Nearing the top of Mount Floyen we could see a lot of evidence of Nazi fortifications left over from the occupation of Norway, and Bergen during WWII. We continued on the trail and the views got better and better. What a day!
Today we set off to hike the mountains that surround the second largest city of Norway, the port city of Bergen. Hiking up the mountains is one of the most popular summertime activities here. Even during the winter, locals will take the tram up the mountain with their cross country skis, and go skiing on the same trails we will be walking on. The trails are all lit up during the winter, since the daylight hours are so short. Bergen is also known at the rainiest, wettest city in Norway....but not today! Everyone in town kept telling us how lucky we are getting with this sunny, clear weather... and once we got up on top of the mountains and saw the views, I totally agreed with them!
The plan was to take the tram up Mt Floyen from the edge of the city, then hike for about five hours across to the top of Mt Ulriken. It was a big undertaking, and we employed a local guide, Renota, to enhance the experience. He met us at our hotel and led us for about five minutes through town, to the bottom of the Mt Floyen furnicular. We crammed in with about 80 other people, and took the couple minute ride up about 320m to a wonderful overlook of the city. After taking a few photos from here, we decided to take the trails to the summit, about 400m high, and to leave the crowds behind us. Most of them were from the cruise ships below, and just rode the furnicular up and back down.
On our way up, we passed a beautiful lake, where some people had rented a canoe and were paddling through the lily pads. It looks very romantic. As usual, there was also a coffee shop here, as it seemed that everyone drank coffee here, all the time. After that we quickly ascended above the tree line, along a paved path. Renato told us that the path was made by the Nazis, during their invasion and occupation of Norway during WWII. We passed a few bunkers and gun mounts that they maintained here at the summit. This immersion and education into that time period over here was one of the big surprises of the trip. I hadn't studied too much about Norway's part in WWII. It was very moving to hear about the occupation here and how life was then.
After such heavy feelings at the summit of Mt Floyen, it was liberating to push past and into the beautiful mountain expanse that appeared before us. I felt myself wishing that we could walk up here forever. The views were endless, and I could see trail connecting all the different mountain tops. Our group took one look at the trail to Mt Ulriken, our original destination, and decided to do a shortened version that circled back to town through a valley in between the two mountains. We hiked past the black dike and ice lake, before getting a wonderful tour through the small alleyways and side streets of town. Eventually we walked right back to our hotel, about 20,000 steps later.
A few of us went strait to a waterfront bar for a celebratory beer. It felt very well earned after our days adventure. Then we all met up to walk to our dinner spot, which came highly recommended, called Amici Miei. We certainly experienced the Norwegian culture of going for a hike in the mountains. It was great having a local guide. I find that always enhances the experience, anytime you go to a new place.
We got an incredibly clear, beautiful, sunny day for our mountain hike. This is a rare thing in Norway's rainiest city of Bergen. Everyone we met kept telling us how lucky we were. With views like this, I tend to agree with them!
One of my favorite views of our hike today. This was near the top of Mt Floyen, looking north. Once we got above the tree line, our views were pretty much endless. We could see that the trails went for miles in every direction, connecting all the different summits.
Entrance to the historic leper colony. This is where Dr. Hansen did his research and found the cause for the 'up-till-then' mysterious disease.
A daytime long exposure of a beautiful mountain stream on our hike between Mount Floyen and Mount Ulriken.
After hiking down out of the mountains, we traveled through a maze of small streets and alleyways, taking us back towards the waterfront and our hotel.
Who knew that Dr Hansen was from Bergen?
Heading up another secret side street.
Our hike started with a ride up the tram to this beautiful lookout point on Mt Floyen. Most people stop here and travel back down to their cruise ship, not us, we kept going out to the wild ridgeline.
Our local expert guide, Renato, knew just about everything about the history of the area.
There was a pretty beautiful overlook of the city of Bergen from up here on Mt Floyen.
I was admiring the slate roof design of this private home. This is very common here in Bergen.
The views here go for days. And your walks could as well.
This is when our guide said, 'we are here, the plan is to go all the way over here.' We ended up taking a shorter path home.
This was a high alpine lake, perfect for a romantic paddle through the lily pads.
Our hard charging group, before we split ways and took two different trails back.
Gaining elevation on our hike up the mountain.
Our plan was to head to Ulriken, but that is feeling pretty far at this point.
Fox gloves and hidden lakes are in store for us on our hike today.
No animals allowed up here, because this is drinking water!
There is always something so nice and healing when you are surrounded by this kind of nature.
Mary and Renato, discussing all things Norway as we hike.
With a few cruise ships in Bergen, the tram was packed every time. However, not many of these people hike too far along the ridge, giving us lots of area to be secluded and take in the sights without the crowds.
Overlook of Bergen's waterfront area, with a tram on its way up Mt Floyen.
The different hiking paths are pretty well marked up here, including maps and arrows.
I can't believe we got such a nice day for our hike through the mountains and forest.
This was a funny and memorable spot. A couple of us stopped to check out this beautifully lit up moss garden, commenting on how magical it looked. Then one of our group said it looked creepy and was the stuff of nightmares. We couldn't have gotten two more different reactions to the same area.
Up at the summit of Mt Floyen. Onward we hike!
As always, keep traveling and keep posting!
- Dai Mar