Another year, another FKT with Silje. After the loooooong day of Gullruta last year, we opted for something a bit shorter - the Fjelløp route of Dronningstien. But since that was still too short (obviously), we’d take the Munketrappene route back to Kinsarvik, completing Dronningstien both ways, with snacks halfway in Lofthus.
We started first with the FKT route from the Kinsarvik P1. We started early to beat the heat and chugged it up the first massive climb, expert pole technique engaged. Easy running along the top, light breeze, and the trail to ourselves. We started descending from the high point around 1:30 in. From the intersection with the Munketrappene, we continued over the river Opo and then the trail got pretty poor as we climbed up to the Skrikjo and then descended on a rough route where we got lost one or two times trying to find the way down. Arrived at the gaupahuk Stuvesete, a little more trail and ended the matching Strava segment at Kolgrevene farm. 2:51.
After a short rest at the farm, we ran on the asphalt a few kms direct to Lofthus for boller and brus and a long break. We also filled our soft flasks in Lofthus, it should be noted that there is little running water outside of the two river crossings on this route.
Time to go back. A km on the asphalt through the apple trees and then a mixture of steep forest path and logging road up to the famous Munketrappene. After 800m of climbing, we arrived back at the intersection with Dronningstien and were unhurried on the way back, enjoying the views and taking photos.
Totals ended up being around 37-38km/2400hm and the total trip took 7 hours, including our time in Lofthus. For en tur! Maybe the round trip should be its own FKT?!