Day 69 – 4 Sep, Klukselva Stream to Storerikvollen Hut

(19 km, total 1814 km, 5h, 0750 to 1250)

It rained for most of the night, light rain only and no wind. When I opened my tent flap the view had been replaced with a white mist. I debated whether to stay in bed for a bit longer but decided to get up as it would mean I would have more time at the hut.

The mist was actually a light rain so I needed full wet weather kit when I started walking. It has been a while since I have been in such a heavy mist and I enjoyed it.

The trail continued climbing but it seemed a lot more gentle than I was expecting from the contours on the map.

I climbed above the trees and the mist got even heavier, but it was not cold. I loved seeing the water droplets on everything, including a patch of blueberries I found. I stopped and had a good snack as well as collecting for breakfast.

There were heaps of herds of reindeer around and for some reason the mist seemed to have rendered them deaf as I kept on giving them a fright and they would only spot me as I got really close.
Once the main climb was over it was surprisingly flat and flat in Norway means more swamps than normal. However there were tracks in between that were easy to walk on and I felt like I was making good progress. I was also enjoying myself, despite the many swamps.

In the distance I could see some snow markers which are red crosses (Xs) mounted high on posts. I was happy that the trail veered away from them.

Snow marker appearing through the mist

Unfortunately the track then veered back to the snow markers from the intersection with the track to Bjorneggen Hut. The track now became more defined and was close to the snow markers for the next 10 km. Once again the distance on the signpost was more than that on the map. The sign said 14km to Storerikvoollen Hut and I had worked out 11km by the map. Based on the time it took me it was 11km.

The track dropped gently down a hill with the mist clearing as I dropped. It then undulated over small hills through the swamps and sparse trees, over a river and slightly up the side of a hill before dropping down to the hut complex. I had been expecting a large building and it was actually a lot of buildings.

I was surprised by how quickly I had got here as I did not think I was walking that fast. Obviously food and a dry warm building was a good motivator. I felt good, apart from coughing to clear my lungs up the bigger hills.

I walked around to the front and into the biggest building where there were several people in a dining room. I asked about the procedure and they showed me the reception.
I was assigned a room that was in the same building, a room with 2 bunks.

You can order food all through the day and I had different cuts of meat with a strange hard bred and then waffles, with coffee of course. I washed my shoes, socks and gaiters and put them in the drying room along with my tent. I then had a shower – yes a hot shower. They have special water tanks that heat the water by gas and are well insulated so they hold the heat.

I then had another waffle, some chips and a coke and sat on a couch with my feet up editing videos. More people started arriving from around 1500.

At 1800 we were summonsed with a bell to the dining room where we were assigned seating, one table for the construction volunteers replacing the roof of the 1920 built building, one table of adult hikers and a table with children and parents.

All the hikers were from Sweden, all 8 of them. Unfortunately they spoke in Swedish for most of the meal with only a few occasions where they spoke English so it was a little boring but it meant I was able to concentrate on the lovely food. Starter was a tomato soup with macaroni and I had seconds. Main was potatoes, carrots, mashed peas, gravy, berry sauce and meatballs. It was really nice and I had a big plate and seconds. Desert was a light and fluffy rice based pudding with a berry sauce that was nice but not very big. Two ladies did not finish theirs so I asked for it. They looked at me funny but handed it over and I polished it off. We then retired to the small dining area for coffee and cake sitting around the fire. Once again all conversation was in Swedish so I just relaxed staring into the fire. It was only 1930, a time when I would normally be starting to eat my dinner.
This is an amazing place and a nice luxury. I am glad I decided to take a Nero day today. Breakfast is at 0800 so I will have a later start than normal. I am sharing my room with a young Swedish girl just finished university and doing a hike before starting to job hunt.

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