Løstad viewing point

We walked, and occasionally ran and slid our way back down the slope; sometimes deliberately, sometimes not so much. When we got back to the cross roads at 300m, we decided to take a different footpath down into town.

Finding that we were making excellent time though (we were now on a trail graded at 2 out of 4 in difficulty) we decided to take a spur to another view point, electing to visit the one at 500m. We passed by some lamas, the majority of the few that graze on these slopes. The trail went on to pas through a small, recently made clearing which smelled richly of pine.

The trail did increase in difficulty as we went higher, but a rope was provided to assist on the most treacherous stretch. Finally we had to cross a curious strip of snow that had the appearance of a frozen waterfall, running as it did from the peak, most of the way to the fjord below.

From 500m above the bend in the fjord the view was the best of the day, although we entirely forgot to take a picture that included either of us.

To get down we back tracked to where the spur rejoined the main path and headed down into town. This stretch of the route was in a state of disrepair from the winter, trees that had fallen during the winter blocked the trail in places, requiring us to clamber over.

After reaching the town, we hiked back to our cabin and arrived there around 22:00, as the light failed us. Perfect timing; no silly risks run, but not a minute of our evening in Geiranger wasted.

By the end of the day we had, in total walked up around 950 vertical meters of slopes, and we had no idea many km around the fjord over the course of 6 hours. Soon after getting our boots off and laying down we fell in that deep, replenishing sleep that one has to have scrambled up a mountain side to enjoy.

Geiranger in April left us with the feeling of having had the play ground to one’s self. Travel writers visiting Geiranger in its high season often complain of the impact of the numerous tourists on its beauty. Rarely are there fewer than 2 cruise ships moored in the fjord its self, belching black diesel fumes into the sky as their engines and support craft churn the waters. On this day in April, the fjord is empty, tranquil and though the clouds are in and plenty of rain is falling, it does little to dampen the impact of this place in the same way that throngs of tourists and noisy vehicles might.Read more