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and begin the climb. After just a short drive
we find ourselves looking across the wild
mountain landscape. The autumn colours
are more intense here. You can catch
glimpses of small streams with clear blue
water everywhere.
– There is no need to bring water with
you when you’re in these parts, says Ellen.
It’s clean, ice-cold and perfectly fine for you
to drink.
The next stop
is by one of the bends of
River Atna älv, as it tries to make its way
down towards Lake Atnsjøen. We park
the car on the side of the road and bring
our backpacks. There are several beaches,
perfect sandy beaches in fact. The river
meanders heavily, almost turning itself
into a knot. Ellen confirms what we are
thinking – this is perfect for families who
enjoy canoeing. Easily accessible, gentle
surroundings and just the right distance for
impatient children who would prefer to play
in the water instead.
Strømbru is another rest area and is
often used as a starting point for tours
around Rondane. Several T-marked routes
take hikers straight up the mountains in
the direction of, for example, Bjørnhollia
and Rondvassbu. In the summer there is
also a tourist information desk here and a
shop with local handicraft. It is not only
the scenery that is exciting around here;
the architecture at Strømbru catches your
eye as well. The place opened in 2009 and
was designed by the architect Carl-Vigg
Hølmebakk.
The journey south
continues. The next
time Ellen stops, we get off by the so-called
Sohlbergsplassen (the Sohlberg Place). It
was given its name because it offers the
same view that Norwegian artist Harald
Sohlberg had in front of him when he
painted “Winter night in Rondane” in
1913–1914. Ahead of us, the mountain
landscape opens up like a painting, dressed
in autumn clothing.
Once we arrive in Sollie, we visit the
farm Amperhaugen and Jo Øvergård. The
main building was built in 1699 and the
rest of the houses on the farm were added
during the 18th century. Today there are
two apartments which Jo rents out to
visitors, usually for one week at a time.
– There are many fascinating stories
about the farm, the people who lived here
and life on the mountain, says Jo. I’m
happy to share them with anyone who’s
interested.
Like most visitors who come to
Rondane, his guests appreciate the silence.
– The peace and quiet is the best way for
nature to communicate with us, Jo points
out. It’s a precious thing.
Jo describes himself as a jack of all
trades. Forestry takes up a lot of his time
and he sells firewood to people in the
village. He is also in charge of activities
– hikes on the mountain all year round,
outdoor hot tubs, getting a taste of work
on a mountain pasture, skiing, horse riding.
The Rondane National
Tourist Route: One of 18
selected tourist routes
in Norway with many
attractions, lookout
points, spectacular
places to stop for a
break and access to
outdoor adventures. The
selected route along
Road 27 is 41 km long
and follows Atna-
vassdraget from Sollia
in the south, passing
through Atndalen Valley
and continuing towards
Folldal in the north. Many
of the companies along
the route work together
to give visitors the
perfect trip.
The Rondane National Tourist Route
The Rondane
National Tourist
Route
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