Norwegian Mountains, Nordland

Grøndalsfjellet, 620m
Sæterfjellet, 599m
Skogmofjellet, 459m (Tverrlifjellet)
Klapparfjellet, 503m
 

Fylke/Kommune : Nordland/Brønnøy & Sømna
Maps : 1825-IV Velfjord (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary factor : Grøndalsfjellet: 417m
Sæterfjellet: 226m
Skogmofjellet: 126m
Hiked : Sæterfjellet: July 2000, July 2009
Grøndalsfjellet, Skogmofjellet: July 2009
Klapparfjellet: 110m
See also :
Ryptinden Kjøsvikfjellet
Trælneshatten Lysingen
Mardalsfjellet  
See also : Other Nordland mountains on westcoastpeaks.com

Sæterfjellet & Grøndalsfjellet

Sæterfjellet & Grøndalsfjellet
(Click for larger image)

Introduction

Sæterfjellet and Grøndalsfjellet are the high points on the mountain range between Sømna and Velfjorden. These mountains are the 2nd and 3rd highest tops in this range, slightly lower than Lysingen (648m). Skogmofjellet (aka Tverrlifjellet) is not among the most prominent mountains, but is featured on this page as it shares the same trailhead as Sæterfjellet on the Sømna side.

This page describes routes from Sæterlandet to Sæterfjellet, from Svarthopen to Grøndalsfjellet, and from Vedal to Sæterfjellet and Skogmofjellet. One of the trip reports covers a hike from Sæterlandet to Svarthopen via Sæterfjellet and Grøndalsfjellet.

 

Sæterfjellet

Sæterfjellet
(Click for larger image)

These mountains are rounded and offer no difficulties on any of the normal routes. Sæterfjellet is probably the most popular amongst these tops, and you may find quite a number of people on this mountain on National day (May 17th). Grøndalsfjellet is a popular skiing mountain - with Svarthopen as the normal starting point..

Those who visit Grøndalsfjellet often settle for point 595m - which is - according to Økonomisk Kartverk  (ØK) the true Grøndalsfjellet. This is also where the visitor register is found (per July 2009!). You find the Grøndalen valley directly east of this point. But the highest point on this massif is point 620m - Dalafjellet on ØK - which states that the this mountain is 630m. However - the height found on the Norge 1:50,000 map - 620m - is most likely the correct one. Seen from a distance, these two tops blend and stand out as one mountain.

Grøndalsfjellet

Grøndalsfjellet
(Click for larger image)

Klapparfjellet is a satellite top west of Grøndalsfjellet, and is easy to reach from this side. The shortest route runs from Øvredala, and is described further down on this page.

Sæterfjellet and Grøndalsfjellet are located on the Brønnøy/Sømna border, Skogmofjellet belongs to Brønnøy and Klapparfjellet belongs to Sømna.

Klapparfjellet

Klapparfjellet
(Click for larger image)

 

Primary factor:

Grøndalsfjellet (Norge 1:50,000: 620m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 630m, UTM 33 W 378759 7254318) has a primary factor of 417m towards the higher parent Lysingen (648m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 33 W 386182 7240963) is found between these two mountains, just west of Dyrgrovtuva. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 200-205m, interpolated to 203m.

GPS measurement read 621m (on the ground), averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin not recorded).

Sæterfjellet (Norge 1:50,000: 599m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 599m, UTM 33 W 378061 7258713) has a primary factor of 226m towards the higher parent Grøndalsfjellet. The defining saddle (approx. UTM 33 W 378824 7256580) is found between these two mountains, just south of Godvatnet. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 370-375m, interpolated to 373m.

GPS measurement read 603m (on the cairn - approx. 1,5m high), averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin not recorded).

Skogmofjellet (Norge 1:50,000: 459m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 455,5, UTM 33 W 378464 7262406) has a primary factor of 126m towards the higher parent Sæterfjellet. The defining saddle (approx. UTM 33 W 378690 7262113) is found between these two mountains, just south of Skogmofjellet. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 330-335m, interpolated to 333m.

GPS measurement read 460m (on the cairn - approx. 1,5m high), averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin not recorded).

Klapparfjellet (Norge 1:50,000: 504m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 503m, UTM 33 W 377076 7255793) has a primary factor of 110m towards the higher parent Grøndalsfjellet. The defining saddle (approx. UTM 33 W 377548 7255428) is found in the saddle (Øvredalsskardet) between these two mountains, just south of Skogmofjellet. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 390-395m, interpolated to 393m.

GPS measurement read 502m (on the ground), averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin not recorded).

 

 

Sæterfjellet

Sæterfjellet
(Click for larger image)

 

 

Google map

Google's interactive map. You can zoom, pan and click on the markers.
 

 

Google maps
Google maps
(Click on image)

 

Trail descriptions

These route descriptions are valid per July 2009

Route 1: Sæterlandet (Bakken) - Sæterfjellet  (summer/autumn)

Difficulty : YDS Class 1
Exposure : No
Distance : Approx. 3,2km (2D distance)
Time : Approx. 1,5 hours
Starting Elev.: Approx. 115m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 485m
Map of the area
Map of the area
(No Javascript)
Detailed map
Detailed map
(No Javascript)

Access

(all distances are approx. distances)

The starting point is Brønnøysund. Follow highway RV17 towards Vennesund. At Skillvika (10 minutes outside Brønnøysund), turn left onto highway RV76. Drive 12,1km and turn right towards Bakken (signposted).  Follow the main road 800m upwards. Then turn right (before a farm) and drive 400m up to the public parking. The road continues, but this is where you need to park.

