Gaustatoppen

We also went on a hiking trip with our turgruppa to Gaustatoppen, which was such a magnificent day that I thought it deserved its own post.  It was the last trip we made before the Norwegian holiday and we did it on a Saturday so that we had all day.  It was over a 2 hour drive from Kongsberg and we took vans to get there...many winding steep turns along the way.  It is the 8th highest peak in Norway, and it was beyond beautiful.  We road up part up the mountain to where the trail started.  It was a very challenging hike both physically and mentally due the steepness, the partial snow, and it mostly being rocks. The rocks made you have to pay attention to each step you took, the entire time. The weather was lovely that day,in  the 70's and a little cooler once we got to the top due to the elevation. There were parts that still had much snow (that should show how high the mountain was). Those parts were a little hard for me, due to my still very small experience walking in snow and there being steep parts walking across areas and down. I had some near on-the-booty falls (just part of the fun).  We were able to pause at a great area on the way up for a nice sandwich for lunch with the group, and it took about 2-3 hours to make it to the top.  It was breathtakingly beautiful and have to say that pictures just don't do it justice.

The last 15 min to the top was very steep and there were only a couple ways you could get up. Mind over Matter was my motto during this last uphill dash. We hung out at the top relaxing and soaking up the view for at least 30 min. It was perfection. I, of course, was too scared to get too close to the edges that were a straight drop, so Kevin took care of most of the pictures (Good boy).  The way down actually took more concentration then the way up...I ended up rolling my ankle a few times due to making a wrong step. oops!

On the way home, the guides made a (what we thought was a spontaneous) stop to a cute diner on the side of the road. I think that they must have mentioned it earlier, but we failed to pick that up during our own Norwegian to English translation!  We walked in thinking that some people needed to use the restroom and wanted to get a quick drink/food. However, they make us all sit down at tables and then these meals just start coming out to all of us. A hot, home cooked meal. We were beside ourselves...after all we were out of pretzels and it was beyond our dinner time. They served us what they call kjøttkake (meat cakes), veggies, salad, and potatoes. We also got dessert- chocolate jello and a cream (Kevin loved).  It was a fun surprise and end to our hike. We were so thankful.  We crashed when we finally got home after 8 pm, when we had left our apartment at 8:45 am that morning. It was days like that, that we just love being here. Enjoy the pictures!

A picture of Gaustatoppen from the van

A beautiful view while on a pit stop

Our view during our stop for lunch

Going through the snow- narrow trail

Our Goal after lunch--Rock all the way up

Our Cute Dinner Stop

Our Dinner- Kjøtt kake og grønnsaker og poteter

Dessert!

Turgruppa (Hiking Group)

Kronene i Håvet

This Spring we joined a hiking group, here known as "Turgruppa."  We got to go to a new hiking trail every Tuesday, with guides and free transportation. It was perfect for us.  There is a break now due to the "Norwegian Holiday."  The guides were two men and a woman who were older (prob in 60's if I were to guess). They knew the land so well, and everything about it.  They spoke english well from what we thought.  They however told us to help them with their english and they would help us with our Norwegian. So we spoke to each other in a mix of both, and said the name of certain things in our native language (or mother language as they say here). The hikes we did were mostly in and around Kongsberg. The first hike we went on was simple and we hiked to the Kronene i Håvet ( I call it the King's wall- but Kronene actually is Crowns in Norwegian) which is famous landmark here in Kongsberg. There is a large stone wall where past kings and the current King came and carved their royal monograms (or permanent mark) into the mountain side. The tradition started in 1704 and continues on when there is a royal visit to Kongsberg.  The first mark however is for Christian IV in 1624 who founded Kongsberg- after Silver was discovered there. When a new king reigns they come and put their mark on the wall.  It is very neat to see, looks like something almost out of a movie.   Kongsberg is very well known for its silver mining and around a lot of the trails there are reminents and reminders of this.

Gives you an idea of how big it is!

A close look at the Kronene i Håvet

Another trip brought us to the wonderful look out point called beckerkjøkkenet (The Becker's Kitchen). Our guides described it to us as an old spot where a family that was very rich use to come to eat to look "down" upon the city. It was all made out of stone--and was obviously falling apart. But still it was nice to hear the story. It looked like a little kitchen with a table made out of stone. There was also a really nice view of Kongsberg.

