Folgefonna glacier
Many homes in Os look out on the Folgefonna. My ‘mor og far’ (my parents) also look out on it from their home. On clear days, the view of the glacier is even better.
It is a very special place, and we’ve visited it several times, most recently in 2018 with our group of friends. We drove the car along the Hardanger fjord, and took the ferry across the fjord to Jondal. At Jondal, we start the climb to the glacier, by car. We pay €10 for passage and get access to the area. The toll money is well-spent, the government uses it for road maintenance, keeping the passage clear of snow and for parking at the ski centre.
It is not my first time, but even I am still amazed by the view! The landscape changes when you get higher up on the mountain. Suddenly, without realising it, you are above the treeline and surrounded by rock formations. You can still see some patches of snow from last winter.
It is mid-May, and on our way up, we encounter cars with ski racks on the roof. The special thing about Folgefonna is that you can only ski here in the summer. When we reach the top, after some breaks along the way to take pictures, it is surprisingly busy. There are dozens of cars parked here and a lot of activity on the slopes. This is 1200 metres above sea level.
We take some time to look around, some of our friends start walking up the glacier, and I check out the ski centre. I haven’t skied in a very long time, and I feel that sensation when you really want to do something.
We are thoroughly enjoying the pristine nature here. The drive down is an adventure in itself. The road is narrow, and we hope there’s not too much oncoming traffic. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful trip.
A trip to Folgefonna is an absolute must!
Facts:
- Approximately 115 km from Bergen
- Highest point 1663 meters above sea level
- Does not originate from the ice age but originated around 5000 years ago
- Surface glacier 207 square km
- 36 km in length
- The thickest block of ice ever measured, about 400m
