Welcome to the Plahte Estate

WELCOME TO THE PLAHTE ESTATE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WELCOME • Environmental profile • Media • The area • The story of the Plahte Estate BEFORE ARRIVAL • Booking, payment and cancellation • What is found at the cabin? • Things you need to bring yourself • Tips for preparation • Satellite phone ON ARRIVAL • Meeting place and time • What happens on arrival • Additional guidance DURING THE STAY • Safety • Outboard engines • Activities beyond hunting and fishing • Activities mainly for youth/children ON DEPARTURE • Washing the cabin • Handling of rubbish • Reporting of catches, and the cabin book AFTER RETURNING HOME • Feedback • Booking for next year? • Photographs FOOD FROM NATURE CULTURE AND HISTORY BACK TO SCHOOL: SOME BIOLOGY LESSONS

WELCOME We would like to welcome you to the Plahte Estate. We hope that your visit here in ‘our kingdom’ will give you good memories that you will carry with you for a long time, whether they are about hunting, fishing, hiking in the mountains, or being on the fjord. We want your stay to be as good as possible and we therefore offer complete packages that include everything you need in terms of gasoline, electricity, propane, etc.

Environmental profile We have a clear objective: to manage all natural resources in a long-term and sustainable manner. We keep the stain on the nature resources at a low level, primarily by limiting the number of people that are allowed into the area. Our philosophy is that one should be able to experience large areas and use the countryside in a traditional way without damaging the natural environment as often happens elsewhere. Most of the cabins are primarily built of local raw materials and we try to be environmentally conscious in all our purchases in the day-to-day running of the business. In the forest there is little final felling, but there are some thinning operations in large plantations that will be mature in 10–20 years. The biodiversity and appearance of grouse habitats are taken into account during felling. There are many large areas of mature forest that are situated such that they could have been exposed to closed logging, or where forest has been left untouched since time immemorial. On the property there can be found one of the largest coniferous forest reserves in the country, and a number of other protected areas.

We believe it is possible to use nature without destroying it. We therefore allow reasonable use of the nature around us, such as lighting a camp fire and camping out under the open sky. On the other hand, throwing away rubbish in the countryside is a definite way to cut off any possibility to be allowed to come back. Media On our website there are several thousand pictures of our locations. Most of the pictures are taken by our guests. In addition, some TV recordings can be found on our YouTube channel.

• National television TV2: Moose hunt with Vebjørn Rodahl and Ådne Søndral https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfrGsnP6lTw

• National televison TV2: Grouse hunt with Vebjørn Rodahl and Gerhard Heiberg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45O0CJHFA_U

• Discovery Channel has recently made a programme for the TV series ‘Marooned with Ed Stafford’. The programme will be broadcast on TV in autumn 2016. Link coming soon.

Anders Lamberg has made a film from one of our watercourses, Urvold. Lamberg is one of Norway’s most capable underwater photographers. Parts of this film have been used in nature programmes for NRK, the BBC and Japanese television. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oE4VyakmJI

The area The Plahte Estate is situated in the far south of Nordland, on the border with North Trøndelag. The Plahte Estate is one of the largest privately owned properties in Norway. The total area is approx. 685 km2, and it is thus approx. 40% larger than Oslo county. Although the area is large, the area of productive forest is no more than approx. 50 km2. This, combined with low lumber prices and difficult terrain, means that the main business is arranging hunting, fishing and nature experiences. On the estate there are four different watercourses and a range of habitats from coastal to high mountain. There are several areas that are protected due to their unique biology.

The story of the Plahte Estate The story began when Julius Jakhelln from Bodø bought up large forests in Bindal in the 1870s. He started a sawmill at Risøya at the end of Bindalsfjorden to obtain timber for his Spanish timber company. Frithjof Plahte had established himself as a timber merchant in England but moved to Høvik when he, in 1877, went into partnership with his childhood friend Jakhelln. Together they became pioneers for several major Norwegian industrial enterprises.

The Spanish timber company changed its name to ‘La Compania de Maderas’ and sailing ships from both Spain and England sourced much of their timber from Risøya. In 1885 the forests of Bindal were thinned out and Risøybruket was closed, at the same time as the Norwegian Parliament adopted a ban on the export of timber from northern Norway.

Sawmills and buildings were sold and Frithjof Plahte took over sole responsibility for the estate, which had now become more of an expense than something that generated income. Frithjof Plahte died in 1899 and his widow, Marie Plahte, was left with the estate. She was very attached to Bindal, spent her summers in Terråk and had an unusually large concern for everything and everyone in Bindal right until her death in 1937. In 1908 she handed over the Plahte Estate to her sons Viktor and Herbert Frithjof. They were both bankers and without forestry education, but timber export from Northern Norway was allowed again and the forests had grown well since Risøybruket’s time.

They therefore employed a forest manager and had a small sawmill built in Terråk that was named Bindalsbruket. Herbert Frithjof died in 1914 and his son, Frithjof Möinichen, was the sole beneficiary of Herbert’s half of the estate.

In connection with the major economic crash in the 1920s, Viktor Plahte mortgaged and later lost his half of the Bindal estate. In 1931 it was bought back by Frithjof Möinichen who in the same year married Asta Poulsson. They moved to Terråk and began construction of the new Bindalsbruket with electricity plants, sawmills, planing mill, carpentry factory, docks, etc. Plahte was a trained forester and became a pioneer in northern Norwegian cultural forestry.

Asta and Frithjof M Plahte’s son, Frithjof Herbert, took over in 1964 and further developed the business and the estate. Expansion and modernization measures resulted in the company becoming as efficient as others in the industry. Economic conditions nevertheless meant that the industry encountered difficulties in the 1970s. That in addition to central political industrial decisions made it necessary to refinance the business in 1976. The industry was spun off as a separate company, Bindalsbruket AS, which unfortunately went bankrupt in 2013.

