How to get there:
Drive from Bergen to Kvamsskogen. This is a popular
vacation area. The drive is normally just under one hour.
After the highest point, Jonshøgdi, the road
descends and there is an NAF operated place on the right
hand side of the road. They have the key to the private
access road, otherwise closed by a gate. Obtain the
key here (small fee plus a deposit for the key). Continue for
about 1.5 km. The dirt road goes left at a bed and breakfeast
motel before the main road
crosses the creek Fljoto. This road first climbs then
continues in the valley for about 5 km. Park off the road where
it ends, quite close to a lake (Øvre Kvanndalsvatnet, 500 m). Route description:
From the end of the road, continue a few hundred meters along
the creek to a wooden bridge. Cross on this bridge and hike towards
the building. Near this house, the T-marked trail will take you
further into the valley and up between large boulders to the pass
Gråurdskardet (approx. 990m). While still in the pass, look for
and turn sharply right up a natural ramp in the terrain and gain the
higher plateau east of the pass. A distinct, small summit (point 1070)
attracts your attention. Pass this point on the left, you can climb it
by way of a small, sloping ledge on its north side. Continue around
the lake Gråurdsvatnet (1014 m) on the west side to the
northern tip of the lake. Continue a bit north up grassy slopes and
follow the way of least resistance as you bypass a distinct cliff on its
left (north) side. After gaining a more level plateau, head south-west
in the direction of the summit. It is probabely best to stay a bit
north and pass a distinct (false) rock summit on the northern side.
The terrain is quite broken with many small cliffs and some permanent
snow fields, be careful and watch for the crevasse that often separates
the snow from the cliff. Generally, there are many possible variations,
no significant difficulties, but one may have to circumvent cliffs and
obstacles along the way. The summit is a north-south ridge with a small
cairn. Carefully, follow the same route on your return, see also
the alternative described under Comments below. Comments:
The view from the summit is very good. One can see Ulriken in Bergen,
the mountains around Voss, the glaciers Hardangerjøkulen and
Folgefonnen, the Hardanger fjord and many mountains in between. I did
this hike with Arnt Flatmo (who had been here before) and my son
Pål Jørgen, age 12. It took us about 2.5 hours to the summit.
We continued the hike, making a return that took us further north, just west
of point 1296, steeply down to the slope just south of point 1210, then
east to the narrow lake 1016. There is a trail just west of this lake that
runs south-west, west of point 1122 and back to Gråurdsvatnet.
We subsequently climbed Iendafjellet (also named Såta) 1260m, before
returning to the car. Total trip time 6.5 hours under blue sky and
a brillant sun, the conditions can hardly get any better as we shift
from September to October.