Great Adventure

A Great Escape to the Norwegian Fjords

by Jody Daunton and Rachel Maria Taylor

Sailing the Geirangerfjord. All photos by Jody Daunton.

Rachel Maria Taylor and Jody Daunton journeyed to Norway for the latest issue of their outdoor lifestyle magazine Another Escape. Deep fjords, tall mountains, and thick forests were just the beginning of what they discovered — Norwegians have a close relationship with their natural surroundings (the concept is known as friluftsliv), truly embracing nature and enjoying the outdoors as a way of life. You can see outtakes from the adventure here, along with an excerpt from the published story. Look out for the recently launched fifth issue of Another Escape.

NORWAY – Bordering Sweden, Finland, and Russia, with a ragged flank that disappears into the pitted bed of the Norwegian sea, Norway is a slender spool of craggy peaks, vaulting waterfalls, mirrored lakes and fjords, and woolly forests. To the west, the landscape is carved out by glaciers, with the abrupt slopes of the Scandinavian mountains towards the North Sea.

Numerous corridors of valley connect this raw, imposing topography to the spruce-carpeted hills of the east. And while the north is characterized by fjords, mountains, vast snowfields and some of Europe's largest glaciers, the south is a gradation of urban living, agricultural lowlands, fells, and docile coastal living.

At every point of the compass, Norway's landscape is arresting; a lush, undulating conduit for friluftsliv that craves no less than pure abandonment to its mysteries. Literally (and inadequately) translated as 'free air life,' the phrase is, at its most fundamental, a deep appreciation for and interaction with nature. – Choechoe Brereton

Weaving Waterways and Towering Mountains

Traveling alongside the Tafjord towards the Tafjordfjella Mountains. As the season changes, snowmelt runs down the mountains and waterfalls cascade into the fjords below.

Otherworldly Views

This is the view from the Skagfla farm, which rests on a small mountain shelf 250 meters above the waters below. Across the fjord you can see the spectacular Seven Sisters Waterfalls. The boat gliding through the water is a ferry that can hold up to 50 cars, which puts in perspective the great expanse of the fjord.

Cliffside Waterfalls

Water rushes down the mountains and over the cliffs into the fjords.

Sailing the Geirangerfjord

A scenic ride from Hellesylt to the village of Geiranger.

Standing on Top of the World

Co-founder Rachel Taylor stands on a precipice overlooking the village of Geiranger and the fjord.

Mountain Respite

Mountain refuge hut at the top of Romsdalseggen. A much-appreciated respite when hiking in wind, rain, and snow on the Romsdalseggen Ridge.

Happy Trails

The DNT (Den Norske Turistforening, known in English as the Norwegian Trekking Association) uses a distinctive "T" marker on all of their trails. The general rule of thumb is that you will always be able to see one marker from the next, which can come in pretty handy when the harsh weather sets in.

Lost in the Landscape

In the remarkable Vellesæterdalen valley, the Velleseter Cabin rests on an exposed hilltop at an altitude of 418 meters.

Enchanting Forests

Thick forests blanket the Norwegian landscape forming a patchwork of evergreens and deciduous trees.

Under Lock and Key

DNT padlock and key. The DNT has an elaborate networks of trails and cabins across the whole of Norway that are open access for all to use. The keys are available from local tourist and DNT offices.

Hytta

Inside the Vangshaugen cabin, one of the DNT cabins.

Norwegian Lunch

A selection of cold meats including muskox and reindeer, which are native to the region; locally caught smoked salmon; klippfisk, a Norwegian dried and salted cod; locally made jams from the abundance of local berries; and the quintessential sweet brown cheese that tastes almost like fudge.

Better Than a Lawnmower

Many buildings in Norway traditionally have turfed roofs. Sheep and goats are often put on the rooftops to eat down the grass, which is exactly what this cheeky chappy is doing.

Secluded Hytta

A traditional little cabin tucked away in misty mountainside.

A Tranquil Spot

The view from Kaldhuseter cabin, looking out across the lake towards the Tafjordfjella Mountains.

This entry is excerpted with permission from Another Escape, where the article originally appeared. Read more about the Norwegian concept of friluftsliv in Another Escape Volume Five.

Another Escape is an outdoor lifestyle, creative culture and sustainable living publication. Buy the magazine or follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

We make every effort to ensure the information in our articles is accurate at the time of publication. But the world moves fast, and even we double-check important details before hitting the road.