HAPPY SKIING

It Is When You Go Uphill That You Become Stronger

A Trip to the Highest Mountain Peak in Bergen, Gullfjellet 987 masl

I had a great trip yesterday on randonneeski from Osavatnet via Redningshytten to Gullfjellet, 680 meters uphill.

Going for walks in nature that last 2, 3, 4 or more hours is a great opportunity to dive into your own universe and be alone with yourself. One can walk in silence, or one can listen to music, podcasts or audio books that give distraction in relation to struggling uphill.

The starting point with a large parking lot is a little over 1/2 hour drive from Bergen city center.

The trip took about 5 hours in total, including breaks, about 3 hours up and 2 hours down.

There were not many people on the trail, and there were great conditions for the type of equipment I used.

Most people go together with others, which is social and fine.

Other times it can be nice to go alone, as I do most times. Then I have the opportunity to dive into my own universe, to be in my own consciousness. Thoughts flow freely when I am not listening to music or audiobooks.

Going together two or more in a group is social and a nice way to be together. One shares hiking and mountain experiences with others and can talk about important and less important issues.

I walked alone today with no music or soundbook on my ears, and for me that’s basically an exceptionally nice experience. When I listen to music, I get a little distracted, because in a way I fill my silence and my mind with impulses from outside.

Listening to music can be all right, for example when it is a struggle to get up the hill, or when it is monotonous to walk, eg to walk along a road. But for the most part, it is never monotonous to walk in the Norwegian mountain landscape, because it is so varied and beautiful.

With randonneeski with traps, I go up steepest slopes without any problems, and the randonneeski give me steel control to come down safely again.

The snow was good to go uphill with traps under the skis, and it was easy to drive downhill as well, no big problem.

For those who do not want to go skiing think that it can be nice to go this trip without skiing as the snow conditions are now, even without snowshoes, because the snow is hard enough.

There were traces of people who have walked on their feet all the way up, but if one is to walk on one’s feet, one must probably count at least a couple of extra hours.

Hananipa and Bruviknipa are two peaks I’ve visited several times the last year. It’s nice to watch them from above. :)

I have a theory that it is very good for human health, both physically and mentally to go on such trips. When it comes to the physical, there is no doubt. I have gone on many such trips in recent years, and I feel when I come home from such a trip that I recover very quickly. My physical shape is getting very good, and it is e.g. no longer a challenge to go uphill.

When it comes to mental health, I also think that it is very nice to go on such long walks. In a way, one gets to calm the thoughts. One can let the thoughts flow freely, and one can get new and exciting thoughts about life and existence and what you are doing.

One can, for example, experience that one gets more conciliatory thoughts in relation to things that are difficult or problematic in life, and one can also not least become better able to live with and process grief in life.

Finally, through long walks in nature, one can experience that there are better ways one can react to dealing with difficult issues in your life.

And also I must say — this was a fantastic trip to the highest mountain peak in Bergen, 987 masl, with great views in all directions! And also a small bonus — I lost 2 kilos!

© Øivind H. Solheim , @oivind47, hiker, teacher, author of novels, poetry, articles, essays, short fiction and experimental writing. [email protected]

All photos © by the author.