Simone and Frithjof H Plahte’s son, Frithjof Möinichen Plahte, and his wife, Linda Arlén Flåten Plahte, are the fifth generation to manage the Plahte Estate. They are the third generation to live permanently in Terråk. In 2004 Frithjof took over the estate, and operate it today with the same long-term management as the generations before them. Linda and Frithjof M have three children: Asta Marie, Inger Arlén and Frithjof Erik.

Here you can see a couple of old films from the 1930s that show old Terråk and the start of Bindalsbruket: Bindalsbruket in its infancy, part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT4w-btIADU Bindalsbruket in its infancy, part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGytAnJlTkg

BEFORE ARRIVAL

Booking, payment and cancellation

Once you have decided on your destination and cabin, you will receive an order confirmation, an invoice and a product description that provides practical information about the place you are going to.

Within the first 7 days after booking you have the right to cancel the agreement and receive a full refund. After this period you are bound by the agreement and must pay the rental amount, regardless of whether you use your rights to hunt/fish under the agreement or not. You still have the right to terminate the agreement if illness or other circumstances beyond your control make it impossible to make use of the agreement. In that case the Plahte Estate will retain a cancellation fee equivalent to 10% of the rental fee providing that there is more than 8 weeks left until the agreed arrival date. For cancellations less than 8 weeks before the agreed arrival, the entire rental sum is payable. If the Plahte Estate is able to obtain other tenants for the agreed period, you are entitled to a refund of an amount equal to the rental price that the Plahte Estate obtained from the new tenant, minus the deposit. The refund must not exceed the amount you originally paid.

What is found at the cabin?

For detailed information: see product sheet for that cabin.

Duvets and pillows: With the exception of Glømmen and Kalvvatn, these are found in all cabins, but in many of the cabins an additional mountain shelter is included, so it can be sensible to bring a sleeping bag.

Bedclothes: Included for Sagmestereidet, Kalbekkvika and Fra Granbostad Urvold. For many of the other cabins you can rent bedclothes if you wish. Bring your own towel/s.

Candles, paraffin lamps, paraffin, propane gas, firewood: Available in all cabins.

Kitchen equipment, cutlery, utensils, detergents, toilet paper, matches: Available in all cabins.

Solar panel with USB charger and 230 V converter: Available in most cabins. See product description for details.

Water system with shower: Available in most cabins. See product description for details.

Propane cooktop/stove, propane fridge, wood fire:

Available in most cabins. See product description for details.

Things you need to bring yourself Food Spices Map and compass / GPS with map Satellite phone for areas where there is no mobile phone coverage Bedclothes (if not included) Towel/s First-aid kit Fishing and hunting equipment

Tips for preparation Familiarize yourself with the area and what is offered before you come. If you arrive well prepared, the experience will be much better.

Our estate is situated in mid-Norway, and even if the calendar shows that it is summer, it can be cold in the mountains. Therefore pack warm clothes and good shoes for better comfort.

If you shall roam in the mountains, it can be wise to have a GPS, map, first-aid kit, and Jerven bag or similar.

Be aware that there are many places in the mountains where there is not mobile phone coverage.

Satellite phone The Plahte Estate has entered into an agreement with ST-utleie for a 20% discount on the rental of satellite phones. The agreement is made directly between ST-utleie and our guests, and we receive no commission. A satellite phone provides worldwide coverage and is the only option for two-way communication in areas where there is no mobile coverage. Read more and order on www.st- utleie.no. Enter the password (which you will receive when ordering a visit) to get the discount.

Alternative to traditional satellite phone

ach is a type of basic satellite phone. For a start, you can only use it to send a distress signal and text messages. If you have it paired with a mobile phone, you can also use it for navigation.

ON ARRIVAL

Meeting place and time Normal arrival time is after 14:00, with departure before 13:00. A few days before arrival you call us or we call you to arrange the meeting place and time so that we do not have to wait for each other.

What happens on arrival

Our representative will meet you as arranged. He will hand over the keys, give practical information about the place and about hunting and fishing possibilities. Details about this are in the product description for each location. Additional guidance An explanation of the terrain, and fishing and hunting sites is included in the price, in addition to good advice. If you want, it is possible to hire a private guide for approx. NOK 2500/day. Please request this in good time. We are unfortunately unable to guarantee that we will have a guide available.

DURING THE STAY

Safety Despite the fact that most of our guests are used to roaming in the mountains, it is important to think about safety during your stay on the Plahte Estate. We ask that all participants in the group read the two pages about safety that are a part of the product description.

Upon arrival at the cabin it is important to familiarize yourself with the fire extinguishers and test the smoke alarms. Also pay attention to the propane, paraffin lamps and candles. Also discuss what you would do if there was an accident outdoors.

There is bad or no mobile phone coverage in the mountains, so make clear agreements in advance.

When using the boat, use lifejackets, always take oars with you, and make sure that you have enough fuel. Be respectful of bad weather and do not use the boat if the conditions are too rough.

All journeys and use of equipment are at your own risk. Outboard motors In most rental places there are boats with outboard motors. Usually the engines work well, but it is annoying if you are troubled. Here are two pieces of advice to avoid problems:

1. 90% of all problems with outboard motors are caused by water in the fuel. Use only the external tank and use common sense: do not fill through a wet funnel and set the tank so that no water can flow into it if it starts raining. If you find the boat full of water and the tank stuck under a seat (thwart), the tank is probably full of water…

2. To start the motor: a. Pump a couple of times with the manual fuel pump on the fuel hose. b. Check that the bleed (ventilation) screw on the top of the tank is open. c. Check that the dead man's switch is in place. d. Check that the engine is in neutral and the throttle is in the starting position. e. Use the choke only the first 2–3 strokes. After that do some strokes without the choke. f. Slowly pull the starter cord the first 10 cm so it engages. Do not pull so hard and long that the cord breaks.

