THE THREE-LAKE PADDLE TRIP

Text: Vibeke C Strømmen

Photo: Vibeke C Strømmen & Martin Fossen

Route of the day:

Blue dot: Parking Granåsen

Yellow dot: Lunch Skjellbreia

On the last day of August 2019, we took advantage of the okey weather, good temperature and calm wind conditions to explore 3 lakes in the city's local "wilderness", Bymarka. I had read about this trip in the city's local newspaper, Adresseavisen. The journalists at the time had used a canoe, been there at a slightly different time of the year, paddled the opposite way and had an overnight stay. Still, there were some good tips on how to get and the area most easily even though we are relatively well known in the area.

We brought with us Martin's friend, Inge, which showed to be quite handy as this trip requires some carrying of the kayaks, or canoes if you choose that. The Granåsen ski center was the starting point and parking is no issue there. The Granåsen facility was completed in 1997 when Trondheim hosted the World Cup on skis which also was the same year that the city celebrated its 1000 th. anniversary. I was 17 years old back then, and was a spectator with my dad during one of the competion. However, I can not remember who won. Anyway, now in 2019, it was less than a month agou since Martin and I had been together with tens of thousands of other spectators to witness Metallica live. It was an experience of which I have few comparisons, but it was  awesome. Metallica is one of Martins favourite bands also, which he has listned to since their first records came out.

Anyway, now we were here to paddle! We used trolleys to Gammeldammen where Martin and Inge carried the boats up the stairs of the dam and back into the start of Stor-Leirsjøen (Great-Leirsjøen). When everything was ready, we started our paddle trip over Stor-Leirsjøen. We paddled calmly as there was no need to stress, just to do som e steady paddling with the water for ourselves.

Stor-Leirsjø and Litl-Leirsjø (Small-Leirsjøen)  are connected by a waterway. If you take this trip in the spring, it is probably possible to paddle all the way through even if the stream flows the opposite way. However, we were there at the end of the summer, and there was much less water. We had to gexit the kayaks and again it was good that Inge also was thre. I took charge of the dog and after trawling through some mud we got up in the woods. We had the little creek, connecting the two lakes, on our right hand side. Martin attached ropes to the kayaks and  towed them up the small stream as it was easier than carrying them. I waited at the top at Litl-Leirsjøen. We got back into the kayaks and paddled across Litl-Leirsjøen, which is reassly small. Then, when we arrived the end - what should we do next? There are small streams through the forest, but they are not so ideal with kayaks of 5 meters length. And they does not go that far either. However, not far from the shore, there is a small path that leads up to a larger path leading up to the lake Skjellbreia. With muscle power, Martin and his friend pulled the kayaks up to the small path, got the kayaks on the trolleys and then we pulled them up to Skjellbreia.  Now it was a suitable time for some lunch.

After lunch we set out on Skjellberia. We stayed along the shore to get the most out of the trip. This lake is maybe not that exciting lacking islands except one. Nevertheless, it's still fun to be out on the water. The return trip back to the cars went the same way. If you like some challanges, has the mentality that "anything is possible", then this is a great trip to take.

Have a nice trip!