Hello, friends, travelers, and community, I wanted to share our trip to Gaustatoppen, a mountain we visited one summer weekend. A friend invited us to visit her in Vinje, Telemark County, where we planned to pick wild berries, specifically cloudberries, which are only found in certain places. Gaustatoppen, the tallest mountain in Telemark County at 1,883 meters (6,178 ft), was also on our agenda for some hiking. We climbed the mountain years ago, but bad weather - rain, wind, and fog - made us determined to return under better conditions. This time, we made sure to check the weather forecast before heading out. Fortunately, the weekend weather was perfect - warm and calm. In Norway, it’s essential to consider the wind even when the sun is shining and the temperature is warm, so we made sure to pack warm clothing as well.
We set off early in the morning, driving through Kongsberg, and finally reaching the base, which took us around 3 hours. Gaustatoppen is truly a sight to behold in every season. Winter offers beautiful skiing on glistening snow, while summer is perfect for hiking and taking in breathtaking views. Autumn allows for experiencing the stunning colors of nature.
Our goal was to arrive at the mountain's base before midday, and we were surprised to find minimal traffic on the national highway. We reached our destination around 11:30 am, as planned, with the sun shining and the temperature being warm. Many people were taking advantage of the good weather and school vacations.
After having lunch, we started our hike. While some people prefer taking the underground lift, we wanted to embark on an adventure. We reached the top at around 4 pm. Due to the long summer days, it felt like midday even at 4 pm because of the bright sunshine.
The view from the summit is impressive, as one can see an area of approximately 60,000 square kilometers (23,000 sq mi), nearly one-sixth of Norway's mainland.
After relaxing and having food, we started hiking down. This took less time than the steep hike up.
after that, we had planned to drive to the other side of the mountain towards Vinje.
We stopped at Krossobanen the cablecar experience to see the Gausthatoppen from the other side.
The town of Rjukan does not receive any direct sunlight between September and March due to the tall mountains blocking the low sun. As a result, the town sits in complete shadow all winter long. However, a large mirror installed on the mountaintop now reflects sunlight into the town, brightening up the place and the spirits of the residents.
After spending some time at Krossobanen we were looking for our next destination a place to sleep. Here in Norway, we can rent a small summer cabin to spend the night, prepare food, and get refreshed for the next journey. We found such a cabin for the Night.
At 11 pm the place was still full of light, that is Norway in the summer.
After having good sleep and food we started early towards Vinje.
On the way, we stopped at a place called Ravnjuvet.
Scary and dangerous cliff looking down makes you dizzy, tickles your stomach and gives you goosebumps
After getting down to the river that we saw from the top of the cliff we viewed the cliff from below.
The marking shows where we had been on that cliff
Thank you very much for reading my post. All photos are taken by me and my husband many look similar but not.