Activities beyond hunting and fishing If you are looking for alternatives to hunting and fishing, the area has many different things to offer. Here should be something for everyone.

Hiking in the mountains

Our estate is beautifully situated on the Helgeland coast. We recommend off- path walking, but there are also marked trails to some mountain peaks both in Bindal and in Brønnøy/Vassbygda. By following the links below you will find simple descriptions with maps. Walking to a summit provides a fantastic experience in nature and a beautiful view of the coast of Helgeland. An example is Heilhornet (1058 MSL), which is not the highest, but is the most visited peak in Bindal. http://www.bindal.kommune.no/toppti http://www.turkarthelgeland.no/broennoey.234360.no.html

Terråk/Åbjøra Terråk Gjestegård – good accommodation and sometimes open for food. Mon Amour – nostalgic little summer cafe on a small farm in Bangstad. Sale of food and small goods. Helgeland Museum, Bindal – Exhibitions in the centre of Terråk and at the rural museum. Boat- building traditions. Nordlandsbåtregattaen – annual regatta in the last weekend in June where the Bindalsfæringen (four-oared boat) is in focus. Namsskogan Familiepark – animal and activity park, a drive of approx. 2 hours away. Cultural monument trail at Vassås and Holm. Hildringen Activity Farm – Paintball, archery, axe-throwing, Dutch farmersgolf, etc.

Namsskogan Familiepark Bindal museum, Terråk

Vassbygda/Brønnøy

Hildurs Urterarium, Brønnøysund – food, wine and herb garden. Caving – experience the underworld in some of Velfjord’s many caves. Bru Activity Farm – mountain biking, 5-a-side football pitch, four-wheel drive course, beach volleyball etc. Torghatten – landmark in Brønnøy. Vega Archipelago World Heritage Area – outstanding nature, cultural landscape, natural sciences and historical value; on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Namsskogan Familiepark – animal and activity park, a drive of approx. 2 hours away. Engavatnet – the lake that disappears. Nevernes havn – centre for coastal culture in Helgeland. Exhibitions. Bicycle rentals in Brønnøysund – for short and long rides.

For more information www.visithelgeland.com/?id=2076763783

Activities mainly for children/youths: Pothole (kettle) lake in Åbygda: Walk down to Brattfossen waterfalls, one of the most beautiful and wildest places on the estate. On the upper side of the falls there is a large pothole that is nice to swim in. BUT: Have respect for the falls. Boat rental Aunvatnet On Aunvatnet in Åbygda there are rented out both dinghies and sailing boats. Contact us for details Hildringen Activity Farm Activities include paintball, axe-throwing, archery, etc. Bru Activity Farm, Velfjord Mountain biking, four-wheel drive course, 5-a-side football pitch, etc.

Pancakes on the fire To fry pancakes on the fire is a success if you are travelling with children. Make the pancake mix at home before going on a hike. Pour the pancake mix into an empty drinks bottle, take some margarine (or other fat) and a frying pan. The pancakes are served warm with sugar on. Delicious!

If you are so lucky that it is the season for berries, it is also delicious to serve the pancakes with self- plucked berries. You can also top it all off with a blob of cream from a tin 

Special banana split This can also be prepared at home before the hike. Take a banana and keep the peel on. Cut a slit in the banana, fill it with chocolate and/or nuts and wrap it in aluminium foil. Place the parcel on the fire until the banana is nice and soft, and the chocolate has melted. It can be eaten as it is or with a ‘dash’ of cream, or vanilla Kesam (Quark) (similar to cottage cheese).

Also see the separate cooking section later in the booklet.

ON DEPARTURE

Washing the cabin We are unable to check all the cabins between each visit. So that it will be pleasant to come to us, we therefore rely on all guests washing their cabin at the end of their stay (unless otherwise agreed). We therefore ask you to try to leave the cabin in a better condition than it was in when you arrived, and as you would like to find it. On departure, complete the washing form and deliver it with the key. Handling of rubbish Kalbekkvika, Sørengvatn and Øvereidet: Separate food waste from other rubbish. The other rubbish should be packed into small plastic bags - NOT black bags. Our representative will show you the rubbish containers and explain what is required.

Åbjøra area, Ureidet and Terråk: All rubbish should be packed into bags and placed in our container at the office in Terråk.

Urvold: Sort the rubbish into the containers in the outside toilet. Make sure that items such as bottles that can be recycled for cash are not full of dregs and cigarette butts. We collect the rubbish.

Sagmestereidet: The rubbish should be packed into bags and delivered to our representative.

Kalvkru and Kalvvatn: All rubbish must be taken with you.

Reporting of catches, and the cabin guest book We are legally required to report all catches of sea trout and salmon to the authorities. It is therefore essential that you keep records of catches of these fish. Please also record the number of fish released.

We greatly appreciate all of our guests writing in the cabin book. If something is broken or you have suggestions for improvement, it is best if you contact us directly so that we can be sure that we record it.

AFTER RETURNING HOME

Feedback Please give us your feedback on what you think we can improve on. That way we can improve in time for your next visit. Please give us your feedback on whether you are happy with the cabins and the service we provide. Feel free to share photos with us via Facebook.

Booking for next year? Over 70% of our guests are ‘regulars’, and many have their fixed week year after year. Due to a new online booking system, it is a little harder for us to set aside cabins. We therefore ask that you notify us at the earliest possible opportunity after your return home if you want us to set aside the week for you for the following year. Photographs All guests who send photos from their trip to us by email, [email protected], are each year in with a chance to win a gift certificate of NOK 1000 which can be used for future visits with us. We claim the right to use pictures we receive for marketing.

