Holeegga is a demanding mountain hike between Geiranger (Vesterås) and Herdalseter, rated expert (black). The route is 16.8 kilometres, and you should normally allow between four and twelve hours, depending on the route and conditions. Hard snow patches lie along the ridge for much of the year, and the route is highly exposed in poor weather. It's best done in summer and autumn, and calls for solid experience with steep, narrow and exposed terrain.
From Geiranger (Vesterås) to Herdalseter via Holeegga
Start the hike from the centre of Geiranger on the Sherpa path, or park at the car park at Vesterås. A wide, well-used path runs through the hillside west of the river. A detour to Storsæterfossen waterfall is worth the extra distance. After Vesteråsfossen waterfall the path becomes less distinct, and the terrain flattens out past Storsætra. At the head of the valley, you climb steeply up Kaldhusbakkane to Kaldhusbakkvatnet lake, and on up to the ridge north of Vesteråshornet. Here the marked route branches off towards Herdalen. This stretch has no path or trodden track. You head north over Holeegga, through scree towards Grjota and N Vesteråshornet. From Grjota you climb past red rock outcrops to the southern end of Holeegga, follow it for two kilometres, partly narrow, down towards Bolletehornet, then down alongside the stream from Grjotdalsvatnet lake and over a couple of bridges to Herdalseter.
From Herdalseter to Geiranger (Vesterås) via Holeegga
From Herdalseter you head south up the valley west of the river, crossing a couple of bridges along the way. After around 2.5 kilometres the path climbs towards the valley between Bolletehornet and Grjotdalsnibba. The path leads in towards Grjotdalsvatnet lake before turning back and climbing towards the edge of Bolletehornet (1,349 metres above sea level). From here you follow a steep ridge that gradually narrows. The climb up to Holeegga is steep and narrow, and you continue south to the marked path towards Kaldhusseter. Follow this down the slope westward to Kaldhusbakkvatnet lake and on down to Vesteråsdalen. A detour to Storsæterfossen waterfall is worth the extra distance. From Vesterås you follow the path built by Sherpas down to the centre of Geiranger.
