Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Kvitegga, 1707m (ca.)
Kvanngrønibba, 1495m

Kvitegga seen from Jakta
(Click for larger image)

Introduction

Location:

The fjords Nordfjord and Storfjorden, Lake Hornindalsvatnet and highway RV60 between Hellesylt and Hornindal define the peninsula on which the Sunnmørsalpane mountain range is located. Kvitegga (The White Ridge) is the highest mountain on this peninsula, and thus, the highest mountain in Sunnmørsalpane.

It should be noted that several peninsulas are in turn found on the main peninsula - Ørstahalvøya and Kolåshalvøya to name a couple, and that there are a number of peaks in Møre and Romsdal county, also named Kvitegga.

The closest higher mountain is Stolshyrna (1852m), located 24Km to the southeast, in Sogn og Fjordane county.
The closest higher mountain in Møre og Romsdal county is Steegga (1709m), 24,3Km, also found in the southeast direction.

About Kvitegga:

Kvitegga is a long ridge with a glacier on the summit. The distance between point 1653m (north), and point 1153m (south), is approx. 5Km. Kvitegga connects to Blæja, Kårdalstindane and Kalveskrednipa to the north, and Trollaksla/Hornindalsrokken to the west. The Ørsta/Stranda muncipality border runs across half the Kvitegga ridge, while Kvanngrønibba (1495m) belongs to Stranda.

The normal winter route to Kvitegga runs up Snødalen valley. One can also ascend via Kjellstaddalen valley, but
this is a longer approach. The glacier below Kvitegga and Blåfjellet (facing Fivelstad) is infamous for
being a dangerous and spectacular ski-descent. This web-page will describe the normal route up Snødalen, and also comment on an alternative descent route via Kvanngrønibba, given safe snow conditions.

Kristofer Randers writes extensively about this mountain and the area in his book "Sunnmøre", and states that local farmers had been to Kvitegga before he and Johannes Vigdal made the trip. Randers also mentions Slingby's climb up the northeast ridge.

Kvitegga seen from Hornindalsrokken
(Click for larger image)

Height:

The summit elevation will vary over time, depending on the amount of snow. A rock point, 1691m, is found 100m southwest of the snowdome. Per May 2008, the estimated height of the summit is approx. 1707m (measured by GPS and averaged across 15 minutes). Some old maps refer to 1717m as the summit height, but this height is no longer accurate.

Personal GPS readings from the trip were:

Kvitegga seen from the air
(Click for larger image)

Primary factor:

Kvitegga (Norge 1:50,000: -, Økonomisk Kartverk: -, UTM 32 V 380035 6886864) has a primary factor of 1319m towards the higher parent mountain Stolshyrna (1852m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 381256 6879166) is found on the Gråsteinmyra meadow, close to Røyrhusdalen. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the contours 385-390m, interpolated to 388m.

Kvanngrønibba (Norge 1:50,000: 1495m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 1495.56m, UTM 32 V 381214 6884881) has a primary factor of 46m towards the higher parent mountain Kvitegga (1707m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 381202 6885484) is found along the Kvitegga ridge, between points 1586m and 1478m. Ref. Norge 1:50,000 (20m contours), the saddle is within the contours 1440-1460m, interpolated to 1450m.

Kvitegga has the second highest primary factor in Møre og Romsday county. See the complete list.

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.

Route 1: Nibbedalen - Kvitegga (winter/spring) Difficulty : Class 1 (YDS) Exposure : No. Distance : Approx. 5,4Km (2D distance) Time : Approx. 4-5 hours Starting Elev.: Approx. 300m (Langhaugen) Vertical Gain : Approx. 1460m

Map of the area (No Javascript) Detailed map (No Javascript)

Access

(all distances are approx. distances)

From Ålesund, follow highway E39 towards Bergen, and then highway RV60 (Stranda) to the Magerholm - Ørsneset ferry. This ferry runs quite often; every 20 minutes in the busy hours of the day. From Ørsneset, drive RV60 to Stranda (34,3Km). Turn southbound (right) and continue on RV60 to the Norangsdal junction (30,8Km,  (make sure you turn right towards Stryn when you pass Hellesylt).

Follow the road to Norangsdalen for 1,4Km and look for the Snødal sign on your left-hand side. Permitting you can drive on this road, follow it 200m and find parking alongside the road.

Note; The Norangsdalen road is open in winter, but can be closed due to avalanche danger. Use this link to check if the road is closed.

The route

In spring, follow a visible forest path that runs along a ridge, just south of the northernmost stream (look for the Snødalen trail sign near the parking). The general direction is westbound. Once up in Snødalen, the general recommendation is to stay in the middle of the valley, with sufficient distance to spring avalanches from Blåfjellet. The route up Snødalen is straightforward; there are no obstacles or no exposure.

Consider visiting Blåfjellet (1274m) for a great view towards Kvitegga. The hillside from Blåfjellet to the Kvitegga ridge is strenuous, but the terrain levels out as you approach point 1586m. You have another splendid view towards Kvitegga from here. After a 20-30m descent, you begin the final ascent to Kvitegga summit. The 1691m viewpoint is found approx. 120m W-SW of the (unmarked) high point.

Descend your ascent route, but a visit to Kvanngrønibba (1495m) could be worth while.

Descent via Kvanngrønibba

It is possible to descend via Kvanngrønibba, but because this route can be dangerous, this site will not recommend it. It will however be described in further detail:

The descent from Kvanngrønibba and down the southeast ridge is trivial, but keep a good distance from the (massive) cornices facing east. The critical part is getting down the ridge, in the direction of Vardfjellet. The ridge is approx. 35 degrees at the steepest part and the rock beneath is slab rock. Further to your right (south), the ridge falls much steeper and the area below may resemble a small icefall in late spring. The snow on this ridge will break away during spring. An ascent would be easier than a descent, as it is easier to read the overall terrain. From Vardfjellet, the descent back into Snødalen is trivial.

Pictures and Trip reports:

• Kvitegga, May 10 2008
• Kvitegga seen from other mountains

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