FOOD FROM NATURE Author about mushrooms: Norwegian Food Safety Authority Many mushrooms are highly poisonous. Lack of knowledge can cause poisoning and subsequent death. The Plahte Estate accepts no responsibility for whether the following descriptions are sufficiently detailed or accurate. Picking of mushrooms is therefore at your own risk. Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) Egg-yolk yellow in colour and funnel shaped with thick forked ribs extending far down the stem. Fleshy and soft. Fruit-like smell and mild taste. Sometimes the aftertaste is peppery. Grows in deciduous forest and coniferous forest across Norway. Comes as early as June. Can be confused with: False chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca), which is chewy, has a thin flesh, and is orange-yellow in colour. Not edible as it may contain allergens.

Wood Hedgehog (Hydnum repandum) White-yellow in colour, sometimes with red-yellow caps. Smooth with spines of unequal length on the underside of the cap and down the stem. Fleshy. Pleasant smell and taste. Grows in deciduous forest and coniferous forest across Norway. Comes in July. Can be confused with: Terracotta Hedgehog (Hydnum rufescens), which is more slender and

more russet in colour. Can have a somewhat bitter taste. Note: Never use brown hedgehog mushrooms! Orange Birch Bolete (Leccinum versipelle) Orange or brick-red cap, white stem that with age becomes slate coloured. White stem covered with small black scales. The flesh turns dark on cutting. Grows in deciduous forest under birch. Common species in mountain birch forest. Comes in July. Note: Orange Birch Bolete should not be eaten uncooked. Must be fried or boiled well to avoid poisoning. The mushroom should also be decocted before frying to be on the safe side. Decocting: The mushroom is placed in cold water and boiled for 10 min. The boiling water is then thrown away. Can be confused with: similar mushrooms with red caps and Brown Birch Bolete (Leccinum scabrum). These are edible. Cloudberries; the mountain’s gold The berries ripen at different times; they ripen first on the southern slopes and in the lowlands, and they ripen last on the north-facing slopes and in the mountains. Their incidence depends partly on temperature and insects in the flowering season. If there is a frosty night when the cloudberries flower, the likelihood of finding berries is considerably reduced. Ripe berries are usually found from mid-July and throughout August. So there will almost always be berries to find for those who want to hunt for the mountain's gold. Lingonberries Lingonberries are found in both the lowlands and higher up in the mountains. Lingonberries are dark red with a slightly bitter, but fresh taste. The leaves are leathery and oblong with bowed down edges. The underside of the leaves has dark gland-dots. The berries are rarely ripe before early September. Lingonberries can be confused with the dwarf cornel

(bunchberry) (Cornus suecica), but the bunchberries have a lighter red colour, their leaves are oval and the berries have a floury taste and have less flavour than the lingonberries. The berries are not poisonous. Lingonberries have from time immemorial been widely used by people. This may be because lingonberries have a high content of benzoic acid (as do cloudberries) and therefore they were easy to store in times of low availability of sugar or modern preservatives. Blueberries Blueberries are found all the way from the road and up to the mountains. The berries can be found ripe from mid-July. The blueberry can be confused with the bog bilberry (also known as the bog blueberry, northern bilberry, or western blueberry), but the leaves of the bog bilberry are more bluish green than those of the blueberries, and they are not serrated like the blueberry leaves. Bog bilberries are slightly larger and more matt than blueberries and inside they are yellow-green. Bog bilberries are not poisonous. Blueberries are not only good on pancakes, they are also good for health. Blueberries have been highly regarded in popular medicine and were used against diarrhoea, dysentery, inflammation of the stomach, scurvy, influenza and eye diseases.

LAPP STEW 1.5 kg clean-cut reindeer thigh or shoulder meat 500 ml milk 500 ml moose or reindeer stock 1 tin sour cream 4–5 slices goat’s cheese salt pepper plain flour (or cornflour) butter for frying

Cut the meat into bite-sized cubes and brown them in a hot frying pan. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the browned meat into a Dutch oven. Pour the milk and stock over the meat, and let it simmer for 1 hour. Add the sour cream and goat’s cheese, and thicken the sauce with the flour or cornstarch until it is suitably thick. Let it simmer for 15 minutes. Lapp stew is served with potatoes, boiled root vegetables and lingonberries (uncooked, thinly sliced, and slightly mashed berries mixed together with sugar).

BAKED APPLES In the forest, up in the mountains ... Make hiking food that tastes good and is easy to prepare. The dish can easily be made at home in the kitchen too.

Ingredients (2 servings) 2 apples 50 g chocolate 50 ml sugar 2 tsp ground cinnamon 50 ml raisins 2 tbsp butter 200 ml vanilla Kesam (Quark) (similar to cottage cheese), 7.4%

Instructions Remove the core from the apples and fill the holes with chocolate, sugar, cinnamon and raisins. Pack the apples in well-greased aluminium foil. This stage can be done before the trip. The foil parcels are baked in the embers of the fire for approx. 10 minutes. Serve with vanilla Kesam.

BLUEBERRIES AND MILK ‘Childhood’s best everyday dessert’. Take a cup with you to the heath, fill the cup with blueberries and then pour sugar and milk over the berries. Yum... Enjoyed with nostalgia.

On some farms, you can buy fresh milk. Ask us and we’ll try to arrange it.

CULTURE AND HISTORY Bindal local authority is situated in the far south of Nordland county. The local authority got its present borders in 1964 when the Tosen/Lande area was transferred to Brønnøy.

