Chasing sunsets in Jotunheimen

Jotunheimen is a large mountain area in Southern Norway, and 255 of Norway's 300 highest peaks are situated here. 2000 m.a.s.l. is the magical limit. Despite this, there are a lot of easy, short hikes that can be done in a few hours. With good timing you can be fortunate enough to watch the sunset from a mountain top.

I work at Leirvassbu mountain lodge, which is a great starting point for hiking because you're already at 1400 m.a.s.l. Most of the summer I work night shifts, and thus I have the evenings off. This gives me the opportunity to chase the golden hour from a summit. Some hikes only takes 3-4 hours, meaning a light backpack is sufficient. Summer nights in Norway are bright, but it gets cold at this altitude, so it's important to bring a warm jacket, hat and mittens, and also a head lamp for a safe descent.

In my opinion, there are few things that beats watching the sun set from a mountain top – painting the peaks and the sky pink, slowly turning the landscape into a dark blue shade. To breathe crisp, fresh air and the only thing that matters is the immensity of the surrounding nature. Moreover, evening hikes are great because you'll probably get the whole mountain to yourself. On sunny days the most popular ridges are often crowded.

My traveling tip is as follows: take your backpack, bring a good friend or two, buy a map, make some hot chocolate and get outside!
 

The view from the mountain Kyrkja, «The Church», 2032 m.a.s.l.



The mountain to the right is Norway's highest peak, Galdhøpiggen, 2469 m.a.s.l, as seen from Geite. You can actually glimpse the tiny cabin on the top.




The view from the mountain Geite, «The Goat», 2002 m.a.s.l.


The northern lights danced above us on our way down from Geite. Sometimes you're lucky enough to get an extra light show!