Geilo-Ustetind
In contrary to today, last Sunday was full of sunshine even if the wind at times was a bit heavy. Since I worked evening and night on the Saturday I managed to sleep until 14.30 and was not outside the door until about one hour later. I had plans to walk to Ustetind, a peak located between Geilo and Ustaoset.
So when I headed out I thought that I will most likely only walk half the way since the trail is approximately 14km – one way – from where I live. I walked the 5minutes down to the big trail going around the lake in Geilo- Ustedalsfjorden until I came to Tuftebrui, losely translated “the Tufte bridge” where i took left up between the threes following to sign towards Ustetind.
But you know how it is, when you have reached above the tree-limit there is no point of return. Especially if you have had a busy week at work, the sun is shining and you find yourself alone in this vast and quiet nature. So I had to walk the whole way- and it was long. It was maybe not so physically challenging since when you have first have reached above the tree-limit you have to cross a rather flat mountain plateau for about 4-6km. The trail was nice and smooth, but due to some rain the day before, and the fact that the snow-melting is still going strong higher up in the mountains parts of the trail were hard to find since it partly goes through a swamp like area with a lot of water and some really nice lakes. But a day tour is not complete without some detouring and trying to find back to the trail!
Biskolatjøene looked exceptional idyllic with a small red cottage next to the waterfront! A few kilometres after BiskolatjØrne the next climb comes and I reached another plateau that gave me a nice view into Hardangervidda and Hallingskarvet National Park. On the last plateau, approximately 1316 meters above sea-level the trail widened out a bit before it finally got smaller again and led me down the last slope and over one more mountain stream so I could take on the last ascend before reaching Ustetind. It was almost 20.00 when I got up on the top but the evening sun could not have given me a better light to admire the wide landscape below me. Everywhere untouched nature and mountains as long as the eye could see- and this is my backyard.
I took out my walking sticks for the descend down to Geilo and I experienced almost no kneepain at all. Note to one self; even if it looks stupid to walk with sticks it actually makes it possible for me to do what I love- to explore and feel the nature.
