Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal Rjåhornet, Winter 2008-2009 To the main Rjåhornet page (maps, route descriptions, other trip reports, etc.) All Pictures on this page:   Javascript slideshow (Full size images) Pictures taken before Feb 12 2009 were taken with a Canon EOS 300D + Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM F 4-5.6. More recent pictures have been taken with a Canon EOS 450D.   Flash slideshow 2008 (Images scaled down. Right-click on images and select 'open in a new window' for full size version) (No panoramas) Flash slideshow 2009 (Images scaled down. Right-click on images and select 'open in a new window' for full size version) (No panoramas)     My normal route: My normal route to Rjåhornet (Click for larger image)

Feb 12 2009: Bakkehornet on skis Nine days ago, I ascended Rjåhornet on foot in 46 minutes, barely touching snow. But now, winter has definitely come to Sunnmøre. The snow depth at sea level is 40cm (at least), which is a bit intimidating when you plan to ski a 600m mountain. I went to the Leikong trailhead just after work, trying to get as much out of the daylight as possible. I got a bit depressed when I started skiing. I couldn't see the skis at all, and progess was slow . Before 10 minutes had passed, one of my heel supports had broken. 5 minutes later, I ran into a problem with one of the poles. And skiing was just very, very, very strenuous. It took me one hour to get to Bakkehornet (327m). A major snow shower was moving in from the ocean, and I knew exactly what things would be like up on the mountain. My tracks would vanish instantly and I wouldn't be able use to the headlamp. I decided to get as high I as I could before it got real nasty, but it didn't get far before one of my bindings snapped. I could do nothing but turn around and descend on one ski. The descent turned out to be awesome balance training, and it didn't go too bad until I got down in the forest. I'm a complete stranger to skiing with one of the skis on my backpack, and when I passed the first proper spruce with branches 1,5m above the ground, I was very surprised when I found myself up in the air, coming to an abrupt halt. I arrived at the trailhead shiny white from top to bottom, just before the snow shower set in and darkness fell. Winter.. (Click for larger image)

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Dec 11 2008: Rjåhornet on skis This was simply an astounding evening, very very much like Jan 22 in the beginning of the year. The moonlight lit up the landscape in a way that could make you marvel. On this evening, I decided to ski Rjåhornet. I didn't need any light on the way up. Just below the summit, I passed an abandonded snowscooter. At least no one could be seen on the mountain. It was a bit mysterious. Perhaps the engine had broken down. The descent was awesome. After-dark skiing was completely different from skiing in daylight. It's difficult to describe exactly how it was different, but as I didn't notice cornices until I was on top of them, I had to relax in a different way. Just let the skis flow, and float along, so to speak. It was altogether a magificent trip.  View towards Ørsta/Volda (Click for larger image)

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Dec 10 2008: Bakkehornet Full moon and brilliant weather. But I had forgotten that more snow had fallen in the mountains, and I didn't bring my gaiters. Moreover, I was heading into thick fog (!) and lost all sense of direction. On top of Bakkehornet (327m), I decided to turn around. The good news is that the next after-dark trip will be on skis.. Krøvelseidet (Click for larger image)

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