Big goal achieved!
Have been planning to do this route for a few years, finally I got the possibility to jump on a weather window that would be manageable. The season for this route is very limited as you have to wait for the majority of the snow to melt (July earliest), but not wait too long as days become darker. Ideally I would do this 3-4 weeks earlier, but that was not possible due to weather, work and holidays.
Travelled from home the day before (2 hours car to Haukeliseter, 5 hours bus to Oslo, 4 hours train to Otta, 1,5 hours bus to Bismo and 40 minute taxi to Sota Sæter. Had a great dinner and went to bed 21:30. Woke up feeling well rested 04:45, ate a cinnamon bun and energy drink while using an hour to tape up my body.
Started in nice weather 11.08.26 at 06:27. There had been a lot of rain the past week on the whole route, so there terrain was moist in the start. Breheimen was very rocky and technical, good thing the rocks dried up pretty fast. Bought a cold Pepsi at Nørdstedalsseter and continued. Got a big rain shower the last hour before Sognefjellshytta. Passed the hut and went straight for the glacier. I contacted the glacier guides the days before my run to ask for guidance with regards to alternative routes and the possibility to solo the glacier, as the guided trips is only done once a day. I got an alternative route around the glacier as a backup plan, but there had been a snowfall the day before my run which enabled me to get enough grip with poles and terrain shoes. I found the tracks from the guided tour and followed this up the glacier. Disclaimer, do this at your own risk! It is not illegal, but not recommended. I did not see any cravesses or cracks in the glacier on my passing, so it felt safe enough.
When climbing up to the routes highest point Fannaråkhytta (2068masl), I encountered snow from 1600masl. When reaching the staffed hut, I bought a bun and ate a freeze dried meal while heating up in front of an oven for 30 minutes.
As I decended towards Skogadalsbøen the weather took a turn for the better. Perfect temperature, sun and slight tailwind all the way through Uradalen. Reached Fondsbu just as darkness fell, ate food and slept for 2 hours and continued on 02:00. After a few kilometeres on gravel road there was a long boggy part. Came to Slettningsbu around 06 and made some breakfast (double portion Vilti kaker).
Passed Sulebu at 10 and I was starting to feel some pain in my left quad, like I had pulled the muscle. Came to Breistølen/Skarvheim at 14, this hut was marked as self-serviced but when I arrived there was a big sign saying "Closed, only open for pre-reserved parties" or something similar. I knocked on the door and luckily I got to buy some soda and chocolate!
The rock fields towards Bjordalsbu are really challenging, I got strong headwind and rain which made it even more fun. At Bjordalsbu there was 6-7 people and the hut was warm and cozy. Made another double portion Vilti kaker and ate a whole chocolate pudding with vanilla sauce. Rested 28 minutes on the couch and continued through another 10-15 kilometers of rock fields towards Iungsdalshytta. My quad was killing me, so I had to eat pain killers and compensate with my right leg and my poles.
Reached Iungsdalshytta at 21:15 and got some soda and candy, handed out my first ever autograph by some guests that was convinced I was some kind of celebrity. Told them that the autograph was not going to be worth anything, and continued towards Kongshelleren. First half was ok, the second half was really challenging. I had very strong headwind, dense fog, darkness and rain. The last 8km was a rollercoaster rockfield with few markings, this was very slow. I prayed for the hut to be empty and that there was some freeze dried meals in the store. Out of luck.... I arrived 01:00 to find a hut with no freeze dried food that was completely full, with two ladies sleeping on the floor in the living room. I excused myself and made my third double portion of Vilti (yikes). Slept on a hard couch for two hours, ate a chocolate pudding and vanilla sauce for breakfast and started 04:30 as daylight returned.
Beautiful morning with no wind and light skies towards Geiterygghytta. My left quad was still very sore, but manageable. Downhills and very steep uphills were the worst. Quick bathroom break at Geiterygghytta and ran fast towards Finse, maybe a bit too fast for my quad.
Reached Finsehytta at 12:00 which was a big milestone for the route! I ate some food, restocked nutrition and slept for 1 hour on a bench. Before I started the attempt I checked the weather forecast and it suggested no rain for the 3 days before and the same day that I was going to pass Hardangervidda. I had good weather to 30 minutes before Krækkja before the sky opened. Bought a coke and a bun at Krækkja and ran towards Stigstuv in heavy rainshowers. The boggy parts before Stigstuv were tough. Had a 10 minute stop at Stigstuv for chocolate and coke, the clock was 19:30 and I needed to continue towards Sandhaug to reach it before darkness fell. I was feeling really, really tired at this point. Headlight on at 22 and reached the hut at 22:25, completely and utterly exhausted.
Sandhaug was perfect to regain some strenght before the last 60km stretch to Haukeliseter, but my body was broken. I had been bothered by sore throat since day 2 and was not feeling well, a combination of pushing my body hard and not eating enough this day. I rinsed some of my clothes and shoes and put them in the drying room and ate a freeze dried meal. I was lucky to arrive before the kiosk closed for the night, and the host allowed me to sleep on a couch in the living room. Unfortunaly, I was only able to sleep 10 minutes before waking up hungry again. Ate a chocolate and visited the bathroom 10 times, before realizing I had to eat another freeze dried meal. Did so and finally slept from 02 to 03.
Started out from Sandhaug 03:45 in strong chilly winds, darkness and rain. It was a tough and long section to Litlos, but as I arrived there I felt a bit better and my left quad had improved. Had a coke and a 10 minute break on the couch before making my way towards Hellevassbu. I was mentally prepared for the tough terrain, as I crossed Hardangervidda last year (Finse-Haukeliseter). It was foggy and chilly in the mountain and I was feeling tired, so I decided that I would take a break at Hellevassbu. As a blessing from the sky, the weather suddenly changed to warm and sunny 30 minutes before Hellevassbu! I ate a chocolate pudding and vanilla sauce outside the cabin, stocked up 250 grams of raisins and powered on towards Haukeliseter at blazing speeds. The terrain was very runnable and I was giving it all towards the finish!
There are not many car protection fences on this route, but 100 meters from the finish line you have to cross a road and jump one of these. I was so pumped on adrenaline that I took a somersault over the fence, but witnesses say that it looked super cool to arrive with bloody arms.
Super happy, and super tired!