Bindal is one of the more productive rural areas in Nordland. Here there is mostly spruce, but also much pine. The forest has through the ages given rise to boat-building, and Bindal is known as a place with a lot of boatbuilder traditions. Boats were built on the farms in winter to supplement income. In addition, the large forest resources have been important for sawmills and also for the door factory – the cornerstone company – Bindalsbruket. Gold has also been found in Bindal, and in Kolsvika there have been several attempts at gold operations.

Brønnøy Brønnøy local authority has a rich and varied landscape, from the island kingdom on the coastal lowland in the west to the fertile rural areas in the high mountains in the east. In the south- west lies the famous mountain Torghatten, which is the local authority’s most well-known landmark. Brønnøy reached its present size in 1977 when Sømna was separated out as its own local authority.

Most of Brønnøysund’s history from the 1200s and up to 1870 centres around the history of the church and the residents of the vicarage. Brønnøy Church dates back to the Middle Ages. From the mid-1800s a village began to emerge. It was stimulated by public service, rich herring fishing and gradually Hurtigruta. Today the local authority is a regional administrative and educational centre. The government department Brønnøysundsregistrene contributes to the fact that about 75% of jobs in the local authority are within tertiary industries.

Arvid Sveli: Sveli, born on 6 January 1920, is a Norwegian poet, author, retired district forester and logger from Vassbygda in Velfjord.

From his early youth he worked as a logger. Later he was educated in forestry and became a forest manager and later the district forester for South Helgeland. Sveli has a large portfolio of writing extending back to the early 1970s up to the present, and it is usually descriptions of nature from Helgeland that he writes about. He also had a series of articles in the local newspaper ‘Brønnøysunds Avis’, the theme of which was local history, nature and outdoor experiences.

In 1999 Sveli wrote a book about the history of Bindalsbruket and the Plahte Estate. The book starts by discussing ownership arrangements in Norway around the 1600s and tells us much about industrial development and forestry from the old days until now but also a lot about the nature and the people who live, and lived, in the area. The book can be ordered from us.

The last 50 pages of the book are a journey around our estate with descriptions of nature, hunting, fishing and the people in the areae. You can order the book from us, or you can read it for free here: www.nb.no/nbsok/nb/a8addddc32eecbcb2b9345ada34f1e67?lang=no#0

The legend of the Helgeland mountains

Vågakallen and Suliskongen often sat and looked at each other – Vågakallen on Aust-Vågøy and Suliskongen up there in Sulitjelma. They argued happily about which of them was king over the largest area. The only times they agreed were when they complained about the country’s youths, who then, as now, were impossible to control. They cared only about playing and having fun and would not listen to their fathers.

Suliskongen had found it necessary to send his seven daughters out to Landegode so De syv søstre that Lekamøya, who was known for her wisdom and her beautiful appearance, could make them responsible and decent young ladies.

Vågakallen had given up her son, Hestmannen. He was full of mischief and not at all good at socializing. He had moved away to Hestmannen live alone and could ravage as he wanted without being disturbed by his father. One beautiful late spring evening, Lekamøya took the seven sisters out with her to take a swim in the evening and play around in the water. Hestmannen lay there in the north and was bored, when suddenly he saw them in the distance. The sisters played and fooled about in the water, but it was the beautiful Lekamøya that his eyes fell upon. He had to have her. He threw his cloak over his shoulders, sat on his horse and sped southward into the night. Suliskongen was awoken by the noise and moved closer to the sea to see what was happening.

Lekamøya heard the noise and realized that they had to get away. She and the seven sisters fled south along the Helgeland coast. Lekamøya knew that it was her he was looking for, so she ran faster than the sisters, who thought it was all both enjoyable and exciting Torghatten and could not help but play around a bit along the way.

When Hestmannen realized that he was unable to reach her, he stretched out his bow and fired an arrow at her. But Sømnakongen, who had been lying there near Brønnøysund and watching it all, threw his hat when he saw the arrow coming. The arrow went through the hat, such that the arrow lost both speed and direction. In the madness and sprightliness everyone had forgotten how short the north Norwegian night was, and suddenly the sun came up and everyone turned to stone.

The sisters’ cloaks, which they threw away when they fled, hang over Dønnesøya. The seven sisters stand erect and fine between Sandnes and Alstadhaug. The hat with the hole lies outside Brønnøysund, the arrow on a rock far out in the sea, and Lekamøya just managed to throw herself down on Leka. Hestmannen is a little further north and Suliskongen’s crown you can spot between the Børvasstindene mountains. The only one who is in the same place is Vågakallen; he is still sitting high up in Lofoten and watching over his kingdom.

Lekamøya

BACK TO SCHOOL: SOME BIOLOGY LESSONS

Why fish at elevations of over approx. 150 m are released, and why pike are not found in Central Norway. During the last glaciation there was an up to 3000 m thick layer of ice over parts of our country. We see clear traces of the last ice age at Øvereidet, where there are powerful scourings from ice that has pressed itself between the narrow crags. Also, in a number of places in Åbjørdalen you can see mountainsides that have been polished by the ice and that still have not weathered and become uneven by the passage of time.

The weight of the enormous ice masses depressed the land mass of Norway at the same time as the sea level of the oceans fell due to the locking of seawater into the ice sheets. When the ice melted, the seawater rose faster than the land rebounded. The result of this was that the sea reached further inland. In fact, some areas where there is land today were once covered by these seas. In our region, the highest level that the sea reached is approx. 120 m relative to present day mean sea level. When the ice retreated after the last ice age, freshwater fish such as perch, pike and carp occupied the new freshwater environments which emerged in southern Norway, and they became trapped in the newly formed lakes. When the ice retreated further northward, the melting ice and slow uplift of the land meant that the sea level rose so much that the salt water closed off the areas further north to pure freshwater fish. (In the far east, in Finnmark, there was a freshwater bridge, which means that you can also find pure freshwater fish there.)

