BIKERIDE ALONGSIDE LAKE FERAGEN

Text: Vibeke C Strømmen

Photo: Vibeke C Strømmen & Martin Fossen

Lake Feragen is a 10 km long and 3 km wide and rests 654 meter above sea-level.

My goal this summer was to make it to the summit of Storvigelen, a mountain in Røros, Norway, that rises 1561 meters above sea level. The mountain is located close to the Swedish border and has Lake Feragen below it. If you take the waterways from Femunden and paddle through Femundsmarka you can see Storvigelen almost all the time. As a kind of watcher, she looks down at you and is a good location point if you suddenly become unsure of where you are.

When I was lying on the sofa in the cabin in the autumn of 2018 with a "robot shoe" on my foot after an ankle operation, Martin left with the goal of hiking to the top of Storvigelen. To shorten the time, he brought with him the bike which can be used all the way to Ljøsnåvollen seter (seater). This is a staffed seter in the summertime where you can get some food if you want. The old cabin is also the starting point for haiking up to Storvigelen. However, with my foot in the "robot shoe", I sat myself the goal that next summer, i.e. in 2019, I would join him there and that I would also climb the mountain. This goal was not reached due to further complications in the foot so it was unfortunately not relevant to try.

Now in 2020 we came to a kind of middle ground. I treated myself with an electric bike and we could at least cycle into the Ljøsnåvollen and then see if we could get a little bit up the mountain before the foot said stop as it was still not completely healed.

Blå prikk: Røros.

Gul prikk: Parkering.

From our cabin in Rugldalen it takes about 40 minutes to drive to the road called Ljøsnåvollveien. Then you drive off Brekkenveien and turn down to the right towards the north end of Feragen (see map above) where you can park the car. We unhooked the bikes, took the backpacks on our backs and set off at a leisurely pace. Khaleesi, our poodle, was also with us so we could not just race away, thus the pace was adapted to her. We start cyceling and the weather is slightly cloudy with prospect for some sun, but also  for some rain on the horizon. The road we followed goes along Feragen, which is the lake you eventually enter if you have paddled through the timber water ways in Femundsmarka.

One of the most characteristic features of Femundsmarka are the huge boulders and you come across several of these areas through the entire National Park. Already at the very beginning, after barely a kilometer we came across such an area, and they are very fascinating. The ice age is the architect behind this phenomenon and one reason to visit this area.

Arbitrarily dropped rocks, a frequent view in Femundsmarka.

Today`s route.

Blue dot: Parking.

Red dot: Ljøsnåvollen Sæter.

Yellow dot: Where we had to stop and return.

Right after the area with the large boulders, we came down to Storvika who has an incredibly fine sandy beach. Here Khaleesi drank some water as shown in the picture below. This is a lovely spot to hang out when it's nice and warm, we would think. We put down the bikes and walk around a bit and let the dog enjoy sniffing araound where she wanted.

North end of Feragen.

After the stony area and the beach we follow the road until we stop at a bridge. Thereafter, we continue further along the road. It is relatively flat at the beginning, as it runs along the water, but it gets a little more hilly over time. 

After a while, we come to a small field area and a small farm. Here we see that the whole family is working, adults as children, with hesjing (heymaking) and we feel that we suddenly are 100 years back in time - except for the electric bike though ... The place is called Øya and the farm seems well maintained and cozy. A little above Øya we come to a river with a nice bridge where we sit down, drink some water, snap some pictures and simply enjoy the presence. The sun has now come out and it will not take long until we are at the Ljøsnåvollen, according to Martin. From here and onwards the road goes a bit uphill but it is not very steep.

When we finally reach the Ljøsnåvollen, we sit ourselves down on another bridge and have lunch while our feet are dangling over the bridge edge and the water flowing below us. Cows roam free here, so keep the dog on a leash.

Ljøsnåvollen Seter with Storvigelen guarding over it.

After the break, we lock the bikes together and start walking the path that goes all the way up to Storvigelen. I'm anxious about how long the foot will last. The path is gentle and we stop frequently to give the foot enough rest. A longer rest period comes naturally when a heavy rain shower comes and we place ourselves under a large tree and take all the clothes we have over us as protection. It was actually very cozy to sit like that under a tree while the rain fell "outside". We barely got a few drops on us.

The rainshower does not last long and we start walking again, but we do not even get up to the tree limit before the foot hurts so much that its not worth continuing. We were prepared for this and turn around without being too bitter. I know I'll be back and then I'll get all the way up. I just do not know when yet.

Back at the bikes, we place Khaleesi in Martin's backpack. That way, the trip back to the car takes half as long as it did on the way in. There were some breaks where we took the dog out of the backpack so she could stretch her legs a bit. She behaved very well and did even put her head down on Martin's shoulder with her ears straight out due to the headwind.

We arrive at the car, very happy with the day and the desire to come back was strengthened. So there will be more trips into Ljøsåvollen and hopefully to the top of Storvigelen. Take the tour yourself! You will not regret it.