SignaTur Omveien (alternate) - 185 km - 7 days

OBS: my path deviated from the original route due to the short time available - you can find the original hike information at ut.no

Prices for DNT members on this year:
- Bed in a hut: 300 NOK
- Tent in the cabin area: 100 NOK

For the self-service cabins, one can use the “DNT Hyttebetaling” mobile app, select the wanted cabin, add to the cart and do the payment later on when one gets internet connection.

Day 1: Kittilbua -> Vestfjellhytta -> Liomseter - 27 km
I took a train early in the morning from Oslo to Lillehammer (2h15 far), followed by a local bus (line 140) to Segalstad bru, then I ordered a taxi from Taxi 03650. It drove me to a lake nearby Kittilbua where I actually started the hike (it cost me 600 NOK). The hike goes mostly through forest and fields, with light ascends/descends, though the terrain was very swampy and muddy in some parts. Vestfjellhytta is a self-service hut and Liomseter is a full service with staff.

Day 2: Liomseter -> Storkvolvbua -> Storhøliseter - 30 km
From Liomseter I started the walk, again going through forest, but soon goes up and the landscape opens to a rock and flatish plato, slight up and downs and you reach Storkvolvbua. From there, it continues more or less the same until Storhøliseter. This path was actually not so wet, and had really nice views. Both Storkvolvbua and Storhøliseter are self-service huts (and very nice too). That day I slept at the hut because it was empty, but If you plan to tent, you have to do it outside the Storhøliseter area.

Day 3: Storhøliseter -> Oskampen -> Sikkilsdalsseter - 27 km
The first section is really swampy and wet, it crosses this forest around øyagen lake so be prepared. After reaching the road, it starts to get a bit rocky with a little climb, reaching Oskampen. From Oskampen you start to get the feel you’re really getting into the mountains, with a mix of forest of course. In the last 5 km there’s a fairly steep pass to do at 1525 m high. After the descent you reach Sikkilsdalsseter. Unfortunately, Sikkilsdalsseter was closed for the season and so I walked further 1,5 km and set camp next to a small creek. Oskampen is a cosy self-service hut and Sikkilsdalsseter is supposed to be staffed.

Day 4: Sikkilsdalsseter -> Gjendesheim -> Memurubu - 25 km
From the campsite, I walked alongside the lake Sikkilsdalsvatnet and a little climb to the Sikkilsdals pass (1100 m), then gradually descending until I reached the camping place, followed by Gjendesheim. The idea was to hike Bessegen but due to the rain and fog, I chose to hike alongside Gjende lake, until reaching Memurubu. Both Gjendesheim and Memurubu are full service, but Memurubu is not a DNT cabin but private owned. Due to the heavy rain, I took a bed in Memurubu, which cost 380 NOK.

Day 5: Memurubu -> Gjendebu -> Olavsbu - 27 km
The hike from Memurubu to Gjendebu is quite challenging, it’s 11 km and there’s a big climb right at the beginning, then it goes up and down across a long ridge, until you reach the crossing point with other trails, then goes super steep down to Gjende lake level, where the last kilometre is alongside the lake. From Gjende to Olavsbu is a gradual ascend with the landscape becoming very rocky and mountainous, distance is 16 km.

Day 6: Detour from Olavsbu - 5 km
On this day, I planned to hike a 2000 m peak, but since it snowed in the morning, the peaks were quite slippery and so I decided to just do a detour to a ridge between the cabin and Store Rauddalseggje. I went up to 1800 m and got spectacular views from the top!

Day 7: Olavsbu -> Skogadalsbøen via Skogadalen -> Vettismorki - 29 km
Starting at Olavsbu, this path goes gradually down through Rauddalen until you get to a crossing point in the middle of the lake, where I decided to do the 1600 m pass and take the Skogadalen path, which goes through a beautiful valley, totally worthed the climb! When you reach Skogadalsbøen, there’s still a challenging path to get to Vettismorki, with a fair climb and then going down to the forest level, leaving the mountain terrain behind. You can get spectacular views from that path. It’s 18 km from Olavsbu to Skogadalsboen plus 11 km to Vettismorki. Around Vettismorki is quite swampy and wet too, in order to pitch the tent, it is better to do it a little before or further on the cabin.

Day 8: Vettismorki -> Øvre Årdal - 15 km
Short and final day, from Vettismorki I hiked for 1,5km and got to the famous Vettifossen, the largest free falling waterfall in Norway, then goes steeply down for 2 km until reaching the gravel road. Continued all the way through until finally arrived at Øvre Årdal, finish line! I got a bus from there back to Oslo with NOR-WAY company, costing 400 NOK.