The fish species we have in our region are therefore fish which tolerate both salt water and freshwater. Such fish are called anadromous (if they live in the sea but migrate to freshwater to spawn) or catadromous (if they live in freshwater but migrate to salt water to spawn). Our most common anadromous species are sea trout, salmon and seawater Arctic char. Our most common catadromous fish are European eel.

When humans took over Norway several thousand years ago, the fish had of natural causes not managed to spread themselves much higher than the maximum height that the sea level had reached inland, but it was probably realized early on that carrying fish up to higher waters was a good way to secure better access to food. All fish in Norwegian mountain waters have therefore been introduced, most of them in prehistoric times, although it has been common to release fish in mountain lakes until recently. On our estate, it is mostly trout that are found in the mountains, but in a couple of places, such as in Nilsfinntjønnin south of Åbjørvatn, Arctic char of good size and quality can be found.

Trout normally require running water for the roe. In the specialist literature, trout should therefore only be found in lakes that have inflowing streams. That is not the case in several of our lakes. Still, it seems that they manage to reproduce without problems, for example in Småtjønna on the way up to Søbergsvatn.

Three species with different strategies On the Plahte Estate you can find three salmonids: salmon, trout and Arctic char.

TROUT, sea trout, mountain trout, lowland trout, brook trout and brown trout are one and the same species. The trout normally requires running water where it spawns, but there are exceptions on our estate. The sea trout graze in the shallow nearshore areas of the fjord and are never out in the open sea. After a couple of months of foraging they return to freshwater. In inland lakes, it is advantageous to take out the small fish so that the rest get more food and grow better. In a sea trout watercourse, where the fish primarily gain weight in the saltwater phase, it is the opposite. Sea trout spawn many times and have high survival rates between each spawning. If you do not catch a 300 g fish, it will probably be 3 kg when it returns in a few years. If you make sure that the number of fish taken out does not become too large in relation to the number growing, you can therefore get very large concentrations of fish in small watercourses. In the Urvold watercourse, we have counted 1000 spawners in a 300 m stretch of river. This does NOT mean that you can take out large amounts of fish and believe that the stock will be maintained. We therefore request moderation when it comes to what is put in the freezer.

SALMON spawn only in running water, and they wander out to the sea after 2–3 years. They remain in the salt water until spawning time. Most salmon spawn only once, but in watercourses with good wintering places the salmon can have up to 40% more spawnings. This means that in a watercourse without good wintering possibilities, there can be a reduction of approx. 50% in fish migrating upstream. In our watercourses we try to keep it at a lower level “to be on the safe side”.

ARCTIC CHAR, seawater Arctic char and inland Arctic char are the same species. The seawater Arctic char go out en masse in the spring and return together around midsummer. Our watercourses are the southernmost in Norway with seawater Arctic char. Video surveillance in Urvoldvatnet indicates that some years many Arctic char remain in freshwater throughout the season. The Arctic char do not spawn in rivers, but from 5 to 100 m depth in the lakes.

How can you tell the difference between sea trout and salmon? Text and images: Irvin. Source www.hooked.no

Most fishermen believe that they can easily tell the difference between salmon and sea trout, but it can actually be difficult.

We can start with the overall best characteristic to distinguish salmon and trout, namely teeth in the roof of the mouth.

If you pull your finger back and forth in the roof of the mouth of a salmonid, you will either recognize many well-developed teeth and know that you have a trout, or you will feel no or just small teeth that are fewer in number and you can be reasonably sure that you have just touched a salmon.

The following characteristics are also suitable but are subject to far more variation than the teeth in the roof of the mouth. It can also be said that the following characteristics are far better on adult fish that have not spawned in the previous year and are in good condition. Wait, one more thing, it is a real advantage to have both species next to each other when the following characteristics are used.

Head shape: Salmon often have a more pointed and more elongated head, while the trout’s head is rounder and more compact. The same can be said about the body shape too – usually anyway. Jawbone: Seen from above, with the mouth in a natural position (almost completely closed), the jawbone of a salmon reaches an imaginary line right under its eye, while in the trout it reaches well behind the eye (see photo). Caudal (tail) fin: Salmon generally have a thinner caudal peduncle than trout, as well as a larger and stiffer tail fin. The tail fin’s rear edge as a rule is concave (curves inward) in salmon, while the trout’s has a straighter cut (or convex in old individuals). It should, however, be said that smaller trout individuals in particular have a partly concave tail fin. You have to be careful not to be mistaken. Spots on the gill cover: This is perhaps the worst characteristic of them all. Traditionally it has been said that salmon have 1–3 spots on the gill cover, while trout have more. This varies! What we can agree on, however, is that salmon often have a prominent dot, while trout can have more or fewer.

Spots on the body: Perhaps even worse than the previous characteristic when I think about it. Traditionally it is said that salmon do not have spots under the lateral line, something which can be correct, and that trout have more and larger spots than salmon, which can also be correct. On the other hand, it is not always the sea trout that have many spots. The fish above is a sea trout.

The different faces of salmon and how to recognize a farmed salmon Text and images: Norske Lakseelver

Wild salmon that are new to the river: The newcomers are usually silvery and in good condition. The scales are loose and the fish can easily be injured. There is little difference between the males and females that are new to the river, but the males can have a small hook on the lower jaw. Any salmon lice will fall off after a few days in the river.

Overwintered fish: Salmon that have spawned the previous autumn and are on the way out to the sea again. The fish are usually silvery, but very lean. The overwintered fish are caught early in the season and are not good for eating. Put them carefully out, then they can come back and spawn again.

