Summiting Pallheia

We took the local ferry to Hadseløya and I opted for the harder walk to the summit of Pallheia. The ferry ride alone would have made for a stunning day. We set off at a fast pace, 5kph, and quickly put in some distance between the walks on the easier route. We slowed down considerably for the steep and gravelly ascent forgoing a coffee stop. A large grassy ridge gave us some reprieve and we stopped for lunch after the final gentle incline to the satellite station. Some of us opted for the final 200m across the ridge line to the mast where a sturdy rope made it entirely safe except on the wildest of days. The view from the mast was one I will always remember, the extra.

We crossed the Coll and descended by a much less rocky route arriving in the small ferry port of Melbu ahead of schedule and with a comfortable margin to catch the return ferry.

This evening after dinner which is always early here I visited the Arts Centre in Solvær and enjoyed, far more than I thought I would, an exhibition on “Art and Friendship” comparing and contrasting the work of Johanne Grytting born in Solvær and Mimi Gross born in NY, both are still painting in their eighties.