Valkyrie Glacier & Fjords 2025
Gaupnetunet Hotel and Cabins
A fantastic journey in wild nature
Experiences of a lifetime
The meeting took place 31.07 - 03.06 in Gaupne, almost at the very bottom of the Sognefjord. The British were among the first to arrive and were not slow in opening the first pint. We had set up a tent in the common area of the campsite with seating for everyone and had set up two barbecues outside. Here we could gather in the evenings since we lived a bit spread out in the area.
Thursday evening was spent eating dinner, sharing experiences about the trip here and getting to know each other better. There were many who did not know each other from before, and new members were quickly included. In addition to a group of Norwegians, we welcomed participants from Sweden, Denmark, the UK and Germany to our summer meeting.
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On Friday, a short ride-out in distance was planned, but full of experiences. We drove to Hafslo, where we turned off towards Veitastrond. The first stop was just before the small hamlet of Kvam, where we took pictures with the mighty Jostedalsbreen and Veitastrondvatnet as a backdrop. We then drove the spectacular road to Tungestølen tourist cabin, which is beautifully located right below the Jostedalsbreen glacier. Here we could enjoy an incredible view of the glacier and the magical mountain landscapes around. Inside the cabin we were served a lovely warm lunch.
On the way back we stopped in Kvam at my friend and former colleague Leif Bjarne's childhood farm for a longer break. Anita was there to serve fresh waffles and coffee. Leif Bjarne told stories about the hard life in this remote valley in the old days, and we saw pictures of how the farm was taken by an avalanche almost 50 years ago. Only this barn was left standing, and now he is renovating it and the farmyard to honor his origins.
The next stop on the trip was in the beautiful village of Solvorn, which is located right down by the fjord between mountains that rise vertically on both sides. Here we did some relaxing sightseeing and finished with an ice cream at the café. Then we drove back to the meeting grounds where we lit the grills and started the evening's party. We had hired the local troubadour Gøran Sjølie who played many well-known hits and joined the party.
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Saturday was the day for a longer excursion. We started the day by driving back to Solvorn, where this time we took the ferry across the fjord to Urnes. There we visited the beautiful stave church. The weather was fantastic that day, so we got some really great pictures on the trip across the fjord. After the church visit, we drove the narrow and cozy road along the south side of the Sognefjord to Skjolden. We continued up towards the mountain and stopped briefly to look at the beautiful Ã…safoss waterfall. Then we drove to Fortun, where we had a coffee stop and waited for those who needed to sleep a little longer....
When the group was gathered, we started the trip up the hairpins towards Turtagrø where we turned off onto the Tindevegen panoramic road. After a few kilometers we stopped at the beautiful lookout point and took pictures. Here you can see far into the Sogn region and the Jotunheimen mountains. We continued on towards Øvre Årdal, and this stretch of road is an attraction in itself. When we got to the toll station before the descents, it was time for a break and a few more pictures. When we got to Øvre Årdal it was time for lunch at a nice café. From there we drove back to Gaupne via the ferry Fodnes - Manheller and Sogndal.
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The last evening was short. Everyone was tired and full of impressions. We had dinner together, and the evening ended with the hosts receiving a nice gift from the guests as a thank you for their efforts.
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