Walk the Pilgrim Road to Nidaros
 

Our Pilgrim Road started at Hjerkinn.

The Pilgrim Road to Nidaros is a long-distance footpath with a difference.
In Dovrefjell you can find nice hiking paths if you are a beginner, and experienced
hiker can find the challenge they're looking for. Our Pilgrim path is perfect for family with
children.

Visit the Eystein church before the trip.

Eystein church was built in 1969, designed by architect Magnus Poulsson and named
not for a saint but after King Eystein Magnusson, who had a saelehus (hospice) build
on Dovrefjell for pilgrims and other travellers, though it is uncertain whether it was at
Vesle Hjerkinn or on the site where the Fjellstue now stand.

We started our trip at the church and continue behind the church, through the woods
and then left up earth road to pick up PL by waymarks. Otherwise - turn R(facing church)over stile to campsite.

The pilgimsleden continues(from the Fjellstue) throught campsite, passing to L of
reception building. The "Royal Road" was a bridleway at first, but then in the 1700s
it was made suitable for horse-drawn traffic. Go through gate and continue up hill,
on clear grassy track and less steep. KSO for 4km to Hjerkinhø 1200m.

Literally "Hjerkin hill". Waymark stone informs you that there are now 208 km left
to Nidaros. (Trondheim) Stony area with a lot of cairns. Splended views all round on
a clear day.

From here you have a beautiful view and can see Snøhetta in the north west direction.
You can also see Grønbakken farm, this farm had year-round operation up to 1964.

We did not saw any Musk on the trip, they are as far as I know 30 km north West of our location.
This is a easy trip for ordinary people without any training.

Experience the wild beauty of Dovrefjell.

The landscape in Dovrefjell National Park, about 20 miles north of Dombas
(which is about a four-hour train ride north of Oslo), is bleak and treeless with
rivers fed by waterfalls and patches of snow, much like the moors of Wales or
the Scottish Highlands. Its unique ecological system has been
called Europe's last remaining wilderness.

It was sculpted millions of years ago by glaciers when Mother Nature was a
teen-ager, and like a typical teen-ager she didn't clean up after herself
very well.

In the years since, all that has grown over these jumbled rocks is thick
moss, pale yellow lichen, an off-white lichen that looks like tiny
cauliflower florets, occasional heather and gourse - actually I am guessing
at that - and stunted knee-high willows that musk-ox love to eat.

Dovrefjell are well known for its flora.
Here you have our last approximate intact high mountain ecosystem in the Europe
With wild reindeer, wolverine, arctic fox live in peaceful coexistence just here in
Dovrefjell-Skrymtheimen area.

Musk Ox from Dovrefjell