Norwegian Mountains, Sogn og Fjordane
Vetla Supphellenipa (840m) and Kvannholtenipa (1640m), Oct 12 2013
To the main Kvannholtenipa/Vetla Supphellenipa page (maps, pictures, other trip reports)
The route, as seen in Google Earth
(Click for larger image)
For being October, this weekend was completely out of the ordinary - T-shirt weather on the highest peaks in Norway! After considering a number of options, we ended up with Kvannholtenipa and Vetla Supphellenipa as the main goals for this Saturday.
We headed out from Supphelledalen at 10:50am on this spectacular Saturday, and I SO looked forward to the hike. The path up Tverrdalen was easy to follow and the Nepalese Sherpas had done wonders to various rough sections - a project that Anne had supervised - being the Jostedalsbreen Park Ranger. It had been a while since I was on the Jostedalsbreen glacier and even if we wouldn't be on the main glacier today, I was confident it would feel just as if we were.
At the National Park border
(Click for larger image)
In the pass below Vetla Supphellenipa, we caught up with one of Anne's co-workers at the Glacier Museum in Fjærland, and a group of his friends. They were also heading from Kvannholtenipa. After a small chat, Anne, Karma and me proceeded (on a very vague path) up to Vetla Supphellenipa and reached the summit point at 12:20pm. The view towards the lower Supphellebreen glacier was just magnificent...
Supphellebreen view
(Click for larger image)
We still had a long way to go and moved on. It didn't take long before we pass the group again. We passed the amazing Supphellebreen glacier and followed a distinct moraine in the direction of Flatbrehytta. But we were not to stop by the hut during ascent and followed a vague path up the valley leading to Flatbreen glacier.
Passing Supphellebreen
(Click for larger image)
Halfway up the valley, we decided to leave the path and go off-trail in the direction of Kvannholtenipa. It was clear that the terrain would get steeper the closer we got to Flatbreen, so there was no reason to delay the ascent any further.
We found a good route upwards. We aimed for the ridge crest and crossed a few snow fields along the way. The sun was shining, we were smiling from ear to ear and Karma was the happiest dog on the planet...
On our way to Kvannholtenipa
(Click for larger image)
On the Kvannholtenipa summit plateau, the beautiful Flatbreen glacier opened up in front of us. And so did the entire southern part of Jostedalsbreen - including the mighty Bøyabreen glacier. I was SO thrilled to be up here. What a country we're blessed with!
Bøyabreen
(Click for larger image)
We reached Kvannholtenipa summit 3:08pm - approx. 4h:20m after heading out from Supphelledalen. I felt I could spend the rest of the day up here, and we almost did. Well - a 25 minute pause feels like an entire day in my head...
It was also very nice to share this moment with my two favorite girls in the world...
On Kvannholtenipa
(Click for larger image)
Filled with good emotions, we headed down the mountain. We had darkness to consider as well, but so far we were in good shape. Shortly after passing the Kvannholtenipa's south cairn, we heard voices, but never saw the other group. We felt that they were late in terms of daylight but assumed they were able to practice sound judgment.
We descended our ascent route down to the moraine and then followed a path to Flatbrehytta where we met two girls from the group. They passed on the opportunity to stand on top of Kvannholtenipa and mentally prepared to wait a while when we told them that their mates were probably still high on the mountain.
Approaching Flatbrehytta
(Click for larger image)
We took the other trail down the valley and returned to Supphelledalen 6:10pm - 7h:20m after heading out - in due time before darkness. But the other group would surely have to descend using lights. I have done thousands of hikes and I have forgotten a fair share of them, but this one I will remember for a long, long time...
A happy me on Kvannholtenipa
(Click for larger image)
