Norwegian Mountains, Sogn og Fjordane
Myklebustbreen & Snønipa (1827m), May 1 2012
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The route, as seen in Google Earth
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This extended weekend had already earned a highly memorable status after the fantastic trips to Steindalsbreen and Steindalsnosi with my girlfriend Anne. And there was still one day left of it! We knew that our friends Lise and Ove were planning a ski-trip to Snønipa and this was high motivation for taking on yet another long ski-trip.
Lise and Ove's plan was to ski from Sanddal, across points 1739m and 1710m on Myklebustbreen, to Snønipa and return the same way. When Anne and me joined the team, we proposed that we could leave one car in Stardalen. There is a world of difference between returning across the entire Myklebustbreen glacier and skiing down Haugabreen. The plan was well received...
We met up with Lise, Ove, Gustav and Torleiv (the legendary Orheim brothers) at Sanddal and headed out 10am sharp. The weather was just as great as it had been for the last two days, and it look as if the weekend would grow from highly memorable to E P I C...
On the way to Snønipa!
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There is a heap of magnificent mountains between Nordfjord and Jølstravatnet, and I have been dying to "get started" with this region. Snønipa, Storfonn, Daurmål, Skjorta, Botnafjellet - to name a few.
It was also nice to meet the others again. Anne and me had a very nice trip together with Lise, Ove and Torleiv to Nuken in 2011, but this was the first time I was on a trip with Gustav. Slightly tired after the two ski-trips this weekend, I wondered if Lise and Ove would show any mercy - in terms of the pace - on this trip. Anne and me put our faith in that Torleiv and Gustav would introduce humanity into the group. In retrospect, I wonder whatever gave me that idea...
Torleiv and Lise
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We caught up with two other skiers as we reached the lower part of Myklebustbreen, had a small stop for lunch and caught up with them again higher up on the glacier. And they were not skiing slowly! It was like a spell. No one were in a hurry, but whoever was the front person always set up a ferocious pace. We reached point 1739m 1:40pm - 9,5km, 1400 vertical meters and 3h:40m after heading out.
On point 1739m on Myklebustbreen
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Based on what I could see, I was quite convinced that point 1736m was higher than map point 1739m, but the others seemed happy with what the map read. And to be honest, so was I...
Our course was now southbound, in the direction of point 1710m. It's seldom a delight to ski a glacier with Telemark gear, but I did enjoy every second of it. Even if the pace was very tough. And those who know well me wouldn't say that I'm in a poor shape...
On Myklebustbreen
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Anne and me were curious if we would run into Janne Eikås and Joar Eide on point 1710m. We had indications on that they might take the trip. In the horizon, we thought we saw people on the summit. But when we arrived on top - 2:45pm - no one else but us were up here. But we found it most probable that they had been here...
Signs...
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It was high time I admitted it. I was in pain. My right heel was hurting like L, and I realized that the binding had been too tight. I was limping, dragging my right foot. Amateur error! However, I was also in an extremely good mood. I had just bagged two new tops and I would set my foot on one of the finest tops in miles around. Moreover, there would be only downhill skiing from Snønipa.
I left point 1710m prior to the others, trying to get some headroom before the killer squad caught up with me. But halfway to Snønipa, Gustav was already breathing up my neck. "What is this?", I said to myself. Aha! Now I get it! They have a magic potion in Nordfjord, and every kid has taken a plunge into it. Obelix style. Super powers...
Thank God, I caught a break when we crossed Wolverine tracks. It was fun to see the tracks, although I have a feeling that the prospects for the Wolverine is probably slim...
At 3:51pm - 5h:51m after heading out, we stood on top of Snønipa. Yeah! My oh my, what a view!
On Snønipa!
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Snønipa panorama
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After a nice break on Snønipa, Ove launched the idea about descending via Sollibotnen and Veitebergsdalen. As Anne had her car at Høyset, she had to descend via Haugabreen, and I chose (of course) to go with her. We agreed to pick the others up at Veiteberg.
The skiing conditions directly below Snønipa were horrible. The snow had frozen and all the tracks made skiing really difficult. But down on the Haugabreen, the snow improved dramatically and skiing was now a pure delight.
Skiing on Haugabreen
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As we were approaching Haugastøylen, we could see two persons waving at us. It took me a second or two to realize it was Janne and Joar. What a nice surprise! Last December, Anne and me had a very nice trip to Steinbotnegga with these two very experienced mountaineers from the Jølster region. Joar told us that he had never before seen a group move that fast across the glacier. Tell me about it...
Janne and Joar at Haugastøylen
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We arrived at Anne's car at Høyset 5:55pm - close to 8 hours after heading out from Sanddal. We had a slight logistical issue that we hadn't paid enough attention, but Janne saved the day and helped us get the team back to Sanddal - totally the wrong way for her. Janne; we are much obliged!
A fantastic weekend was coming towards the end. I had so many good memories to look back on, and driving back to Sunnmøre with the roof down was certainly not a bad ending...
Approaching Høyset (Høyvik further down the road..)
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