The Tømte cabins are not far from the city and a popular place to visit. We went to the "little" Tømtehytta mid-week so that we'd have the place to ourselves (the "big" Tømtehytta is right beside the little one but on a Wednesday in June nobody had made any reservations at either except us). We left after work and didn't get to the trail head until around 8pm but there is lots of sun in the summer and we had a few hours of daylight ahead of us.

From the bus stop, a sign notes that are two ways to get to the cabin, one is 7.5km and the other is 3.5. We chose the 3.5km route based on the fact that it was "steeper, but also 4km shorter". What the sign did not mention was that the route we chose was substantially steeper than the alternative. (Not pictured because that was not a fun time.) When we finally had just 500m left to go, the switchbacks started.


Eventually we made it and it was so worth it. This is another cabin that has been renovated with funding from Olav Thon's DNT Foundation and it was at this point I became an Olav Thon super-fan. There was not one, but two couches, as well as a guitar, rocking chair, and cow-print footstool. Plus at least 10 decorative pillows and a loft space for sleeping. AND new ikea cabinets in the kitchen and a brand spanking new outhouse with a poured cement foundation. We lived the dream cabin life for one night and loved every minute of it.

The next day we popped over to the "big" Tømtehytta and took the longer route back, but more on that next week. If we were to do this trip again, I'd take the 7.5km route in. It's also uphill but much less gruelling. On the way out (in the 3.5 km stretch) there is a side hike you can do to a nearby look-off. For us, having walked up that path already, we were not prepared to hike back down (and then up) those switchbacks to see it. Maybe another time!

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