The Call of the Trolls

The allure of Trollstigen, the Land of the Trolls, whispered to me like a forgotten melody. It was a call I could not ignore, a siren song that promised a journey through the heart of Norway’s rugged beauty. When I arrived in Ålesund, the air was thick with anticipation, and the shadows of the fjords loomed like ancient sentinels guarding secrets untold.

The original plan had been thwarted by nature’s caprice, as rockslides closed the road. Yet, fate had other designs, and I found myself in the company of Trond, a guide whose passion for the land was as palpable as the mist that clung to the mountains. His small, ice cream-loving Troll assistant added a touch of whimsy to the day’s adventure.

Our journey began at the old Skodje Bridges, where reflections danced upon the water like ghosts of the past. The walk through the tunnel was a passage into another world, a realm where time seemed to stand still. It was here that I first felt the pulse of the land, a rhythm that would guide me through the day.

Whispers of the Fjords

The Liabygda Ringsetskiftet Viewpoint offered a panorama that stretched beyond the horizon, a tapestry woven with the threads of nature’s artistry. To the left, a salmon fish farm lay nestled against the sea, while to the right, the town of Stranda stood as a testament to human endeavor. The fjords of Geiranger and Hellesylt beckoned in the distance, their waters a mirror to the sky.

Gudbrandsjuvet, a river gorge carved by the relentless hand of time, was a place of raw beauty. The river’s dance through the gorges and cracks was a symphony of water and stone, a melody that resonated with the soul. The platforms and bridges, crafted from glass and rust-corroded iron, seemed to grow from the earth itself, a testament to the harmony between man and nature.

Trond’s gift of local strawberries and raspberries was a taste of the land, a reminder of the bounty that lay hidden in the folds of the mountains. The flavors were as fresh and vibrant as the landscape that surrounded us, a feast for the senses.

Echoes of the Past

The old bridge by Krikebrua was a relic of a bygone era, a structure built of rocks alone, standing defiant against the passage of time. The waterfall that cascaded nearby was a whisper of nature’s power, a reminder of the forces that shaped this land.

Trollstigen, the crown jewel of our journey, was a place of awe and wonder. The viewpoints offered vistas that seemed to stretch into eternity, a canvas painted with the hues of the earth and sky. The tales of the road’s construction in the 1930s, and the royal visit that honored those who had toiled to create it, added layers of history to the landscape.

As the day drew to a close, the lake and old church at Valldal offered a moment of reflection, a pause in the journey to savor the beauty that lay before us. The Aksla Viewpoint, our final stop, provided a bird’s eye view of Ålesund, a city cradled by the sea and mountains.

The Trollstigen Excursion was more than a journey through the land of the trolls; it was a passage through time, a dance with nature, and a glimpse into the soul of Norway. It was a reminder that even in the face of nature’s unpredictability, there is beauty to be found, stories to be told, and memories to be made.