Birkebeinervegen

Birkebeinervegen is a summer road that connects Østerdalen and Lillehammer. When the Birkibeinar (Birkebeinarane in Norwegian) took Hákon Hákonarson (Håkon Håkonsson in Norwegian) to safety in Trondheim from Lillehammer, by ski, they took that route to cross the Hedemarksvidda mountains into Østerdalen and then continued on North towards Niðaróss (Trondheim).

Without the Birkibeinar, Hákon Hákonarson would not have survived, and as a result, Áskunnr hinn gullúlfr Bjǫrnsson (Hákon VI) would have not been born, and neither would have the twins, Hákon inn hvítrúlfr and Ólafr inn hvítrúlfr.

As part of training, Væringjar have to complete the exact same route, on skis, from Lillehammer to Niðaróss. We also frequently ski from Rena (military base) to Lillehammer following the same historical route.

The video shows the drive on Birkebeinervegen (mainly unpaved) and the descent onto Lillehammer. Note the road is impassable in winter. Even on skis, it is often a challenge.

Depiction of Birkebeiner skiers carrying Prince Haakon to safety during the winter of 1206 has become a national Norwegian icon. The prince grew up to be King Haakon IV whose reign marked the end of the period known as the Civil war era in Norway, foto©: O. Væring Eftf. AS”Oslo/Norway www.ovaering.no.

---

If you see the moose, you missed the turn off. We didn’t miss the turn off, just heading for Jotunheimen, and crossing the mountains west as far north as possible in Østerdalen towards the Ringebu area to spend as little time as possible on the E6 due to toll.