Saltfjellet



Lønsdal

Our starting point was a train station under a grey sky. From here we went west.

Present

This stone got stuck by a melting glacier at the end of the last ice age. In the background the Dypendalen.
Lønsdal Station Stone


Kjemåvatnet

A first big lake, but its soggy shore pushed us on to look for a place on higher ground.

Kjemåbekken

We chose the shore of this river to set up our first camp for a nicer view than down by the lake.
Kjemåvatnet Kjemåbekken


Cloudy curtain

This downstream view goes all across to the other side of Saltdalen, which is partly obscured by some clouds.

Steindalen

As the name already suggests, here our route went over seemingly endless fields of stones. The mountain is the Ørfjellet (1751 m).
Kjemåbekken Steindalen


Lønstinden

A mountain (1506 m) watched over us on our second day, first while creeping over the stones of Steindalen and later at our campsite in the evening.

Lønstinden From camp


Nordre Bjøllavatnet

We reached this big lake on the third day and walked along the western shore in gusting wind and threatening clouds.

Nordre Bjøllavatnet Nordre Bjøllavatnet


From Bjøllvassfjellet

We did a u-turn to a south-western heading and the weather turned with us, so we enjoyed great views at two mountains, Tellingen (1246 m) and Store Stolpen (852 m).

Tellingen and Store Stolpen


Creek

A small creek on our way into Tollådalen with Tellingen in the background.

Tollåga

After having crossed the Tollåga river we camped on the left bank. Tollådalen is a flat valley just below the timberline.
River Tollåga


Markers

One is decorated with reindeer antlers, the other stands out of the landscape just like they should.

Signpost Signpost


Tverråga

On our descent down into the big Beiardalen we follwed the river Tverråga through Tverrådalen. One photograph from further up and the other already below the treeline.

Tverrådalen Tverråga


Rapids

Here the Tverråga enters a steeper part, culminating in some waterfalls.

Falls

Upon reaching Beiardalen, a final waterfall celebrates the end of Tverråga near the Beiarstua, where it joins the Beiarelva.
Tverråga Tverråga waterfall


Dead

The skeleton of a tree, still standing.

Tool

For what was this shovel used for?
Dead tree Spade


Skjellåfonna

Maybe the best scenic views of the tour were the tongues reaching down from the glacier Simlebreen.

Skjellåfonna


Jervåfonna

Hengfonna
Jervåfonna Hengfonna


Gråtådalen

From our camp not far from the Gråtadålstua.

Valleycrossing

Here the upper Gråtådalen ends and Sørdalen follows with a bit of Svartisen glacier at the end. To the right goes the Glomdalen. And above everything is rainy weather.
Gråtådalen Sørdalen


Reservoir

The river Glomåga flows into the Storglomvatnet.

Glomåga Storglomvatnet


Glacier

A panoramic view of Storglomvatnet, Svartisen, and horrible weather.

Storglomvatnet


Riverbatics

The river Skavldalselva first takes a fall, then disappears into a short tunnel through an odd limestone formation.

Hut

A traditional hut - the Kvitsteindalsgammen. Handling the heavy tilted door reminded me of a mousetrap. Yet it offered a roof.
Skavldalselva waterfall Kvitsteindalsgammen


Erosion

All along the way we saw interesting structures of eroded rock.

Eroded rock Eroded rock


Svartisen

A tongue still reaches the shore of Storglomvatnet.

Dam

Built in the 90ies, the reservoir collects water for electricity, which flows through pipelines down to coastal stations.
Svartisen Storglomvatnet dam


Namnlausvatnet

A lake right below the Storglomvatnet, whose dam is outside this picture on the left side.

Namnlausvatnet


Namnlausvatnet

Two more of this beautiful lake, which of course also took benefit of the nice weather.

Namnlausvatnet Namnlausvatnet


Final Approach

A wooden staircase called Fykantrappa marks our glide path for the final 300 m of altitude. It was built almost a hundred years ago in support of power-plant construction.
Fykantrappa Fykantrappa


Fykanvatnet

A final night on the beach of Fykanvatnet provided this magnificent sunset.

Sunset over Fykanvatnet


Bodø

The skyline of the city seen from Nyholmen.

Bodø


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