Male salmon that have been in the river for a while: During the season the size of the male’s lower jaw (with hook) increases, and the fish become less silvery. The spawning colours begins to emerge. The head of a male is often larger than that of a female of the same size.

Female salmon that have been in the river for a while: Females are often less colourful than males that have been in the river for the same length of time. The hook on the lower jaw of the females is less pronounced. Most often their head is darker and the silver colour on the sides is also less clear.

Male – spawning salmon: There is large variation in how colourful the males become. The skin becomes thicker and the scales are secure. The lower jaw is used both in fights between males and to impress the females. Gradually, as the gonads (the roe and milk) and the colours of the body become more developed, more energy is drawn from the fish flesh.

Female – spawning salmon: Gradually as the roe develop towards spawning, the fish stomach of the females becomes softer and more swollen. The sides of females also become darker. Much of the energy in the fish flesh is now used up in the production of the roe.

Wild salmon or farmed salmon? Rounded and often split fins, shortened gill cover and deformed fins and jaws are common characteristics of escaped farmed salmon. More spots (also below the lateral line) mean that it is easily confused with sea trout. If you clean the fish, you can find signs of vaccine injection and adhesions in the stomach.

How to release a caught fish With a little luck and good fishing technique, your catches can be so great that in practice you can destroy the stock. This has happened in many rivers in Norway. We have had some cases where groups have caught over 100 kg of sea trout in a few hours. This has resulted in us having to set quotas for the various fishing spots so that we do not risk overtaxing the fish population.

It is important to release fish correctly. The point of catch and release is that the fish shall survive, not that it shall die after a couple of days. The text below is from Norske Lakseelver:

Preparations – recommended equipment Remove barbs on fish hooks – file down or squeeze with pliers. Take an available hook-loosening tool under the fish. Use circle hooks when angling – these hooks normally extend out of the fish’s jaw. Use a knotless landing net with a fine mesh. The landing net must be large enough to hold the fish without its fins, tail and mucus layer being damaged.

Once you have hooked the fish Get the fish onto land as quickly as possible – do not spend so long reeling the fish in that it becomes exhausted. Try to pull the fish out of the main current and into the calmer water. Try to determine what type of fish you have on the rod and whether the fish should be released again.

Do the fish survive? Fish that bleed from the gills are clearly injured, and fish that do not get back signs of life should not be returned to the water. The likelihood of the fish surviving when it is returned depends on how it is handled and whether the fish is injured. Investigations by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research conducted in Alta in the period 1999–2003 show that at least 95% of salmon caught in sport fishing survived being returned to the water and were present in the spawning grounds in the autumn. Only 4% of the salmon were caught more than once.

What to do when the fish should be released If possible, take the fish in to a place where it will not injure itself unnecessarily against stones, gravel and small branches / twigs. Do not use a gaff or tailer. Do not pull the fish onto dry land. It can then lose scales and get wounds and injuries. Do not lift the fish out of the water – the fish should constantly have water around it. Monitor the fish without lifting it out of the water; for example, with one hand around the tail and one hand carefully under the front of the stomach. Do not lift the fish out of the water by its tail because this can cause its back to break.

Loosen the hook carefully with a hook-loosening tool. Handle wild salmon that have just come up from the sea extra carefully. Early in the season the wild salmon are extra susceptible to a large loss of scales – with fungal infection as a result.

Avoid weighing the fish. Instead, either estimate the size of the fish by eye, or measure the length of the fish with the fishing rod. Turn the fish the right way in the water when the hook is removed.

Take the fish out to a deeper place with a strong current, and hold it with its nose against the current. Check that the gill covers move. Continue to hold the fish while it recovers. After a short while, the fish will get more energy and automatically attempt to free himself. Then is the time to release it.

Report your catch as a released fish with a fishing licence seller, or the person that rents out the fishing area.

Why fish guts should not be given to the seagulls, and why used equipment must be disinfected before use In most waters there are not many parasites, but you can occasionally find seagull worms or duck worms in the guts. These are common parasites throughout Norway, and fish with seagull worms must be boiled or fried such that you do not ingest living eggs/cysts. The worms have three hosts: the eggs are hatched in the water and eaten by copepods which are then eaten by fish like trout or Arctic char. Birds then eat these small fish. In the host bird's stomach, eggs are made that follow the excrement back to the water. These are unpleasant matters but easy to simplify with a very simple measure: DO NOT THROW FISH GUTS INTO THE WATER OR GIVE THEM TO THE SEAGULLS! Bury them on land or throw them in the rubbish. This will prevent the parasite to spread.

Salmon and sea trout that are new to the river may have salmon lice. This is a growing problem due to the aquaculture industry in Norway. The larvae can be transported over large sea areas, so it is not only in the vicinity of a salmon farm that the parasite can be found. The parasite dies after a couple of days in freshwater and is therefore an indicator of whether the fish is new to the river or not. The parasite can also be dangerous for adult fish, but it is particularly migrating salmon smolt that are affected. If these are exposed to 5-10 salmon lice, the smolt will die on the way out to the sea.

Even more dangerous is the parasite Gyrodactylus salaris. This parasite of approx. 0.5 mm in length lives only in freshwater and is transmitted by infected fishing equipment, boats or water bottles carrying the parasite from sick to healthy watercourses. If G. salaris establishes itself in a watercourse, it will eradicate the salmon within a few years. Fortunately, we do not have G. salaris in our watercourses, but its presence is proven in many other watercourses. If equipment has been used in other watercourses during the last 7 days, tell us, so that we can disinfect it. Do not assume that ‘it will be OK’, with the major consequences that may result.

