Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Vassdalstinden, 1277m

Fylke/Kommune : Møre og Romsdal/Ørsta
Maps : 1119-II Volda (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Maps : 1219-III Hjørundfjord (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary factor : 667m
Visited : August 2007
See also : Saudehornet
See also : Levandehornet
See also : Sandhornet
See also : Åvasstinden
See also : Vardehornet
See also : Tverrfjellet
See also : Hyningane
See also : Liadalsnipa
  

Vassdalstinden seen from Snøhornet, Feb 10 2007

Follow the "Trip Reports" link at the bottom of the page for pictures.

Introduction

Vassdalstinden is one of the major Ørsta mountains. Not in terms of height, but in appearance. It is an alpine peak seen from all sides, and it's amazing that one can reach such a peak without climbing .

Geographically, Vassdalstinden is located on the northwest side of the Ørstahalvøya peninsula. It connects to Saudehornet via the Vassdalsskardet pass (610m elev.), and the Vallasætra is just a short drive from Ørsta, thanks to the forest road up Nupasida.

Vassdalstinden (center) seen from Saudehornet

Vassdalstinden (center) seen from Saudehornet

The normal route to Vassdalstinden starts at Vallasætra. After a steep ascent on path, you enter Bukkedalen valley. The route to the top runs up Vassdalstinden's east ridge. Partly on the ridge and partly alongside the ridge, in a couloir. Given that you find the easiest route, you'll not face any particular obstacles until you stand below the summit cairn. A few meters of scrambling will get you to the top, but some might choose to wait below. The southeast side is overall steep, but many hikers find their way up the mountain.

Vassdalstinden is also visited in winter. Skiers enjoy a descent down the east side. In summer, you can make a roundtrip hike by descending down to Bjørnaskaret. Refer to the book Fotturar på Sunnmøre (Standal/Hagen/Wangen) for more details. A route from Nupasætra is described in the book Sunnmøre by K. Randers.

Vassdalstinden seen from Storebroren (Hareidlandet)

Vassdalstinden seen from Storebroren (Hareidlandet)

Vassdalstind, 4.265 ft. 1.500m.

A pretty aiguille W of Romedal and Store Standal. Map of Møre I. The 1st ascent was made 10.9.1895 by J. Simpson with Sivert Nupen. From Nupedal, they ascended by the S. arete and descended by the N. face by a steep gully into Vassdal. It can also be climbed via the E. face, which takes 4 hrs. from Moseter and back.

Rock Climbs In Sunnmøre Norway
Norway Travel Association, London, 1953.

Primary factor:

Vassdalstinden (Norge 1:50,000: 1277m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 1277m, UTM 32 V 354014 6904541) has a primary factor of 667m, towards the higher parent mountain Saudehornet (1303m). The saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 353094 6904398) is found along in Vassdalsskardet pass, between the two tops. Ref. Norge 1:50,000 (20m contours), the saddle height is defined through a fixed point - 610m.

Personal GPS measurement averaged (over 10 minutes) Vassdalstinden's height to 1284m, on top of the cairn. The GPS waypoint marks a location 38m south of the GPS map's summit point, between the 1220 and 1240m contours. At least, it raises a question whether the map contours are accurate or not.

Vassdalstinden seen from Levandehornet

Vassdalstinden seen from Levandehornet

Google map

Google's interactive map. You can zoom, pan and click on the markers.

Trail descriptions:

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.

Vallasætra - Vassdalstinden (summer/autumn)

Difficulty : Overall Class 2+ (YDS), but class 3 on top
Exposure : Airy on summit
Comments : Steep terrain up east ridge
Distance : Approx. 2,5Km to the top
Time : Approx. 2-3 hours to the top
Starting Elev.: Approx. 320m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 960m
Map of the area
Map of the area
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Detailed map
Detailed map
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Access

(all distances are approx. distances)

From Ålesund, follow highway E39 towards Bergen/Volda to the ferry at Solavågen. Take the ferry over to Festøya. Turn right in the direction of Ørsta/Volda. Follow highway E39 approx. 35,5Km to the main junction (roundabout) in Ørsta. Turn left onto highway RV655 (Sæbø).

Follow RV655 700m. Turn left onto Mosmarkvegen road. Drive 400m upwards and turn left on Håkonsgata road. Follow Håkonsgata 150m and turn right/go straight ahead on Engesetvegen. Continue 2,5Km until you reach a gate and an unmanned toll booth (NOK 25,- for passenger cars per Aug. 2007). Proceed 2,9Km on Velle Sætreveg up to Vallasætra, where you will find parking.

Vassdalstinden seen from Storhornet on Godøya

Vassdalstinden seen from Storhornet on Godøya

The route

From Vallasætra, walk past the cabins. Just before the last cabin, turn left onto a vague path that leads up to a bench above the plunge pool below the waterfall. The path continues up alongside the river from Bukkedalen. At first, it's steep, and then it gets really steep. The path is vague, but isn't too hard to follow. Look for possible markeds on trees. The overall direction from the plunge pool and up to 660m elevation is northwest. There is one exposed, and slightly awkward point in this hill. You can avoid it by going straight up, between some trees.

Arriving Bukkedalen, the path fades. You can see occasional small cairns along the river (at this elevation, it's a stream). Proceed northbound along grass and boulder towards the ridge that hides Lake 954m from your view. At 800m elevation, it's about time to turn west/northwest towards the east ridge and the adjacent couloir south of the ridge.

The couloir is the main route to the top, but due to a waterfall, it's best to follow the ridge until you're above the waterfall. As the ridge begins to rise, you can either go left and directly into the couloir, or turn right and head up a grassy slope before joining the couloir higher up. If you stay on the ridge, you'll eventually run into climbing terrain.

Higher up, a cliff splits the couloir into two small gullies. Follow the rightmost gully. Eventually, you gain the summit ridge and look down the west face through a hole between some rocks. The summit is just up to your left. So far, the overall route is YDS class 2+ (walking/light scrambling, with use of hands for balance and support). The final 6 meters up to the top require very easy climbing (YDS class 3). The climbing isn't exposed. You'll fall back down to where you started, if it's any comfort. You can downclimb face out. If you have a large backpack, leave it below the summit.

Note that the snow stays long inside the couloir. Early in the season, crampons and ice-axe is most likely needed. Be very careful about rockfall. If there's someone below you, causing a rock to fly down the couloir can end in disaster!

Vassdalstinden (left) seen from Sandhornet

Vassdalstinden (left) seen from Sandhornet

Trip reports and pictures


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