Camping in Bymarka (24.05.21)

Exams have come to an end for me and many other students. For exchange students, the plan is to make the most of the remaining time until the end of the semester.

So, I planned to go camping in the nature reserve "Bymarka", located right next to the city, with a few friends. With a diameter of five kilometers and surrounded by civilization, the area is a relatively isolated piece of nature that is hiked in the summer and enjoyed for skiing in the winter. At this time of year, the most prominent mountain, "Gråkallen", with its large radar dome visible from the city, is almost free of snow and the forest is filled with vibrant green.

The start of the hike to our chosen campsite was a bit unpleasant. Up until then, it was dry, but the weather decided to give us a light drizzle. Not very advantageous with a water-sensitive sleeping bag, so we had to rely on an umbrella for most of the way.

The paths were muddy and the squishing sound accompanied us every step of the way. One kilometer before reaching our destination, we had to fight our way through the forest next to a waterfall. It was quite a leg workout. Finally, we reached the "Kvistingen" lake located at 420 meters, sweaty but satisfied. In the evening sun, the still-existing layer of ice provided a beautiful sight. A small piece of land served as our campsite, with two trees perfectly spaced for the hammock and 2 spots for our tents. We spent the rest of the evening cooking noodles with tomato sauce and various dishes we had brought. The fog became increasingly dense and eventually enveloped our peninsula.

Since the nights stay bright, the temperatures no longer drop as much. However, the 8°C still felt a bit chilly around midnight, so we settled into our sleeping spots.

The sunrise at 4:00 gave us a rather bright bedroom, and by 7:00, the increasing warmth in the tent got us up and moving. As part of our morning exercise, we climbed the "Storheia" mountain, located next to the lake. It is the highest mountain in Bymarka. The hiking trail was very diverse, and from the top, we had a good panoramic view of Trondheim and the fjord.

After having bread and cheese for breakfast, it was time to break down the camp and head back home. This day was sunnier than the last, making the descent quite sweaty. I improvised my rain umbrella into a makeshift parasol.

From the edge of the nature park, we took the tram back to the city center and our student villages.

This first camping trip was the start of the season for me. Despite leaving behind the comforts of civilization, camping is a very impressive experience, and even a short time creates a very intense holiday experience.

Therefore, the coming weeks are dedicated to exploring nature in Norway in an affordable way.