Geology, water quality and fish At the top of the picture you see Vassbygda with Strauman, Storvatnet, Fjellvatnet and Søberg. In the lower part you see Urvold watercourse. Blue indicates limestone. Reds indicate granitic rocks.

Much of the Eide watercourse and Urvold watercourse consist of limestone mountains. This results in a high pH and extremely clear water. In these waters it is our experience that the brown Maxima nylons are less visible than the regular white nylons. The Terråk watercourse and Åbjøra watercourse consist of more granitic rocks. This results in lower pH, and regular nylon usually functions better, but also here the water is usually very clear so you must be careful when fishing.

Some fishing tips for trout fishing Ideally take FireLine or similar so that you reach further out in the mountain lakes. For lure/spinner fishing you can use various different things.

Must-haves on a mountain trip are a Jensen black/silver 8–12 g pirk and Stingsilda red/black and gold/black pirks of the same weight. There are also some very good cast wobblers called Pray and Wikker. Black Panther Martin lures with yellow spots are also good.

For fly fishing, you do not need especially fancy flies. Rather, try with individual brown medium size flies. Streamer flies are also often good. My favourites: Sulu silver, Sulu red tip, Rakkelhanen, Europea 12, and Streaking Caddis. In most places you can manage without waders, but if you have room in your luggage, bring them.

Some fishing tips for sea trout/salmon fishing In the Urvold and Eide watercourses our experience is that that brown nylon works better than clear. In Urvoldelven there are many sharp stones, so you should be careful using FireLine. For fly fishing, it is difficult to give advice that works in all situations, but please try flies such as:

Heggeli Thunder and Lightning Peter Ross Green Highlander

You can also use tube flies. Our experience is that the combination green and red works well. For lure fishing, the Buck Special 12–18 g gold-silver with the Buck’s special red-clear back is good. Fish non- rhythmically: reel in a bit, stop a bit, reel in again. Do it with both lure, spinner, fly and wobbler. Salmo wobblers can advantageously be weighed down with three to four split shots. Two things then occur: you get a longer cast and even a floating wobbler can be fished by making up and down movements of the wobbler. It is also important to swing such that the lure/wobbler/fly increases/decreases speed when you are boat fishing. Wikke and Pray cast wobblers are very good for salmon and sea trout fishing. Others that work well are Møresild and Tasmanian Devil or such like. Ideally use green and copper. In Urvoldvatnet it also often works well with a small silver- coloured lure.

In many places you can manage without waders, but if you have room in your luggage, bring them 

The Eide Water system

The Eide watercourse is in total approx. 25 km long and has a catchment area of around 100 km2. The anadromous stretch is approx. 14 km. The salmon-bearing part consists of three large lakes which are connected to each other via stretches of river.

In the watercourse there are four cabins, with several kilometres between them. Sagmestereidet and Øvereidet are lowest and are reached by boat. You can drive your car right up to Kalbekkvika and Sørengvatnet. In the mountains there is an additional little shelter for use by guests at Kalbekkvika and Sørengvatn.

The watercourse has trout, salmon and Arctic char. The catches in the anadromous part are approx. 80% sea trout, 15% salmon and 5% seawater Arctic char. Inwards in the watercourse there are trout of good size and quality. In some rivers and lakes there are also stationary Arctic char of good size.

For our guests at Sagmestereidet it is also possible to fish for sea trout or saltwater fish in the fjord. For the guests at the other cabins we can provide a boat in Tosenfjord.

The Urvold Water system

The Urvold watercourse is approx. 15 km long and has a catchment area of approx. 60 km2. The anadromous stretch is approx. 3 km and consists of the lower part of the river, Urvoldvannet and the upper part of the river.

Two cabins are situated in the watercourse. Ureidet is situated at the lower part of the river, at the outlet to the fjord. Access is by a 15-minute boat ride from the car park. Urvoldhytta is situated at the upper part of the river and is reached directly by car. Both cabins are located far from the nearest neighbour.

The watercourse has both trout, salmon and Arctic char. The catches in the anadromous part are approx. 85% sea trout, 10% salmon and 5% seawater Arctic char. Inwards in the watercourse there are trout of good size and quality. Arctic Char are also found in Glømmen.

It is also possible to fish for sea trout and saltwater fish in the fjord.

The Åbjøra Water system

Åbjøra watercourse is, with its more than 400 km2, the largest watercourse on the estate. A salmon ladder allows fish to go up into Åbjørvatn and 7 km up in Åbjøra. Within this there are good areas for trout fishing. In some of the mountain lakes there are Arctic char. The catches in the anadromous parts are approximately equally divided between sea trout and salmon. The innermost areas are considered to be some of the best inland fishing we can offer.

The fishing rights below Åbjørvatn belong to others, but it is possible to buy a fishing licence. There is a hydroelectric power plant up by Kalvvatn, which results in some encroachment in the upper part of the watercourse.

The Terråk Water system

Terråk watercourse has a catchment area of approx. 100 km2 and consists of more lakes, which are connected to the fjord by Terråk River. The lowermost kilometre of the watercourse is sea trout and salmon bearing. The watercourse further inland has good inland fishing for trout. The fish in the river are good, both for lures and flies.

The cabin Fugleburet is situated within the anadromous parts of the watercourse and amid the best inland fishing area. The area is varied with small and large lakes at different altitudes, and with several small rapids in addition to the main river. A simple cabin, Tønna, lies 4 km further in and is included in the rent. Fishing licences are sold in the anadromous part of the watercourse. Further in you may encounter the local population, but fishing licences are not sold for there.

In the centre of Terråk there is an old Swiss house from 1875 that is renovated to its original style. Here you can live comfortably while being close to the fish in Terråk River and the many fishing lakes in Terråkmarka. Also included is a little shelter in the mountains so that you can make better use of the mountain fishing.