Norwegian Mountains, Nordland

Mardalsfjellet, 435m
Sømnesfjellet, 307m
Bufjellet, 210m
Hestkjeften, 165m

Fylke/Kommune : Nordland/Sømna
Maps : 1725-I Brønnøysund (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary factor : Mardalsfjellet: 417m
Sømnesfjellet: 184m
Hiked : Aug 2008
See also :
Kjøsvikfjellet Ryptinden
Trælneshatten Lysingen
Torghatten Kvaløyfjellet
Malmsfjellet Sæterfjellet/Grøndalsfjellet
Sundsfjellet/Skårfjellet Skålvikfjellet
Romsskåla  
See also : Other Nordland mountains

Mardalsfjellet and Sømnesfjellet

Mardalsfjellet and Sømnesfjellet
(Click for larger image)

Introduction

The Mardalsfjellet massif is located on the Sømnahalvøya peninsula, and is found southwest of the place Berg and northwest of the place Vik. The massif comprises the twin-topped Mardalsfjellet mountain, and a number of smaller tops such as Bufjellet, Sømnesfjellet, and Lysdalstinden.

The massif is rugged and has many steep faces. However, the route to Mardalsfjellet's south top is an easy YDS class 1 hike. A lack of a pronounced path to the high point, rates Mardalsfjellet to YDS class 2 (still easy). The easiest routes to Sømnesfjellet are YDS class 2+ routes. This page will describe the most common routes to Mardalsfjellet and Sømnesfjellet, as well as an off-trail route to Bufjellet and the Hestkjeften landmark.

The views from Mardalsfjellet are quite good, given its location near the coastline. Familiar mountains in Vevelstad, Brønnøy, Grane, Sømna and Bindal can be seen from up here. The name reflects the place Mardal southwest of the mountain. Per Aug 2008, the Mardalsfjellet high point (435m) had a visitor register titled "Baustadfjellet, 435m". The place Baustad is found east of the mountain, and they (probably) don't see any reason to call their local mountain Mardalsfjellet. This is not at all unique. The one-mountain-many-names thing is found all throughout Norway.

One thing to note is that per Aug. 2008, Mardalsfjellet's south top (405m on the 1:50,000 map) had a visitor register titled "Mardalsfjellet 435m". The name is correct, the height is correct, but the location is wrong! This error may have resulted in a number of people may have signed the register, assuming they were on top of Mardalsfjellet. But the high point is 800m to the north!  

Mardalsfjellet and Sømnesfjellet

Mardalsfjellet and Sømnesfjellet
(Click for larger image)

 

Primary factor:

Summary of tops on Mardalsfjellet:

The north top is the highest top (435m). The southwest top is 406m on the 1:50,000 map, and 408m on Økonomisk Kartverk. The southeast top is 405m on the 1:50,000 map, but 406,3m on Økonomisk Kartverk. So in sum, the tops are: 435m, 408m and 406m.

Mardalsfjellet north Top (Norge 1:50,000: 435m, Økonomisk Kartverk (ØK): 435,32m, (approx. UTM 33 W 367878 7249536), has a primary factor of 417m towards the higher parent mountain Kjøsvikfjellet (495m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 33 W 368389 7247634) is found along RV17 between Tåberget and Bufjellet. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 15-20m, interpolated to 18m.

GPS measurement on the cairn (1m high) read 435m, averaged over a 10-minute period (error margin +/- 2,1m)

Mardalsfjellet southwest top (Norge 1:50,000: -, Økonomisk Kartverk (ØK): 408m (approx. UTM 33 W 367259 7248946) has a primary factor of 65m towards the higher parent mountain Mardalsfjellet North Top (435m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 33 W 367721 7249103) is found between the two tops. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 340-345m, interpolated to 343m.

GPS measurement on ground read 403m, averaged over a 3-minute period (error margin +/- 4,5m)

Mardalsfjellet southeast top 405m (ØK: 406,3m) has a primary factor of 18m towards point 408m (ØK).

GPS measurement on ground read 403m, averaged over a 3-minute period (error margin +/- 4m)

Sømnesfjellet (Norge 1:50,000: 306m, Økonomisk Kartverk (ØK): 307,4m (approx UTM 33 W 367821 7250479) has a primary factor of 184m towards the higher parent mountain Mardalsfjellet (345m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 33 W 367951 7250015) is found in Trollskardet/Trollskaret, between the two tops. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is defined as a fixed point: 123,1m

GPS measurement on the summit cairn (0,5m high) read 308m, averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin +/- 1,7m)

 

Hestkjeften

Hestkjeften
(Click for larger image)

 

Bufjellet (Norge 1:50,000: 205m, Økonomisk Kartverk (ØK): 210m (approx UTM 33 W 367714 7247492) has a primary factor of 87m towards the higher parent mountain Mardalsfjellet (345m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 33 W 367702 7247635) is found just north of Bufjellet. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 120-125m, interpolated to 123m.

GPS measurement on the ground read 211m, averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin +/- 2,7m)

Hestkjeften (Norge 1:50,000: -, Økonomisk Kartverk (ØK): 165m (approx UTM 33 W 367653 7247154 has a primary factor of 27m towards the higher parent mountain Bufjellet (210m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 33 W 367668 7247193) is found just north of Hestkjeften. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 135-140m, interpolated to 138m.

