Leaving Sogndal along the fjord inland…
Amazing setting of Sognefjord.
Our plan was to visit Urnes stave church. The plan failed (luckily in a way) as we would have to wait for a ferry for far too long. So we took a short meal break on the shore of Sognefjord instead.
Just one of the several high waterfalls along the Sognefjord.
Another view of the fjord.
A view of Skjolden, a town at the very end of Sognefjord.
Bright blue Fortundalselva river accompanied us towards the highlight of that day’s journey – the amazing Jotunheimen national park.
Narrow road soon started to ascend, but twisty turns didn’t let us know, where we were actually going.
As we were clueless of what we were about to cross, the inital steep forests with an ocassional waterfall or two didn’t impress us much. Beautiful and serene but not much more.
And then BAM!!! Forests gave way to the proper tundra-like landscape and the first black mountainpeaks of the Jotunheimen greeted us.
Jotuns were giants in Old Norse (viking age) mythology. Jotunheimen would translate to the ‘Home of the giants’.
Slightly higher, we get a better look of the black mountain peaks of some of the highest Norwegian mountains. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination for the sharp jagged peaks to resemble Jotun’s teeth.
The road travelled so far.
I measure 180cm, so you can imagine how much snow they anticipate on this road in the winter.
Another view of the majestic peaks of the Jotunheimen national park.
But when you think you have already reached the top, just around the corner, the road ascends again…
And we “found” some of the last winter’s snow. It doesn’t take a lot for a kid to be happy 🙂
Despite being at more than 1000m high and above the tree line, water is in abundance. Numerous lakes scattered the wilderness.
Have I mentioned lakes, yet?
When you think, you’ve seen it all, this kind of view pops up around the corner.
Country road, take me home, to the place I belong, Jotunheimen in Norway…! 😀
A little mountain hut on the shore of one of the numerous lakes.
Serenity
Close view of the glacier, just as we started our descent towards Lom.
Unfortunately the photos don’t do justice to the natural beauty.
And down we go. Amazing mountain scenery follows us on our way.
Warm colours of afternoon sun light our way when we descend below the tree line.
Foseebergom – a small town at the foothill of yet another mountain range.
And guess what. If we had to abandon plans to visit Urnes stave church, we got to see the Lom one instead.
Viking age inspired motive on this 12-century church.
And after a looong day, we finally reached our wooden cottage for the night!
