Adventures

This last weekend was the final weekend of semester. Despite having an exam on Wednesday and 2 papers it was definitely the most eventful weekend of the semester. A professor notified us on Friday afternoon that the stave church at Heddal was holding a mass that night... So Josie, Kim, and I set out to see the largest Stave Church in Norway.

There are 30 Stave Churches left in Norway, all from Viking times. This one was built in 1256!

On Saturday Anjuli, Kelsey, Josie, Kim, Elina and I hiked up to the top of Gygrestolen, a prominent rock outcropping that can be seen from most places in the valley. Gygrestolen is local dialect for 'The Trolls Chair'.

From atop Gygrestolen... there were some climbers below.

The group perched above the valley. Lifjell still has snow!

Kim felt like climbing a tree.

Down hike.

Gygrestolen is the rocky apex behind the trees.

Finally, on Sunday Erik took Chelsea and I to Årmotsdalen and a waterfall that he stumbled upon.

Chelsea was scared and excited with the loudness and power of the water.

Erik and Chelsea

Chelsea, myself and some powerful water.

After we got back from Årmotsdalen it started to rain. It was the first good rain of the spring and I had to venture out into it to take some pictures. Norwegians use the adjective 'trolsk' to describe things that look suspicious or momentarily beautiful in the landscape. This night definitely had some trollish scenery...

Looking out over Breisås studentheim.

Clouds to the left, mountain silhouette to the right.

Trolsk Vær... Trollish weather

The valley towards Seljord.

Bouldering

As I was walking home from school yesterday an acquaintance rode up along side me with a crash pad strapped to his back. I had previously met Morten on a ski day up at Lifjell and now he was looking for a bouldering spot up in the Breisås woods. The sun had been out all day and I had been looking for an excuse to hang out outside so I asked if I could join.

The first thing that we heard was the buzzing of at least 100 bumble bees which had aptly placed themselves underneath the rock wall.

Planning the route...                          ...and then going after it

Blue skies, buzzing bees, and an afternoon spent bouldering.

Couldn't figure out the move to get past this point. We will call it the 'crux' of this 6+.

Happy Hounds

There is not a doubt in my mind that Norwegian dogs are the happiest hounds in the world. Rain or shine, blizzard or blowing snow: Norwegians make sure that their doggies get their fresh air. Fresh air is after all the Norwegian cure-all.
All joking aside though, dogs come everywhere. Ski trips, hiking trips, partying. And they are definitely happier for it. For example, every morning for the last week I have walked through the school parking lot and found a car with its trunk open and two dogs leased to it, just laying in the grass enjoying the passersby.
All of this makes me feel guilty... and needless to say I will be taking my dog on walks and tours much more often!

I don't know their names, but these two friendlies greet me every morning that I come to school

The two dogs asleep in the grass behind their owners car and the schhool.

Chelsea battling with Aleks.

Chelsea wins.

Griseryggen

Translated into english Griseryggen means "the pig back".
I saw Johan at school on Thursday and he asked me if I'd be up for a hike during the upcoming weekend. I answered in the affirmative and didn't think much of it. I woke up to a text from Johan at 8:15am on Sunday morning asking again if I was up for a tour. I had some matè and then replied that I was. I filled up the camelbak, laced up the new hiking boots, and met Emil and Johan in the parking lot aka right outside my front door around noon. 2 hrs up Griseryggen and then 2 hrs down on the lakes trail brought us through at least 4 different types of ecosystems which were just coming to life after a nice long winter.

The DNT (Norwegian Tourist Association) keeps trails marked quite well.

I haven't mastered the art of photography yet and the cloudy skies didn't help, but you can see that there is still decent snow cover on Lifjell on the 2nd of May.

 

Emil found a moose shoulder bone laying in the brush...

I found a Moose antler on the way up!

The antler on top of my camelbak: 5 points!

L to R: Johan, myself and Emil

Johan and Emil disappearing into the trail.