GPS measurement on the ground read 168m, averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin not recorded)

 

Bufjellet and Hestkjeften

Bufjellet and Hestkjeften
(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


Route 1: RV17 - Mardalsfjellet (summer/autumn)

Difficulty : YDS Class 2
Exposure : No
Distance : Approx. 3km to the top (from quarry)
Time : Approx. 1,5-2 hours to the top
Starting Elev.: Approx. 18m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 540m (total)
Map of the area
Map of the area
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Detailed map
Detailed map
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This route description is valid per Aug. 2008. All distances are approx. distances.

Access

The nearest larger place is Brønnøysund. From Brønnøysund, drive east to Skillevika, continue southbound on highway RV17 towards Vennesund for 25,3Km. You're now 6,5km south of Berg (defined here as the bridge to Sømnes). Turn right onto a quarry road and park immediately. Alternatively, drive the rough road up to the waterworks building. Per Aug 2008, there were no signs prohibiting driving on this road.

The route

Route from the quarry

Route from the quarry
(Click for larger image)

Head up to the waterworks building, turn right and locate the path behind the building. The path runs up to a meadow, curves around the meadow and proceeds in the same direction on the far side. The path continues up to the ridge, then passes the steep cliffs on the south side. The path is marked all the way up to the southeast top.

You'll find two cairns the southeast top. One of them has a visitor's register in a canister inside the summit cairn. Per Aug 2008, the register said "Mardalsfjellet, 435m", which is untrue. Mardalsfjellet is indeed 435m, but you are NOT on the high point.

Proceed to the north, descend the top you're on and ascend the true Mardalsfjellet high point. The route across should be fairly obvious (if not fogged in). Per Aug 2008, there was a visitor's register titled "Baustadfjellet 435m", but you're now on Mardalsfjellet's high point, marked by a proper cairn.

Descend your ascent route. An interesting option could be to descend Mardalsfjellet's northeast ridge. The level of difficulty is unknown to the author of this page.


Route 2: Sømnesmyran - Sømnesfjellet roundtrip (summer/autumn)

Difficulty : YDS Class 2+
Exposure : Not directly...
Distance : Approx. 1,4Km to the top (2D distance)
Time : Approx. 45-60 minutes to the top
Starting Elev.: Approx. 40m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 270m
Map of the area
Map of the area
(No Javascript)
Detailed map
Detailed map
(No Javascript)

This route description is valid per Aug. 2008. All distances are approx. distances.

Access

The nearest larger place is Brønnøysund. From Brønnøysund, drive east to Skillevika, continue southbound on highway RV17 towards Vennesund for 18,7Km. At the place Berg, turn right towards "Sømnes" (signed). Continue 1,5Km and turn left towards "Baustad" (signed). Drive additional 600m on a gravel road before you find parking in a small pocket on the left-hand side of the road..

The route

The route

The route
(Click for larger image)

Cross the road and follow the flats towards the mountain. You see a steep cliff face below the summit. Ascend the northeast ridge, on the right-hand side of the face, and descend the southeast ridge, on the left-hand side of the face.

A vague track (which becomes gradually more pronounced the higher you get) runs up the northeast ridge. A narrow slab section could be tricky when slippery. The rest of the route up to the top is easy. You'll pass a viewpoint cairn before arriving at the main cairn.

Descend your ascent route, or; head down the ridge south of the steep face. Move towards the southeast ridge, which is fairly easy to follow until you're on top of a steep drop. You'll find a narrow passage through a grassy cleft. There may also be an alternative route further to your right. The remaining route down is easy. Then traverse the flats back to the trailhead.

 


Route 3: Vik - Hestkjeften - Bufjellet (summer/autumn)

Difficulty : YDS Class 2+
Exposure : Only on the edge of Hestkjeften
Distance : Approx. 2,8km round trip
Time : Approx. 2 hours round trip
Starting Elev.: Approx. 20m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 250m (total)
Map of the area
Map of the area
(No Javascript)
Detailed map
Detailed map
(No Javascript)

This route description is valid per July 2010. All distances are approx. distances.

Access

The nearest larger place is Brønnøysund. From Brønnøysund, drive east to Skillevika, continue southbound on highway RV17 towards Vik. From Vik, turn right onto the Mardal road (signposted). Drive 670m and find parking near some garages. See picture below.

The route

The route to Hjarttinden

The route to Hjarttinden
(Click for larger image)

As the above picture shows, head into the forest and locate a convenient route up to Hjarttinden (N65.31737 E12.15533, 98 meters above sea level). This ascent is steep. Then follow the ridge 400 meters to Hestkjeften (N65.32047 E12.15862). For cool pictures, make sure to bring a hiking mate and a camera!

It is dangerous to continue along the ridge in the direction of Bufjellet, so descend 25 meters to the south and make your way through the bush, parallel to the ridge above you. Cross a small valley and ascend the first ridge leading up to the Bufjellet plateau (steep ascent!)

Bufjellet offers plenty of bush, so try to find the least agonizing route towards the high point (N65.32353 E12.15960), marked by a few rocks.

Descend into the pass just before the summit, and head down the boulder field. At the 100 meters contour, turn southwest and head towards your ascent route near Hjarttinden.

Note that if Bufjellet is your primary goal, the easiest route is probably from the service road described in route #1 - Mardalstinden on this page.

 


Pictures and Trip reports:


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