Hike to Hundsøyra

Location
Nordrepollen, Mauranger.

Walking map
Folgefonna National Park.

Starting and finishing point
At the turn-off to Svartedalen, just before Markjelkevatnet lake.

Parking
Drive 12 km from Nordrepollen on a well-maintained, hard-surface construction road to the car park and information board at the turn-off to Svartedalen just before Markjelkevatnet lake.

Sign-posting
Information board at the starting point.
Painted T signs on cairns and signposts.
During snowy winters, the trail partly crosses large snowdrifts that cover the signs. Do the walk in fine weather and follow the cairns that have been erected on high ground.

Classification
Black. Demanding, five boots pursuant to the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) system.

Altitude difference
740 – 1,464 metres.

Total time
Eight hours there and back.

Good advice
The weather can change quickly by the glacier up in the mountains. Bring appropriate clothing for wet and cold weather.
This is also a great skiing trip in May/June.

Description of walk
On a construction road 500 metres up to Svartedalsdammen reservoir. The rest of the walk is mostly in mountain terrain.

Hardingaskaret ridge, above Austrepollen, is a pleasant spot for a break, and a short walk down the ridge to admire the view is recommended. It is incredible that there has been a drove road up here for horses and cattle. It was also possible to walk to the Sørfjord through Kvitnadalen valley from here. A tourist trail was later established on Hardingaskaret ridge that went on to Hundsøyra, Holmaskjer and down to Odda. There was a risk of landslides on Hardingaskaret ridge, and from the 1860s the bridle road from Gjerde around Møsevatnet lake to Hundsøyra became the preferred route. From 1890, the ’Keisarstien’ road (Emperor’s path) from Sunndal was the most-used road.
Hundsøyra is situated at the edge of the glacier and is marked by the biggest cairn in the area. Here, you can see far and wide in all directions. For those who have experience of walking on glaciers, Holmaskjer and the descent to Odda are only an hour away.