Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal
Reistadkollen, Jan 1 2008
Back to the main Reistadkollen page.
A Reistadkollen moment
(Click for larger image)
Another year ..
.. another top. It's "important" to get a good start to the new year, and for once, the weather was great. The New Year celebration didn't allow for an early start on this first day of the new year, but when I was mentally and legally in shape for a long drive, the trip was on. Reistadkollen was about the closest top that I hadn't been to, and that was doable with the remaining daylight. A part of me felt that a 2 x 80Km drive for a 500m top was a bit "over the top". But that's the wimpy side of me. The other side of me said C'mon! That's nothing!
Another forest hassle
I knew nothing about any routes to this mountain, but the starting point was quite obvious. I found the forest road I had decided to hike, and was on my way 13:05PM. My little dog Troll found it in his heart to walk along with me, which was very welcome. He struggled on the icy road, but with some friendly shoves up the butt, we were a winning team.
As I wanted daylight on top, I found that my planned route via Bjørkeskaret seemed long. The GPS map indicated a path directly to the mountain, but not UP the mountain. I figured the locals had been clever and made a nice, yet steep path directly to the top. I decided to follow this path, which even had tracks. Bonus!
But the tracks ended after 50m. Disappointment. Still I didn't want to turn around. I knew the mountain was steep, but the forest prevented me to see how steep it was. I decided to continue through the forest and take my chances. Out of the forest, I had a steep, snowy and icy mountain side ahead of me. But it didn't take me long to find a place I could climb up to a level above. The terrain was still steep, but it wasn't difficult finding a good route.
The snow depth increased gradually, and now that my little buddy was resting in the backpack, the ascent was a bit strenuous. There were a tracks in the forest. Once spot seemed to have housed the new year celebration for the forest animals.
On top
I reached the cairn 14:05PM. I left Troll in shelter from the wind, and went over to the high point for pictures. My focus was immediately aimed at Romsdalshorn with Kalskråtinden directly behind. With snowdrift across Kalskråtinden, it was quite a sight. At first, I thought I was watching Romsdalshorn with an all-time huge snowdrift across, and I didn't spot Kalskråtinden until I looked at the pictures back home.
A she-peakbagger
Due to the cold and windy top, I soon turned back around. I followed the tracks and subsequently, the forest path. I had been ascending only 100m away from the path. Oh well..
On top of the forest path, I let Troll out of the backpack. He had fun descending the steep forest. In a pace he didn't always control...
Back on the forest road, I met a woman out walking. She told me she was collecting Rauma mountains (and not the low ones..) and was close to become a Queen last year. It is a title one can claim after visiting so and so many of the Romsdalen (I think it was..) tops. She had been to over 70 Rauma tops, and had climbed the north wall of Romsdalshorn. We had a good chat on our way back to Øvre Reistad.
15:05PM, exactly two hours after leaving, I was back at the car. The year had started out good. Another new top, great weather and good views. The 80Km drive back to Ålesund was nothing but a pleasure..
