9th day (16.8.22)

I woke up as the sun was already coloring my hammock, the tarp, green. I had slept for a long time and began leisurely packing up my camp, stacking my things next to the backpack. As I threw my sleeping bag into its bag with the other things, it instead rolled into the creek. Hurriedly, I jumped after the catastrophe and pulled it out of the water. Fortunately, the pack sack caught most of the moisture and the sleeping bag itself only got a few drops on the surface, which I quickly removed with my towel. I let the sleeping bag and its bag hang on the clothesline in the sun for a while while I had breakfast and brushed my teeth. When I had packed everything back into the bag, I set off again.

On the way back to the trail, I passed a small waterfall with a pool that tempted me to take a swim. However, I wanted to use the morning hours for hiking, as I remembered that rain was forecasted for the afternoon, so I continued. I tirelessly continued hiking through the moorland of the mountain plateau, encountering smaller ascents and descents along the way. On the left and right, the rocks and swamps were repeatedly interrupted by mountain lakes. I took a little break on a small hill, took a deep breath, and continued.

I exhaustedly reached the next hut on the trail, dropped my backpack, and sank onto the bench at the entrance. I double-checked the rain radar and saw that it was supposed to start raining soon and continue for a whole day. I was faced with the decision of whether to continue or settle in the hut. I spent too much time considering and ultimately decided to stay there, mainly because of time constraints, because if I continued and the rain was too heavy, I had to make it to the next hut or risk spending the night wet. I quickly joined the Norwegian equivalent of the Alpine Club and brought my things into the hut.

While I was starting the fire in the stove, the cabin host of 'Storfiskhytta' came by and first spoke to me in Norwegian and then in mumbled English. Concentrated, I tried to follow his words while he did his work and I laid my wet things to dry by the stove. He told me about his life, the mountains, and the work as a cabin host in the self-catering huts. He had an antique hiking backpack with a wooden frame, with which he transported the provisions for the hut. When he finished his work, he invited me for a coffee and biscuits. After a while, the cabin host said goodbye and I thanked him for his hospitality.

I spent the rest of the afternoon reading, cooking, and washing some of my things. However, the announced rain did not show up. In the afternoon, a German couple came by, who were hiking the Fjordruta in the opposite direction. We talked a little about hiking, coordinated our activities in the hut, and shared the dishwashing water. In the late afternoon, the rain finally started, making the oven-heated cabin even cozier.

As the evening came to an end, we wished each other good night and I was alone again in the living quarters, where I now sit and write.