Skogshorn slate quarry
Mountain trip to Skogshorn slate quarry. Nice trip to combine with Føssebal and swimming in plunges.
Images
The hike is family-friendly and you learn about Hemsedal's history and the mining of slate.
There have been slate quarries in Hemsedal for a long time and one of these was located here. Slate was used for the roof in the old days. The farmers in Lykkja were the ones who were most active in the slate quarry. From the middle of the 19th century, a Hut was set up on the plateau below and here lived those who quarried slate. This Hallingstova(hut) now stands on Tor Grøthe's farm down in the valley.
Long back in time, a sledgehammer was used to shape slate, but eventually it was replaced by the clipper, which they called skante, which came to Hemsedal around the 20th century. It then became easier to shape the slate than when using an axe.
At the time, there was a lot of activity in the quarry and slate was taken out in blocks and sent down by rope to a plateau where they were split up and cut into slate. From here the trip went by sledge to Løkjistølane and then on to Hemsedal.
Author's advice
The tour can also be combined with a visit to Fekjanånefossen.
If you want to climb the top 20 peak Skogshødn, there is a marked path east of the summit. The trail begins at the Trefta car park
Directions
From Hemsedal drive towards Lykkja and follow signs for Ulsåkstølane. Walk past Ulsåkstølen until the dirt road ends. Turn right up the path towards Skogshødn slate quarry
Parking
By Ulsåkstølen