Trekking up Dalsnuten

Aisya did it with her Grade 5 class just a couple of weeks before, we felt we must also experience Dalsnuten. We've been told by friends that before you go scrambling through moors, meadows and mountains here you must first do Dalsnuten. Apparently it's a pre-requisite for Preiskestolen and Kjerag, the two most sought after must-do-trips when in Stavanger.

Aisya didn't think much of it ... walk in the park she said and was skipping along the muddy and wet trails in the moors. Ali was upbeat for the first few hundred meters, before turning on his usual whining machine. The first time Aisya walked the trail she had her teachers and classmates to keep her going; this time she had only a whiny lbig brother, a not so excited Mommy and too busy with camera Daddy.  It wasn't as easy going to say the least.

We left the house early and was first at the carpark before the clock struck 8 am. It was cold, windy and damp. But boy ... the light was great! The sun was just sliding over the mountains and slowly lighting up the farmlands, meadows, lakes and hills as it slowly 'miring' just above the horizon. We walked towards Ovre Eikenuten, swing right towards Lundane and took a sideways route up Dalnuten at 323m; all the while dodging wet paths, muddy patches and scraggly grass.

Countour map of Dalsnuten (323m), next peaks across are Bjorndalsfjellet (362m) and Mattirudla (346m).

 Dalsnuten from sealevel, there's a trail going up from the steeper side a well for those seeking more fat burning action.

Morning has waken just after a short walk from Gramstad parking lot.

The meadows of wet path and scraggly not so tall grass.

The view of Flatafjellet from 3/4 way up Dalsnuten.

The view from the top.

Blueskies day in mid September, people were out in big numbers intent on enjoying the last bit of the sun.

The toughest part was convincing Ali to get a move-on. He was willing to be left behind on a big rock so he didn't have to climb. Mommy in her usual best manipulative self managed to convince Ali to do otherwise. The last hour up the steep slope saw Ali racing through the trail counting the little red "T"s, route markers to the top.

In the two hours that took us to get up Dalnuten, a couple in their late fifties raced up, raced down again almost flying down Dalnuten and up Kallandnuten (264m) and up Mattirudla (346m), the other two hills nearby. "We are making the best of the last of the sunny days! Better hurry!".

It's a beautiful sight walking the meadows, even better views from the top. We had lunch and enjoyed a chilly lunch soaking up a birds-eye view of Stavanger.

We raced back down and reached the car at 12noon.

By the time we arrived back at the parking lot, it was loaded with cars, more people were edging their way in; stark contrast to the situation earlier in the morning. It's great to see families with kids as young as 3-4 years old decked in proper outdoor gear and hiking boots and backpack, excited to be outdoors, ready to conquer yet another hill with Mom and Dad.