5th day (12.8.22)

15:00

I woke up to the sound of the stream in my shelter called Wangsvika. Since I had a lot to do, I quickly packed my things and hung the clothes that were not completely dry yet on the outside of my backpack. I followed the small gravel path that I had taken to my sleeping spot the day before back to Driftsvegen. There I had reception again and called my friend Bene. We had arranged to meet here in the mountains and go hiking together. He told me on the phone that he had arrived early in the morning and we agreed on meeting at a peak called Geitfjellet.

So I started walking and today I followed a different map that had more trails marked. Everything was wet and muddy. On the way to the base of Geitfjellet, I had to step through a moor again. When I arrived at the ascent, I found a small hut there with a stove, dining table, and candles. The view was very inviting, but I had to keep going, so I started climbing the mountain.

The path was marked by rough rocks covered in roots of the surrounding trees. It was very steep uphill, so I soon had to set aside my poles and climb up with my hands on the roots and rocks. Since the wet stones and roots were quite slippery, I chose my steps carefully and tested each one before trusting my weight to it. After this challenging but adventurous ascent, I reached a plateau. Bene had informed me over the phone that he had already made it to the top, but I couldn't see him yet. So I shouted "Marco" into the silence of the mountains, and from a distance, an echo of "Polo" came back. I repeated this trick a few times until I saw Bene standing on the summit in a reverent pose.

We greeted each other warmly and lingered on the sharp-edged rocks for a while, informing each other about our future plans. We powdered our legs and with a jolt, we saddled our bags and descended the mountain.

Our first destination was a small mountain lake. Along the route, we passed small wooden footbridges that kept our feet dry in the marshes, a larger travel group with very unsuitable clothing, and a barn with a pasture.

When we arrived at the lake, Kobberdammen offered us a mystical view. Because it was only a few meters below the cloud cover. We put our luggage on a picnic bench, undressed, and jumped naked into the icy mountain water. We washed our bodies and I took a few laps through the yellow shimmering water. When I got back on land, I dressed warmly and had a pack of nuts for breakfast while we brewed tea. After finishing the cup, we packed our things again and continued on our way.

We headed towards a smaller peak called Tikneppen. The ascent was quite easy and after enjoying the view, we decided to keep walking. We wanted to set up a small day camp to recharge our batteries a bit and so Bene could try out his tent. As we passed my overnight camp from the previous night, we also wanted to set up our resting place here. We put up a clothesline, Bene set up his tent, and I lay down in my hammock with my sleeping bag, where I am now, writing.

9:00 PM

After we had rested enough at the day camp, it was time for both of us to say goodbye, as our plans would take us in opposite directions. I had discovered a large mountain lake on the map that was not too far away and Bene had to return to Trondheim and catch his train to the Lofoten Islands. We hugged each other and went our separate ways.

A large waterfall sweetened the short distance to the lake. On many paths, the water made its way over a large rock, creating a roaring sound. After a few minutes, I continued walking and reached the lake after a few hundred meters.

Holstdammen is surrounded by pine trees, and on its banks, you can find water lilies, ducks, and anglers. I walked along the lake until I came across a picnic bench on bare, rooted ground. That's where I wanted to set up my overnight camp. I put down my luggage and unpacked my hammock, which I stretched between a pine and a spruce. Then I took off my clothes and jumped into the fresh water. I swam to the other shore and felt my body warming up with every movement. When I got out of the water and put on my fleece sweater, the evening sun made me feel cozy and warm.

When I heard my stomach growling, I started cooking myself a dinner. I had pasta with tomato sauce. When I was done, I spooned as much as I could into me and packed the rest in my Tupperware. Then I washed my clothes in the lake and hung them on a clothesline under my hammock so they wouldn't get wet in the rain. I packed my things in my backpack and lay down in my suspended bed. That's where I am now, lying and writing. Good night.