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Middagsfjellet, also known as Sandfjellet, is Trolltinden's lower neighbour on Ørskogfjellet. Trolltinden is by many known as Brustinden. Middagsfjellet can be reached from highway E39 across Ørskogfjellet and from Tomrefjord. The Tomrefjord route is described on this page. Middagsfjellet is a popular top on skis in winter. While the slalom slopes on the other side of E39 may be crowded on fine winter days, you may just find yourself, completely alone on Middagsfjellet. The views are quite good, even if Sprovstinden and Næremstindan deny you the best views towards the Romsdal and Stordal regions.
From the Tomrefjorden side, you can reach Middagstinden on a path. From Ørskogfjellet, you can walk via Skitnesætra and across Egga. Not sure if there is a path from Skitnesætra, but this may be the prefered route in winter. You can also walk from Bakkesætra in Skorgedalen, follow Kvernelva and then head north to the Trolltinden - Middagstinden pass (this route is described on the Trolltinden page). From the pass, walk up the Skarsegga ridge, which involves light scrambling in the upper section. For those with little head for heights, this may not be the recommended route. You may also reach the pass from the Tomrefjorden side, via Tomrebøra.
This means that you have options for roundtrips on either side of the mountain; a) Forsåna - Tomrebrøra - Skarsegga - Middagsfjellet - Kvittua - Tomrereset and b) Bakkesætra - Tverrberget - Egga - Middagsfjellet - Skarsegga - Kvernelva.
Skarsegga, the ridge from Middagstinden to the Middagstinden - Trolltinden pass, is not recommended as an unbelayed walk when snow is present. The ridge becomes razor sharp when the cornices build up. A better alternative for a winter ascent from the Skorgedalen side, is a steep gully south of the ridge, leading directly up to the summit. Experienced skiers may ski down this gully.
Middagsfjellet (Norge 1:50,000: 903m, Økonomisk Kartverk: -, UTM 32 V 394467 6939043) has a primary factor of 133m towards the higher parent mountain Trolltinden (1170m) The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 394977 6939278) is found between the two tops. Ref. Norge 1:50,000 (20m contours), the saddle is within the range 760-780m, interpolated to 770m.
Personal GPS measurement on top of the cairn (approx. 1m high) read 904m.
Notes: Class ratings are in reference to YDS. Click here for more information.
The trails described below are not necessarily the *easiest* trails to this mountain.
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Tomrereset - Middagsfjellet (summer/autumn)
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Access
From Ålesund, follow highway E136->E39 eastbound towards Åndalsnes. You pass the place Sjøholt, drive across Ørskogfjellet, down Skorgedalen valley to the Molde/Åndalsnes junction just before you reach Tresfjorden. Turn left towards Vestnes and follow highway E39. At Vestnes, turn westbound onto highway RV661 and drive towards Tomrefjord. At Tomra, turn left onto a road marked "Seterveg". The distance from the Molde/Åndalsnes junction is 18Km.
Alternative route:
From Ålesund, follow highway E39 towards Åndalsnes. From the E16/E39/Olsvika roundabout near Breivka, follow E39 13,3Km. Turn right onto highway RV661 (Skodje/Brattvåg/Vatne) and drive the remaining 17,5Km up Vatnedalen valley and down to Fiksdal. Turn right in the Fiksdal junction and drive 7,3Km until you see the "Seterveg" roadsign on your right-hand side.
Follow the "Seterveg" road 2,8Km up to the Tomrereset parking area. You will see the "Varden" trailsign here. This is also the trailhead if you want to access Sandfjellet (Middagsfjellet) from the southwest.
The route
From the parking, head southeast on a vague path that runs across boggy ground, that can get very wet after rain. Pass left (east) of Kvittua and follow the path (that by now is quite visible and easy to follow) around the tip of Middagsfjellet's southwest ridge. Climb the ridge on a fine path, and follow it all the way to the 848m cairn, where you can sign the logbook. Proceed across the ridge (the path is less visible here) to the high point cairn, 830m further northeast.
Descend your ascent route, or try your luck via Tomrebøra. In any case, a hike down Skarsegga to the Middagsfjellet - Trolltinden saddle is recommended. For those with some head for heights. Suggested Skarsegga grade is YDS class 2+. You use the hands for safety, not for forward progress.
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