Mannen is as notorious as it is famous in Norway. From the top you have a beautiful view over the Romsdalen valley and the Rauma river. But there’s also a downside: this mountain could break off at any moment, crash down into the valley and cause a lot of damage and flooding. Don’t worry, though, the movement of the mountain is closely monitored with all kinds of measuring equipment, so people can be evacuated in time if necessary. And you can climb up to it and see everything up VERY close. For the true daredevils!
How do you get to Mannen?
You start the hike close to the famous Trollstigen viewpoint, just past the plateau when coming from Åndalsnes. Take Riksveg 63 towards Valldal and you’ll automatically see the 23 hairpin bends smiling at you. After you’ve passed the Trollstigen plateau, you’ll see a lake on your left. You can park along the road, cross the little bridge and hike along Lake Alnes, between the mountains, to Mannen. Easy peasy!
(Don’t) break a leg!
The route is well marked, so you can simply follow the trails and red markings. It’s 8 kilometers one way. On the way there it took us just over two hours, and on the way back about an hour and a half. Mannen is 1291 meters above sea level, but because the hiking route starts at 800 meters, the climb isn’t VERY intense. That’s why the hike is classified as a ‘medium’ route. Do wear good shoes, though, because the last stretch is very rough terrain and pretty steep. Gore-tex isn’t an unnecessary luxury either, because it can be very wet and muddy at the start of the hike. Early in the season you may even come across some snow along the way, so keep that in mind.
By the way, you’re advised not to drink the water you come across, because of grazing sheep. So bring enough drinking water yourself and don’t forget to pack some snacks and/or sandwiches.
A break on Alnessteinen
As soon as you’re past Alnesvatnet and have turned left into the valley between the mountains, you need to watch where you’re walking. The terrain looks fairly flat, but here and there are protruding rocks and pools of mud you can sink into up to your knees. Soon you’ll reach Alnessteinen (930 m above sea level), the end point of another hike on the same route. We couldn’t resist climbing up on it and taking a short break.
Mind your step!
Soon after that the terrain gets rougher and rougher and the markings a little less clear. Here, too, be careful where you put your feet, because there can be gigantic holes between the rocks you step on. You REALLY don’t want to fall in there! Just before you make the final climb to the end point, you’ll come across something very special. In the little lakes you pass, you can see tiny whirlpools. They form because the water is sucked into the mountains through narrow passages. A really special sight!
Measuring equipment and the risk of collapse
And before you know it, you’re suddenly standing on top of one of the most dangerous mountains in Norway: Mannen. For years, the residents of the valley have regularly been evacuated because suspicious movements were detected. In October last year there was even an attempt to force a landslide and speed up the process, but in the end this plan wasn’t carried out after all. At the top you’ll find a small office with the most beautiful view ever, pumping equipment, ladders and all kinds of thick cables winding their way between the rocks. All for the safety of the people in Romsdalen.
Dizzying heights and big life questions
Mannen isn’t only notorious for the danger and the measuring equipment. The mountain is also praised for its amazing view and the special ‘boulder’ that looks a bit like a little duck. Norwegians think that from below it looks like a man, hence the name ‘Mannen’ (the man). To this day, I still wonder: “How did that thing get there?!”
Strangely enough, you’re not aware of the dangers at all when you walk around this place. The only thing on your mind is how small you actually are and how small your problems actually are. Mannen is very special in so many different ways, and I’d really recommend going to see ‘him’ sometime, while you still can.
Personal travel advice
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