The Seven Sisters
Climb one or climb all - or stay on deck and just admire them
Side-by-side along the coast of Helgeland, between the Hurtigruten ports of call of Sandnessjøen and Brønnøysund, seven mountaintops look so beautiful that a local legend claims that they are female trolls turned to stone.
The Tale of a Troll Chase
In the legend, Botnkrona (3,517 feet), Grytfoten (3,497 feet), Skjæringen (4,202 feet), Tvillingene (the Twins) (3,215 feet), Kvasstinden (3,314), and Stortinden (2,986) were all daughters of the Suliskongen, who kept them under strict control far up north. One night he fell into such a deep sleep that all seven maidens were able to sneak out.
But Vågekallen, who had been eager for a wife, was lying in wait. He chased them. The sisters fled south down the coast, with several trolls chasing them, some of whom were trying to save them and some who were trying to capture them. But none of them thought of the sun, which turns all trolls to stone. When night eventually turned to morning, the troll sisters and their pursuers were petrified and became the mountain range that comprises the Helgeland coastline – one of the most beautiful places in the world today.
Get to Know the Sisters
Each of Seven Sister mountains has its own name: Botnkrona, Grytfoten, Skjæringen, Tvillingene (The Twins), Kvasstinden and Breitinden. They range in characteristics, with some featuring more glacier-like, snowcapped qualities while others possess more hilly and rocky peaks. If you're stopping through the Helgeland coast area, getting further acquainted with the Seven Sisters is relatively easy. Dozens of marked trails offer accessibility to get higher up the mountains, and allow visitors to truly take in the Arctic terrain from a higher vantage point.
Climbing the Seven Sisters
The Seven Sisters are all so close together that an experienced hiker can climb them all in a single day. The Norwegian Trekking Association estimates that an experienced hiker should take just under thirteen hours to complete the 17-mile hike, which includes an elevation gain of over 10,000 feet.
If hiking all of the seven sisters together is too challenging for you, you can always make a trip up one of them. Stortinden, at 2,986-feet high, is the easiest mountain to climb for less experienced hikers.
The nearest port of call is Sandenessjøen. You can get maps of the hiking trails from the tourist office here. The hiking season in the area is generally between May and September.
Passing through Sandnessjøen
Another one of the great aspects of passing by the Seven Sisters is voyaging through the delightful seaport town of Sandnessjøen. Enjoy a meal at a local restaurant while taking in views of the captivating Kystriksveien coast line during your time in Sandnessjøen. The city is a port of call for Norwegian coastal cruises, so it's a perfect time to take some local culture and recharge your traveling batteries during your Arctic voyage!
