We woke up next to Vestredalsvatnet. The morning was grey, rainy, and cloudy — the perfect start. Things weren’t exactly smooth today. I had a lot to do with prepping food, packing the backpack, making matpakker, and trying to get everything together. But the car was a mess. No proper system, stuff everywhere, and that made everything feel heavier and more stressful.

Petr started very late for this kind of distance and terrain — tired from the previous monster days. It rained the whole time, and the terrain was ridiculously rocky and slippery. But somehow, he kept moving. These mountains are harsh, raw, and incredible… and he made it over them once again.

He said: “Another long day. Started very late for this distance and terrain, tired from previous even longer days, rainy whole day, slippery on such rocky terrain… but somehow managed to go again over these harsh amazing mountains.”

Meanwhile, I gave myself one clear mission: get the car clean and organized. And also — find new poles. Because guess what? Petr broke yet another one. I think it’s number 5 or 6 by now. He can’t go without them, so I hit up a few sport shops in Geilo and found some cheap aluminum poles that should hopefully survive more than a day. I also picked up some hydrolyte tablets — staying hydrated and keeping up with minerals is super important on a run like this.

I grabbed a few other necessities for myself, then headed to a camping spot in Geilo. Washed some shoes and clothes, showered, did the dishes, the usual routine. After that, I started driving the 1.5 hours toward Breistølen, where Petr would finish his day. I made one longer stop along the way to reorganize the entire car properly, then cooked a warm quinoa and veggie bowl while waiting for him.

Around 23:00, I drove to the meeting point. Petr arrived after midnight — tired, in pain, soaking wet, but smiling. He had crushed another brutal and technical section after already doing so many long and hard days. He’s seriously a beast. We drove just a short way to a road-side parking spot, he ate, put on some healing cream for his sore muscles and aches, and then we both crashed hard.

Thankfully, tomorrow’s stage isn’t supposed to be as hard — and we don’t have to start early. Which is very, very welcome.