Norwegian Mountains, Nordland
Okstindan

Oksskolten, 1916m
 

Fylke/Kommune : Nordland/Hemnes
Maps : 2027-III Storakersvatnet (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary factor : 1384m
Hiked : July 2009
See also:
Hatten (Hattfjelldal) Hatten (Vefsn)
See also : Other Nordland mountains on westcoastpeaks.com

Okstindan (eastern part)

Okstindan (eastern part)
(Click for larger image)

Introduction

Okstindan is a mountain & glacier massif approx. 36km south of Mo i Rana. Oksskolten (The Bull's head) is the highest peak in Nordland county and also the highest Norwegian peak north of Snøhetta on Dovrefjell.

The main Okstindan peaks form a horseshoe ridge around the Austre Okstindbreen glacier. Okshornet, Okstinden, Okskalvan, Tvillingtindan and Svartfjell are some of the peaks that surround the glacier. Oksskolten can be reached without glacier crossing, but hikers normally cross the lower part of Austre Okstindbreen without using a rope in the autumn, when the surface snow has melted. This page will describe the normal route from Oksskolten from the trailhead at Austre Kjennsvatnet.

The 1 hour (small cars), 42km drive around lakes Storakersvatnet and Kjennsvatnan is a bumpy one, mainly because of a 33km rough gravel road (per July 2009). The distance up the mountain is fairly short (8km), but the total vertical gain is 1600m. Expect 7-9 hours up and down. The view from the top is stunning. See the panoramas on the trip report for details.

 

Oksskolten and Austre Okstindbreen

Oksskolten and Austre Okstindbreen
(Click for larger image)

 

Primary factor:

Okstinden (Norge 1:50,000: 1916m, Økonomisk Kartverk: -, UTM 33 W 469995 7321659) has a primary factor of 1384m towards the higher parent Påssustjåkka (1935m). The saddle description was copied from Petter Bjørstad's website:

Saddle: A (close saddle): One can establish a primary factor of 1286 by following the vally and lake quite close to the mountain, that is isolate it with a highest pass of 630 meter.
B (lowest saddle): Between border cairns 218-218A, there is a low saddle to Sweden. Holmtjønna (522 m) drains west while the very close Mørntjønna (529 m) drains east. On a 10 meter contour map, the 530 contour does not pass through, while the 540 contour do. Interpolation yields 535 meter for the saddle. However, from the map, it is likely that the true elevation is closer to 530 meter than 540 meter, we will use 532 meter until possibly further refined by a field trip to the area. This is north of the mountain, further south one can use the 359 meter saddle crossing south-east of Tunnsjøen.
From this 532 saddle one may continue north and then to Sarek in Sweden where its closest higher neighbor is located.

Oksskolten has the 8th highest primary factor in Norway. See the complete list on Petter Bjørstad's "100 Finest in Norway" page.

Google map

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

 

Google maps
Google maps
(Click on image)

 

Trail descriptions

Route 1: Laurisbukta - Oksskolten (summer/autumn)

Difficulty : YDS Class 2
Concerns: Glacier crossing
Exposure : No
Distance : Approx. 8km to summit (2D distance)
Time : Approx. 4 hours to summit
Starting Elev.: Approx. 530m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 1600m (total)
Map of the area
Map of the area
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Detailed map
Detailed map
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Detailed map
Road map
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This route description is valid per July 2009

Access

(all distances are approx. distances)

The starting point is Umbukta. Approx 700m north of Umbukta Fjellstue, turn east onto a side road. Drive 2,2km until you see the Kjensvasshytta signpost (you drive above the E12 tunnel). Follow this road around Lake Storakersvatnet and then along Lake Kjennsvatnan until you reach the trailhead at Laurisbukta.

From the Kjensvasshytta signpost, you drive 9,1km on asphalt. The rest (33,4km) on a rough gravel road. Per July 2009, there was dam construction work at the Vestervatnet bay, and the road here was particularly bad. Combined with rain, the road would have been just terrible. There is no toll fee on this road, and it is most likely closed in winter.

The route

The upper route

The upper route
(Click for larger image)

Follow the marked trail upwards until you have point 855m to your left and a small lake to your right. You now have three choices;

a) Head south along the small lake and enter the glacier at approx. 850m. This part of the glacier is fairly easy to cross, but you have to search for the best place to get onto the glacier. Once you have crossed the glacier, traverse the mountainside in the direction of the creek from the small lakes at approx. 1210m. Do not cross the creek and look for the best route upwards. Expect to cross snow slopes.

b) Continue until you reach the creek from lake 864m. Head down to near the glacier tongue and cross here. Expect to switchback to bypass crevasses. Once across, head in the direction of the creek from the lakes at 1210m and then head up to the plateau by the lakes.

When crossing the glacier, wear crampons and do not step on snow (weak snowbridges).

c) If you don't want to cross the glacier, then walk around Bretjørna and find a place to cross the river. Then head back towards the glacier and follow the description for route b).

From the plateau at 1200-1220m, follow Oksskolten's northwest ridge to the summit, which is marked by a small cairn.

 

The glacier tongue

The glacier tongue
(Click for larger image)


Pictures and Trip reports:


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