Riaren. [21-21] We climb steeply up the ridge to the crest of the highest summit of Storlifjell, 1582 m, a mountaintop that is not frequently visited. [21-22] We cut diagonally across the rocky talus and down to Sprikletjørnin, go inn on the southern side of the lake and pass Sprikletjønn Lodge. [21-23] A little easier, but longer alternative is not to go over the Storlifjell ridge, but rather follow the marked trail from Mellomfjell toward Bårdsgarden alongside the Fagerli ponds and over to Hyttdalen, and take from here the marked trail leading to Trollheim Lodge in a northwest direction. [21-24] The best passage over Folla is at the mouth of the lake in flat Hyttdalen. [21-25] The old marked path runs up from here toward Halsbekkdalen. [21-26] From Sprikletjørnin, we can do the summits in the valley and up to Neådalssnota. [21-27] The trip continues over the link to the beautiful, sheltered Neådalen and follows the valley down to our campsite in the middle of Neådalen. [21-28] If there is much water in the mountains, it is recommended to take the northern side of the water course, so that it will not be necessary to cross the river. [21-29]
[21-30] We continue down the valley, over onto the inner side of Knubban and down into Naustadalen. [21-31] We follow the marked route toward Trollheim Lodge until we are over in Folldalen. [21-32] Before Fuglsøysetra, we hike northward up to Boss Lake. [21-33] Here we make camp. [21-34] We take a rest day without the backpack and climb Snota. [21-35] Bossvatnet is a good and beautiful lake for fishing. [21-36] We follow the marked trail for a part of the trip the following day, as well. [21-37] We take the marked trail down via Trollheim Lodge and take the route toward Jøldal Lodge in the direction of Trollhetta and follow this until we are up out of the woods on our way up Trollhetta. [21-38] From here, we go directly north over the plateau, Trollhett-telet, on the western side of Trollhetta, and curve in along Rinnvatna on the northern side of Trollhetta. [21-39] We find a good campsite in by Storinn Lake. [21-40] On the last day, we go through Åkerdalen, hike out over Grønli-hammaren and pass Jøla. [21-41] If there is much water in the mountains, cross the river by bridge over the water inflow northwest of Jølhaugen, or cross the river downstream from the inflow. [21-42] We are back where we started. [21-43]
[21-44 |] Winter: [21-45] This is a fine trip to take with a tent during winter, as well. [21-46] It is not recommended, however, to go directly over Storlifjell ridge, but rather to follow the summer route via Hyttdalen. [21-47] In winter conditions, the trip is done from Boss Lake directly across the inner portion of Gråsjøen and up to Rinnvatna from there. [21-48] If the snow conditions are good and you are in good shape, this round trip can be done in four days, spending nights at Fossådalsvatnet, in Naustådalen and at Bossvatnet. [21-49] Snota is climbed the same day as the trip from Naustådalen. [21-50]
[21-51 |] Descriptions of routes: [21-52] The marked routes and many alternatives and summit excursions are described in TT's handbook Sylene and Trollheimen and can be useful also on a trip like this off the trails. [21-53]
[21-54 |] Maps: [21-55] 1:50 000 Trollhetta, Oppdal, Romfo and Snota or trip map 1:75 000 Trollheimen. [21-56] The old maps with a scale of 1:100 000 are too difficult to read when one hikes off the usual routes in Trollheimen. [21-57]
[21-58 |] Erik Stabell [21-59]
[21-60 |] The Stone Age settlement at Sprikletjørnin [21-61]
[21-62] Where the marked trail between Trollheim Lodge and Vassendsetra / Bårdsgarden passes on the eastern side of Sprikletjørnin, the site of a Stone Age settlement was found in 1980. [21-63] During the excavations, archeologists found flint tools that bear witness to settlement here 9000 years ago and reindeer trapping, which was the reason for living in the mountains. [21-64]
[21-65] Source: Lil Gustafson, Fangstfolk i fjellet, Track 1, 1986 and Harald Egil Folden, Trollheimen I. [21-66] Folldalen and Vindøldalen, 1997.