Estimated net time	3-3½ hours
Difficulty	No difficulties, but a little cumbersome because of juniper and heather above the forest.
Drinking water	Access to running water from several streams along the forest road.
GSM coverage	Coverage throughout the route (June 2010).
Parking	Room for one or two cars at trail head. Room for many cars around the Langenuen camping site 200 metres north of trail head, along road E39.
Start height	30 metres
Vertical metres	720 metres for the roundtrip.
Trip distance	8.0 km
GPS-file	X
Map		Google Interactive Map
Route photo	Trail head and possible parking.   Short-cut through a small forest at beginning of route.   Route above the forest.   Path to the summit.

From Bergen drive road E39 south to Os and then to the ferry port at Haljem. Take the ferry across to Sandvikvåg (signed for Stavanger), which will set you back NOK 190 one way (June 2010). From the ferry drive 14.1 km south along road E39 and park on the right hand side of the road (this is 200 metres after the Langenuen camping site), where a forest road runs up along a small river. If there is no space for your car at trail head drive back to Langenuen and ask to park there.

Start walking by following the forest road south-west along the river. After 150 metres you cross a bridge across the river. From here follow the forest road as it turns right, but when the forest road then turns left you should continue straight ahead on a vague path through a small valley. You might be able to see some vague "T"s painted in red on a tree and a couple of rocks along the path. After 250 metres this path re-joins the forest road and you should turn right, following the forest road uphill. Ignore any smaller forest roads branching off the main road.

Approximately 1.0 km after you re-joined the forest road you should fork right (this is the first proper road fork, where both legs are of equal quality). Note that if you fork left here you will head up to lake Stemmetjørna, which is the more normal route to Mehammarsåta, but a fair bit longer than the direct route through the forest. Shortly after this fork you cross the river on a small bridge (the river might flood the bridge). After you have crossed the bridge you should either head straight ahead towards the saddle you see between the two tops ahead of you, or you can continue another 300 metres and then turn left towards the saddle. Walk through the relatively open forest, heading west with a little hint of north. When you get above the forest head north-west towards the right (north) skyline of Mehammarsåta. You should aim for the small area of large boulder to the right.

After having crossed the boulder you will soon find a vague path heading north-west. At height 560 metres you get to a small plateau and from here the path turns left, heading south-west up a grass clad gully. Follow this gully all the way to a few metres below the summit, and then turn right to get up to the highest point, which is marked by a cairn shaped like a shelter. Inside this shelter you will find a registration book.

The descent is best done by reversing your ascent route.

15. June 2010

Another week at our factory at Hagavik, and this Tuesday was a beautiful day. I therefore decided to take on the long ferry trip across to Stord, in order to hike Mehammarsåta. The decision to do this hike was quite spontaneous so I was not well prepared in terms of map studies, but I had a print-out of a route description from westcoastpeaks.com.

Following the forest road uphill was easy based on the route description I had, but I got a bit uncertain about when to leave the forest road to take on the hike through the forest. I called Arnt, but he was in a shopping queue, and had done this hike many years ago, and was a bit uncertain about my exact location relative to where I should leave the forest road. But he did manage to help me sufficiently in order for me to be confident about where to proceed, and soon I was on the right track.

After some bush fighting (juniper and heather) above the forest I found a fine path up the mountain from north-east, and could enjoy a splendid view to the higher mountains inland, and the thousands of islands along the coast. After a relatively short stop at the slightly windy summit I headed back down, this time trying my luck at a route I thought would give less bush. I think I partly succeeded, and found my way nicely back to the forest road. From here it was plain sailing back to the car. Here I changed into clean clothes before driving back to the ferry. The plan had been to stop at the small shop next to the ferry port, so I was almost disappointed when it turned out that I could drive straight onto the ferry, which was due to leave in two minutes. Which in turn meant I was set back considerably when buying a Coke and a sandwich at the ferry. But it did wonders ...
Photos 15.06.2010