The route

The path up Sæterfjellet

The path up Sæterfjellet
(Click for larger image)

Follow the road upwards. Stay left at a junction after 500m. Continue 150-200m along the road, then turn left onto a forest path. The entry point may or may not be signposted, but the path is well-worn and marked. Cross the Kaldbekken creek and keep heading west in the direction of the summit. Sæterfjellet is marked by a proper cairn.

 

Route 2: Vedal - Skogmofjellet (alt. Sæterfjellet)  (summer/autumn)

Difficulty : YDS Class 1
Exposure : No
Distance : Skogmofjellet: Approx. 2,7km (2D distance)
Sæterfjellet: Approx. 3,9km (2D distance)
Time : Skogmofjellet: Approx. 1 hour
Sæterfjellet: Approx. 1,5 hours
Starting Elev.: Approx. 60m
Vertical Gain : Skogmofjellet: Approx. 400m
Sæterfjellet: Approx. 530m
Map of the area
Map of the area
(No Javascript)
Detailed map
Detailed map
(No Javascript)


Access

(all distances are approx. distances)

The starting point is Brønnøysund. Follow highway RV17 towards Vennesund. At Skillvika (10 minutes outside Brønnøysund), turn right onto highway RV17. Drive 5,4km and turn left towards Vedal (signposted). After 300m, turn left again. Pass through a farm, stay left in the next fork (the road to the right leads to the race track) and stop when you're at the end of the field to your right. A minor road (which is the start of route) forks to the right. Find a place to park, without blocking for trucks and tractors.

The Vedal trailhead

The Vedal trailhead
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The route

Walk 200m along the minor road at the end of the field. The Sæterstigen path is marked by rocks painted red. The well-worn path climbs steep up the forest ridge before you reach the Skogmofjellet/Sæterfjellet trail fork at 260m (elev.).

Turn left for Skogmofjellet and follow the marked path up to the summit (seen up to your left). The summit is marked by a medium-sized cairn.

From the 260m fork, turn right for Sæterfjellet and follow the marked path that passes Lake Nedrestigvatnet on the south side and climbs up Sæterfjellet's northwest ridge.

 

The path to Skogmofjellet

The path to Skogmofjellet
(Click for larger image)

 


Route 3: Svarthopen - Grøndalsfjellet  (summer/autumn)

Difficulty : YDS Class 1
Exposure : No
Distance : Approx. 5,1km (2D distance)
Time : Approx. 2-2,5 hours
Starting Elev.: Approx. 5m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 615m
Map of the area
Map of the area
(No Javascript)
Detailed map
Detailed map
(No Javascript)

 

Access

(all distances are approx. distances)

The starting point is Brønnøysund. Follow highway RV17 towards Vennesund. At Skillvika (10 minutes outside Brønnøysund), turn left onto highway RV76. Drive 14,8km, and you will see the gravel road to Svarthopen on your right-hand side. Park down by the highway. Even if the Svarthopen road is open, the gate may be closed at ant time.

The route

Ludvik-Kåta

Ludvik-Kåta
(Click for larger image)

Follow the Svarthopen road, and after 850m you have a junction in front of you. Turn right (the road to the left  crosses the river on a bridge) and after just a few meters, look for a forest path to your left. The path crosses a couple of creeks on improvised bridges before it continues up the forest in a southwest direction. The path runs up to Ludvik-Kåta (UTM 33 W 380460 7255501).

The path seems to end here. Continue off-trail along the Grøndalen creek and top out on the plateau between point 595m (to your right) and the high point (620m, to your left). The summit is marked by a bolt. On point 595m, you will find a medium-sized cairn and possibly a visitor's register.


Route 4: Øvredala - Klapparfjellet  (summer/autumn)

Difficulty : YDS Class 2
Exposure : No
Distance : Approx. 2,3km (2D distance)
Time : Approx. 2 hours
Starting Elev.: Approx. 35m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 470m
Map of the area
Map of the area
(No Javascript)
Detailed map
Detailed map
(No Javascript)

 

Access

(all distances are approx. distances)

The starting point is Brønnøysund. Follow highway RV17 towards Vennesund. At Skillvika (10 minutes outside Brønnøysund), turn right onto highway RV17. Drive 19,7km and turn left (N65.35870 E12.21233) towards Dalbotn (signposted) shortly after passing Berg.

Drive 2,9km, then turn left in a fork (N65.37522 E12.25770), drive 1,4km and turn right in another fork at Kvitle (N65.38500 E12.27542). Follow the main road 1,8km and stay right in the fork (N65.39088 E12.30812) where the road loops and returns to Kvitle. Follow the main road 2km to the Øvredala farm (N65.38827 E12.33901) and ask for permission to park on the premises.

The route

Heading out from Øvredala

Heading out from Øvredala
(Click for larger image)

Follow the tractor road from the farm to the end of the field, then walk along the field towards an opening in the forest with scattered rocks (see the above picture). Locate a vague path that begins here (N65.39002 E12.34358), runs through the forest and up to a boulder field. Follow the boulder upwards and when you get yet another boulder field on your left-hand side, head straight up here (steep) or continue up the valley until the terrain becomes less steep.

Once on the meadow south of Klapparfjellet (expect to cross a fence or two), aim for the west ridge (or the east ridge, for that matter) and then for the summit, or head straight up another boulder field (requires some scrambling). The summit (N65.40158 E12.35288) is marked by a couple of rocks.


Pictures and Trip reports:


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