Ic.28    Section Virtvasshytta - Bolnastua 25 km

First thing in the morning I had to climb out off the valley for a rather straight line hike to Bolnastua. After a few steps along Lake Virvatnet the trail went uphill onto Gaffelfjellet and out off the trees. All day long the sky was covered in clouds. Soon I saw a pair of reindeer near Nordlandsruta. There was basically no trail but a long line of cairns and markings. Again and again I had to cross wet meadows or even bogs. After a while it was slowly downhill towards River Sør Randalselva. Here in the open I met a hiker from New Zeeland. She carried a very small light pack and whore Dineema clothing. She was really going ultra lite. We talked for a while and she invited me to come to New Zeeland for hiking.

At River Sør Randalselva there was a dam and a bridge. However the trail did not cross and was diverted to a bridge further downstream. The dam area was closed with big warning signs. Apparently there are some big water pipes ending that send un-announced water rushing out which can become quite dangerous. This is part of the Norwegian electricity generating system. Having crossed the river I stopped under some trees for lunch. While having my lunch it started drizzling. I hurried up and soon continued hiking. A couple of hundred meters later I arrived at the gravel road leading to the dam and pipes. The trail follows the road back to the paved road E6. This is the main North - South road in Norway. I followed this road for a few kilometers to take me to Bolnastua which is next to the road. A Swedish couple was at the shelter and the stove was running. I hung up my wet stuff to dry. Later we helped a Norwegian guy who was working on mobile phone towers bringing a load of fire wood from outside into the storage place. And then it started raining again. I was glad to be inside.

View back towards Virtvasshytta

Trail less Nordlandsruta crosses this wet meadow

Still no trail and only cairns through these often wet low shrubs

Trail Bridge across River Sør Randalselva

I surprised these reindeer next to Nordlandruta

Drying of my wet stuff near stove at Bolnastua