Sign for Beckerkjøkkenet

Beckerkjøkkenet

Beckerkjøkkenet

We quickly realized that we needed new hiking shoes as we went up and down some very steep spots during our hikes. It also seemed rain almost every Tuesday when it was time to go on our hike.  We were able to order some awesome Hiking shoes while we were home in USA- much better deals.  I also have to brag about there incredibly delicious clear water you can find streaming as you go for a hike. I, of course, was incredibly against trying. I am so weird about things being sanitary. But when desperate for water on our last hike, I gave in.  It was by far the best water I every had. Ice cold. Beyond refreshing. Far better than anything I've gotten from the sink. You can fill a water bottle and it is clear as day. Also as we were on one hike, our guide picked a flower/clover (I can't remember the name of it) and ate it. And of course he picked one for both of us. He basically watched us until we put it in our mouth... and to be honest it was a sweet acidic taste. He said usually in spring, some people will come pick these to put in their salad.  We kind of liked it...although I would never pick my own flower. ha. I only trust the Norwegians to tell me what it edible and drinkable. Although my trusting nature is kicking in, and I probably would drink the water without consent next time.

Fetching Fresh Water

Our cold refreshing spring water

Edible Greens in the forrest

I truly find hiking to be kind of a therapeutic challenge, and the views are such a great added bonus.
We often get the question, do you also hike at home? And a lot of times people can't imagine when I explain to them, "Not really, Louisiana is very flat. We don't have any Mountains." I always use hand motions too....swirly my hand flat so they can try to comprehend. I usually get a tilted head....and a "really?" I always say, "yep, and we also don't really get any snow." That is usually when I get the nod of the head, and the "hmm." That is often very interesting news, but that is all us Louisiana people know. And all they know is snow and mountains. I know life without skiing and mountain climbing but instead with crawfish boils and Mardi Gras... and they can't imagine not having it. I also explain that we have things in our woods/swamps that I fear..such as poisonous snakes, spiders, etc. Here--there is nothing apparently to fear at all in their mountains. No crazy wild animals, insects, reptiles..etc. This of course is Music to my ears. I talked to a guy who went to New Orleans with Kevin's company and he said that was the first time he finally understood what "flat" meant. He said there is a part of Norway that is pretty hilly and that is what they consider..."flat."  So he explained why that is such a hard concept to grasp here. So as long as Kevin and I have good weather this summer we will be outside on the weekends finding our own hiking adventures. The hiking group was a great way for us to start and to get a feel for where all the trails are. They can be accessible from where we live here in Kongsberg so that is great.  We just end up with longer hikes then most due to our no car situation, but we don't mind at all. The longer the better :) I'll make some more posts about our independent adventure soon, along with our hike to Gaustatoppen.

Fun Trails

STEEP going down! 

Rainy Day Hiking--Still Happy :)

To Sweden and back...ultimate road trip

We took a road trip to Sweden a couple Saturdays ago with some friends. We left early on Saturday and traveled to Stromstad, Sweden to do some shopping. Apparently, this is "THE" place to go.  The first stop we made was to a giant liquor store, called System Bolaget, where we had to wait outside in a line in order to be able to get in. The beer...liquor...wine is rumored to be much cheaper in Sweden than in Norway. We found out that the rumor happened to be true. :) There was a very large selection...and we decided to go for a small variety of beer and case of Stella Artois.  After that run we were able to go by the harbor there and eat. The view was cloudy but the rain stayed away long enough for us to enjoy it and go for a nice walk. We then headed to the Nordby Shopping Center. This shopping center was hugeeeeee, with a giant grocery store inside, called MaxiMat. Meat was also rumored to be cheaper...which also turned out to be completely true, along with few other things. We were able to get bacon (happy husband), chicken, steaks... We basically felt like we went on a Sam's shopping spree, along with hundreds and possibly thousands on Saturday. Let's just say there were a lot of Norwegian license plates around. The stores were packed, and it was overwhelming by the amount of choices you had to make while dodging other people. It was pretty exhausting. The rest of the shopping center was more of a mall, we went into a few other stores too. One thing I thought was very interesting is that you can bring your shopping cart all over the mall--not just the grocery store, with all your shopping bags in it. I found that to be funny.  There wasn't much room in the back of the car by the end of it.  It was definitely an adventure that we were happy we got to join in on. Apparently, this trip is made at least a couple times a year for some folks--guess it just depends!

When we first arrived in Sweden

The Liquor store line..

The Harbor near where we ate lunch

Beautiful- even though near rain

Nordby Shopping Center

Long lines... 

Happy Shopper  :)

Finished and headed to the cars

The Car