Norwegian Mountains, Sogn og Fjordane
Utvikfjellet
Utvikfjellet - Skavegga - Nuken on skis, Feb 20 2011
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The route from Utvikfjellet
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This was our 2nd day with Gloppen Hotell in Sandane as "base-camp". The day before, we skied from Utvikfjellet to Sandane, across Snøfjellet, Dunheia and Svinestranda. We met up with Lise, Ove, Torleiv and Hege on Svinestranda and joined them in a fun descent to Kleivane. Today, we joined Lise, Ove and Torleiv on Utvikfjellet, and the plan was Støyvafjellet and Skavegga. And then we would take it from there...
Ove is no big fan of crowded slopes (and that's an understatement!) and was in a hurry to get to the top of the downhill slopes. We found a slope that was not in use and on our way upwards, we watched a race in a parallel slope. After reaching the top, we sat course for Støyvafjellet, liberated from the crowds and with some of the most amazing mountain scenery in western Norway ahead of us...
On the way to Støyvafjellet
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We reached the top of Støyvafjellet in less than one hour after heading out. Everyone was of course happy to be outdoors on such a beautiful day, and me in particular, as I had never seen the surrounding mountains (Snønipa, Vora, Storfonn, etc.) from such a close distance before. I felt a strong urge to stand on top of Snønipa, and although it wouldn't happen today, then at least I hoped it would happen sometime during 2011.
After officially claiming Støyvafjellet as ours, we moved on towards Støyvastøylen - a cosy cabin village by the foot of Skavegga.
To Støvyastøylen
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While the rest of us swore to heavy Telemark equipment, Anne chose regular mountain skis. My hope that we would find some terrain where heavier skis would be justified. But first, Skavegga was to be visited. From Støyvastøylen, we picked a direct route up to point 1057m. We arrived at the cairn 12:31pm, and while Ove and Torleiv celebrated their 2nd top of the day, I was getting a bit restless. As we use different criteria for classifying mountain tops, my count was still zero. We had a good laugh over this...
On Skavegga, point 1057m
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We had a short break for lunch before moving on to the Skavegga high point. We had a very nice trip across the plateau, and eventually agreed on a rock that was probably the high point. In other words, there's no cairn on this side of the mountain.
We agreed that we should should also visit Nuken. Ove had been up there before, but didn't mind a revisit. There was also a mention of Blåfjellet and a descent down its west ridge. This involved hitch-hiking back to the trailhead, and as I was returning to Sunnmøre in the evening, I felt it would get too late in the day.
Nuken
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We didn't bother to take the skins off, and had a very controlled descent to Nukeflata. We followed the ski-track to Svartebotnen for a little while before we headed straight up Nuken. I was breaking trail in the beginning, switch-backing upwards while sweating like crazy. After I while, I let Lise take the lead. She is no great believer in switch-backs, and headed straight up towards the top. She was going so steep that I spent the same amount of energy in just staying in the track, as I spent moving upwards. Lise is a super-woman - incredibly strong.
We reached the top of Nuken 2:47pm - 3h:50m after heading out. Man, it was good to be up here! The views are just phenomenal.
On top of Nuken
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When it was time to head back down, we discussed the descent route from Nukaflata. Ove was very keen on skiing alongside Skavegga on the north side. He was confident that he could just glide all the way, but I did not share his optimism. I was all set on returning along the track, but the final decision would be made at Nukaflata. Now it was time to focus on the main event for the day - the descent of Nuken...
Lise, blazing down Nuken
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It was great fun to see Lise, Torleiv and Ove ski down Nuken. All good skiers, with different skiing styles. Ove impressed me the most. I just couldn't understand how he could dance so effortlessly in the wind-packed snow. I don't have the skills to ski in Telemark style on snow like this, but managed OK through parallel turns. With regular mountain skis, Anne had go easy in the upper part. The lower part of the hillside had better snow, and even I was able to leave some signatures.
Nuken signatures
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At Nukaflata, Lise, Ove and Torleiv decided to try their luck along Skavegga's north side. I was still determined to follow the track and Anne found it in her best interest to join me...
Following the track meant a vertical gain of 150 meters, and I did most of it without skins. As if the trip hadn't been long enough already...
Hard work below Skavegga
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But the descent to Støyvastøylen was very enjoyable, making the ascent worth while. It was also nice to ski down the downhill slope to Utvikfjellet and we returned to the car 4:43pm - 5,5 hours after leaving. The others hadn't arrived yet, and I called them on the phone. They were somewhere up on the mountain, and Lise informed me that there was no such thing as gliding alongside Skavegga..
I parted with Anne and sat course for the ferry at Anda. I had a strong feeling that the others would catch up, and sure enough, a couple of minutes before the ferry arrived, they pulled up next to me.
It was a very, very enjoyable weekend. 5 tops (Ove would have said 7 or 8) were in the bag, and I now I really feel that I know Utvikfjellet quite well...
