Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal |
Kolåstinden (1432m) on skis, Apr 15 2012 |
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It was a gorgeous Sunday and I decided the minute I got out of bed that I wanted to revisit Kolåstinden. I reckoned it would be a crowded mountain, like it normally is on sunny April weekends. I looked forward to go skiing again. After all, I've hardly been on skis this season. I left a spring-ish Gurskøy and traded +3 degrees C. for -3 and winter in Follestaddalen. Ahead of me was Kolåstinden. Big and mighty...
Kolåstinden
The Standalseidet parking was full (of course) and the visitors had begun parking their cars alongside the road. I saw a long string of skiers on their way into Kvanndalen, and I assumed it would take a miracle if I could have the summit all to myself. Not that I mind company, but it would be easier to take pictures without being packed in between other skiers. Oh well ... time would show... I left Standalseidet 10:40am and took a bad route which forced to take off my skis in order to cross a creek. Back on track, I tried to pick up the pace and painted a virtual "X" on the back of the nearest skier. Once he or she had been overtaken, I repeated the procedure...
Into Kvanndalen
Well into Kvanndalen, I met Jonas Eriksson - a colleague that I've previously only emailed with. It was nice to meet him and especially up here. He was skiing with other friends so after a quick chat, I continued upwards - targeting the next "X". I have only been to Kolåstinden once before - in April 2006. I remembered that the trip through Kvanndalen was one, long WOW, and the sensation was certainly still there...
Stunning scenery
I collected one "X" after the other and lost count after passing 20. To my delight, the snow up to Stretet was good, and it was safe to ski all the way up to the ridge crossing.
On the way to Stretet
Now it was easy street to the summit. Well - to be honest, in 2006 I did find the summit to be a bit steep and that's why I had brought ice-axe and crampons. But I would have to worry about that later, because more skiers turned up in front of me. All with a big virtual "X" on their backs...
Almost there
Just as I began the final yards to the place where most leave their skis, 4 skiers began their descent. This meant that I was #5 on top today and I had the summit all to myself. Amazing! Moreover, the pitch up to the summit point did no longer seem so steep and I left the skis and headed upwards. Just as I arrived on the summit ridge, I saw that there was a big rock between me and the highest point. Very strange, but the only explanation was of course that there was a WHOLE LOT LESS snow in 2012. I didn't want to climb across the rock, and tried to bypass it on the outside. It felt too awkward with just one axe so I put on the crampons too. And at 1pm (sharp - 2h:20m after heading out) I could celebrate the high point. Other skiers arrived below me, but no one seemed to be interested in the high point. I didn't mind much.
On top!
I had considered skiing down the glacier, but given my "finding" about snow depth anno 2012, plus the fact that I don't like the idea of skiing solo on a glacier, I decided to descend my ascend route. After an enjoyable run down the mountain, I was back at the car 1:44pm. It was still early in the day, so when I returned to Gurskøy, I took a bike trip from Myrvåg to Larsnes and back. The final result was 37km and 850 vertical meters. Given the 1050 vertical meters on Kolåstinden I figured that I had blown enough steam for one Sunday...
Tracks from the bike trip
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The pictures were taken with a Canon EOS 550D + Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM F 4-5.6
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To Kolåstinden
Wide-angle view from Kolåstinden
Zoom views from Kolåstinden
More pics from the summit + descent
Afternoon activities
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