Last week I was privileged to spend a couple of days in Sunnmørsalpene (The Sunnmøre Alps) at Patchellhytta, a beautifully rustic Norwegian cabin at the foot of the range's most famous top, Slogan, which has an altitude of 1564 moh. You can find all of the practical information for staying at Patchellhytta yourself at the bottom of this page.
The Patchell Cabins
I absolutely loved this destination, it provided an adventerous and rewarding alternative to a lot of other more conventional weekend breaks. There are a few things which make this cabin very special, giving it a very rich history and attracting travellers and explorers from all over the world who come for the beautiful scenery, to enjoy the fresh air and exciting escapades to the surrounding mountain tops.
Almost there! That very uniquely shaped peak in the right half of this picture is Mount Slogan. We knew it the second we saw it!
Opposite the main cabins, there is a little stone cabin sitting contentedly on a hill. This is the original cabin, built by British explorer S. Patchell back in the days when these peaks were just beginning to be discovered. This particular explorer absolutely loved the area, and so having built his cabin he returned to climb the tops for at least 20 summers in a row.
The original Patchellhytta is still open for guests, and some of our group stayed there. Despite it's rough stone exterior it's very pleasant inside, with a warm wood stove and decor not dissimilar to the new cabins across the way.
We were fortunate enough to be there with one of my lecturers who has been described as an expert of the area. I took down some of what he said, and I'm sure his words will do a much better job of explaining how this mountaineering culture came about than me! Below is a short video I put together with some footage of our stay.
Voice: Dag Ove Solaas Music: Sower by Jan Grnfeld
The atmosphere and nostalgia of past explorers, out to experience "Friluftsliv" (directly translated friluftsliv means "free air life", a Norwegian way of simply being outdoors to enjoy it and embrace all that nature throws at you.), is almost tangible in this area. Along with the portraits of Patchell himself and the various maps hanging on the walls, the lack of electricity which is replaced by log fires and candlelight cooking really brings you back a hundred years and makes you feel as though you are walking in the shoes of Patchell the first time he stepped on top of Slogan.
The other really nice thing about the Patchell story and taking a trip here is that he was really a pretty ordinary guy, not the most extreme of people and a regular school teacher. To get to the cabins you do not have to have climbed everest and been on multiple ski tours in the last year. The cabins are situated at an elevation of 400moh, if you love being outdoors the hike up is very pleasant, fairly gradual, and allows for adventurous families and groups with most levels of mountaineer to join. Please be aware that some guiding knowledge is necessary to climb Slogan itself which is a much more difficult climb.
Link to more information about the Patchell cabin.
Please remember that the weather is very unpredictable, and where it can seem calm in a valley the wind can be hazardous on top of a mountain. Be safe, and always bring waterproofs! (As the Norwegians say, there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing).
All the best and have fun out there!
Maria Kay
Please remember that the weather is very unpredictable, and where it can seem calm in a valley the wind can be hazardous on top of a mountain. Be safe, and always bring waterproofs! (As the Norwegians say, there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing).
All the best and have fun out there!
Maria Kay