Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Skalten on skis, Apr 8 2007

For Information, maps, trailhead and route descriptions, click HERE.


Trip report, Apr 1 2007

The worst Easter storms had passed, and there were only two days left of Easter. I had been wanting to visit Skalten for some time, mainly because of the expected views. The weather this Sunday wasn't all that great, but still tremendous, compared to the Easter weather. The drive from Ålesund to Vestnes was superb. Hardly any cars on the road, and none (except mine) heading towards Vestnes. After days of snowfall, most of the road from Ålesund to Fræna had snow.

Ascent

We (the dog and I) caught the 09:45AM ferry to Molde. We (well.. I) drove up to Fræna and located the Skalten trailhead. Then WE were ready for the trip 11:05AM. The dog followed, willingly, my ski-tracks the 300m to the road fork. Then we had conflicting interests. The dog wanted to continue along the lake, while I wanted to bag a top. I won the following debate, but at the cost of carrying the dog in the backpack, for the next hour.

The skiing conditions were less than optimal. If I say I had two centimeters of snow, I think I am on the safe side. Higher up, it got worse, and rocks scratched my skis now and then. Descending on skis would have been impossible, had it not been for better conditions outside the road. I convinced the dog to resume walking when we reached the "really, really poor snow conditions" section. He walked until I left the road at 540m elevation, and headed directly up to the high point, which we reached 12:50PM. A sign back at the trailhead said we would be "there" in one hour. It took me 1h:45m to get to the top. Was it me, or was the sign a bit optimistic? I *shouldn't* ski slower than I walk, so the time remained a mystery. 650 vertical meters in one hour, is someting I easily do, if it's steep enough. But my message is, don't feel bad if it takes you 1,5 hours to the top.

Descent

A certain .. chill.. made my fingers freeze, and the dog didn't want to leave the backpack. After 10 minutes of pictures, I left the summit. I decided to stop by Nørdre Varden (where the antenna is). Three other people arrived just minutes before me. Some on foot and some on skis. We chatted for a few minutes, and then I left. I passed half a dozen hikers on my way down the mountain. Troll, running for the number one prize (the passenger seat in a warm car) brought on a couple of smiles. Skiing alongside the road was doable, and quite OK. But a few "ouch, I don't care who manufactured these skis. That's gonna leave a mark" were unavoidable.

We were back at the trailhead 14:07PM, and reached the 14:45PM (or thereabout) with a one-minute margin. All snow from Fræna to Ålesund had melted during the day, which I found QUITE incredible. There wasn't any particular sunshine, and the temperature wasn't THAT high. It had been a good day, and now I've received an invitation to join a Skardsettinden climb (from the Skalten side), come summer. I'm looking forward to it!

Pictures from the Apr 8 2007 trip

To Skalten ridge

1. Malmefjorden and Talstadhesten (284KB) 2. Skalten comes into view (211KB) 3. The trailhead (222KB) 4. Trailhead signs (374KB) 5. Along Lake Skjellbreia (230KB) 6. Old faithful (150KB) 7. The mountain service road to Skalten (317KB) 8. Poor skiing conditions (163KB) 9. Better skiing conditions (134KB)

On Skalten ridge

10. View from the Skalten ridge (488KB) 11. Point 634m (266KB) 12. Skardsettinden (445KB) 13. Skardsettinden (445KB) 14. Approaching Skalten summit (155KB) 15. Skalten summit (152KB) 16. Nørdre Varden seen from the high point (295KB)

Wide-angle views from Skalten

17. Wide-angle view from Skalten (1342KB) 18. The terrain between Skjellbreia and Skalten (714KB)

50mm views from Skalten, 2 parts

19. 50mm view from Skalten, part 1/2 (1418KB) 20. 50mm view from Skalten, part 2/2 (853KB)

Zoom views from Skalten

21. Rauma and Vestnes peaks seen from Skalten (2166KB) 22. Nordmøre coastal tops, seen from Skalten (1191KB) 23. Views from Skalten, deep into Sunnmøre (1233KB) 24. Kaldbaken zoomed in from Skalten (952KB) 25. The place Bud, seen from Skalten (610KB) 26. Nordøyane seen from Skalten (530KB) 27. Melen and Tustnastabbene, zoomed in from Skalten (1036KB)

At Nørdre Varden & descent

28. Skalten high point (209KB) 29. Skardsettinden (309KB) 30. Troll in a fine pace down from Skalten (259KB)

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