Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Snøhornet via Årsetsætra, Feb 10 2007

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


Svein Myhre and I had planned this trip almost a week. He had family business in Volda, and I have a colleague in Åmdalen, whose kids were keen to baby-sit my dog Troll. They looked after him when I visited Veirahaldet in 2006, and I was confident that he would remember them and feel at home.

Svein and I left Ålesund on different ferries, and teamed up at the trailhead. A couple of skiers were on their way up the mountain, and two young men were getting ready to go. Parking was scarce, but Svein's 4WD vehicle came into good use. He plowed up a place for me to park.

Ascent

We left the trailhead 11:10AM, along with the two young men. If the skiers that left ahead of us hadn't made tracks, we would have lost valuable time, figuring out the route up the forest. The temperature was odd. I don't know what it read right there and then, but it was -16 deg. C. when I dropped Troll off in Åmdalen. But now it was warm. Too warm, and clothes had to come off. The sun was burning, and we were in for some hard labour up the forest.

The forest road seemed to end at approx. 210m. From here on, and up to Årsetsætra, we left many calories behind. Svein had to make a technical break, and I continued up to Årsetsætra, where I waited. The mountain looked like a wet dream. I could see the two skiers that had left ahead of us. They were leaving nice tracks behind. I sent them a warm thanks.

Svein arrived, and we took on the final 750 vertical meters. The other two skiers that we headed out with, was nowhere to be seen. The snow conditions were almost perfect, the weather was gorgeous, and the scenery was stunning. What a day! A blister, which hadn't fully mended, caused pain. To minimize the pain, I changed to a different style of skiing, and drifted into a world of my own, trying to hold the rhythm. Gradually, Svein tailed more and more behind. It was a demanding hill - I skied for about a minute, then had a 10 second break. And so on. "Every meter COUNTS", I whispered to myself and kept the progress.

It felt SO good to "limp" over to the summit cairn. The two other skiers hadn't left yet, and we had a nice chat. They certainly knew their local region, and we later saw that they knew Telemark skiing pretty good too. The time was 14:10PM, and Svein arrived a few minutes later. What a view! Taking panoramas was a bit of a problem due to cornices that shouldn't be stepped on, and we had to summit the cairn in order to get a panorama view. I changed into a dry shirt, a dry jacket and dry gloves, and felt reborn. I could have stayed up here all day.

Descent

But it was a valid point to reach the forest before the sun set behind Eidskyrkja. The forest would be difficult enough even with the sun. Now came the moment that made all the effort all worth while - the descent. To me - not actively seeking optimal skiing conditions during winter - this hill was pure heaven. I only get this kind of conditions once or twice per season, so I'd better cherish it while it lasted. We stopped by Keipen point for additional views, but none were given. We had also passed the two young men as we skied down to Keipen. They were tired, but glad to (almost) be up. From Keipen, we had a very nice descent towards Årsetsætra, and took a deep breath before entering the forest section.

The book Skiturar i Sunnmørsalpane says that on this route - breaking the skis is the biggest danger. I can vouch for this statement, but both Svein and I got down the forest, safe and sound. I only fell on my ass 4 times, and was quite satisfied. We were back at the trailhead 16:00PM, and split up. I drove to my colleague in Åmdalen, was given a warm and nice dinner, picked up the dog (which paid no attention to me, whatsoever) and headed back home to Ålesund.

Svein's trip report (in Norwegian) can be found here.

Pictures

Saudehornet and Vassdalstinden - before and after the trip to Snøhornet

1. Saudehornet in Ørsta (226KB) 2. Signs of good times on Saudehornet (168KB) 3. Saudehornet (214KB) 4. The sun sets on Vassdalstinden (145KB) 5. The sun sets on Saudehornet (123KB)

To Årsetsætra

6. Snøhornet seen from Åmdalen (155KB) 7. The trailhead (318KB) 8. On the forest road (329KB) 9. End of the forest road (336KB) 10. Forest Troll (318KB) 11. Close to Litlesætra (277KB) 12. Litledalshornet and Blåfjellsegga (221KB) 13. Cool hump by Aurstadsætervatnet (213kB) 14. Årsetsætra (132KB)

To Snøhornet

15. A 750 vertical meter long hill ahead (114KB) 16. Svein follows (145KB) 17. View towards Eidskyrkja (310KB) 18. Svein and Eidskyrkja (161KB) 19. Koppefjellet (267KB) 20. Svein on the summit cairn (176KB) 21. Svein and the two other skiers (229KB) 22. Bondalseidet skiing centre (226KB)

360 deg. wide-angle panorama

23. 360 deg. wide-angle panorama from Snøhornet (775KB)

50mm panoramas, 2 parts

24. 50mm panorama from Snøhornet, part 1/2 (1111KB) 25. 50mm panorama from Snøhornet, part 2/2 (1438KB)

Zoom panoramas

26. Zoom panorama from Snøhornet (1290KB) 27. Zoom panorama from Snøhornet (981KB)

The superb descent

28. Stopping by Keipen (355KB) 29. Svein descending Snøhornet (138KB) 30. Svein descending Snøhornet (189KB) 31. Svein descending Snøhornet (164KB) 32. Svein descending Snøhornet (165KB) 33. Svein descending Snøhornet (172KB) 34. Svein descending Snøhornet (159KB) 35. Arnt descending Snøhornet (186KB) 36. One happy fellow (128KB)

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