Norwegian Mountains, Sogn og Fjordane

Steindalsbreen (1585m)
Steindalsbreen E-1 (1562m)
Steindalseggi N (1512m) & S (1488m)
Sogndalseggi E (1384m)
round trip on skis, Apr 29 2012


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The route, as seen in Google Earth

The route, as seen in Google Earth
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It was a bit strange; I was on my way to Sogndal for what I hoped would be a fantastic, sunny weekend in the Sogn mountains, and on a side note - it was also the time of the year where most cars in southern Norway had summer tires on (mine not included). And here on Sunnmøre it was snowing. It was not only snowing, it was snowing hard! Fortunately, Anne told me that that Sogndal had spring (as we like we know it) so I had something good to look forward to.

I arrived in sunny Sogndal in good shape and ended up (to my surprise) on a soccer match at Fosshaugane. Sogndal beat Molde 2-1 and the town was on fire. We didn't take part in the celebrations as we wanted to be ready for one of the best ski-trips in a long time - a round trip across Steindalsbreen the next day.

 

The high route

The high route
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Sunday morning was simply gorgeous, and we drove up Sogndalsdalen with the roof down while listening to the Mega Dance Mix 1992 CD. Yes, 1992. It was a good music year...

The time was 09:10am when we headed out from the start of the Anestølen road. 3km and 38 minutes later, we reached the Anestølen cabins. For someone (like me) who was dying to get up to the mountains, this transport leg was a "killer". But finally, we could enter Tverrdalen and I send some silent thoughts to the mountains towering above - asking them to hold the snow until we had passed...

 

In the avalanche-prone Tverrdalen

In the avalanche-prone Tverrdalen
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Anne had gone up Tverrdalen on skis before, and as we entered the narrowest section of the valley, she took a detour up to the left rather than going straight through. I decided to cut straight across, but on my way up and out I ended up falling down and realized that there was very little protecting me from falling into the river below. Carefully, I raised myself up and decided that detours are underrated... 

 

A narrow section of Tverrdalen

A narrow section of Tverrdalen
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At Tverrdalsvotni, it was time to leave Tverrdalen and we skied up to the south end of Tverrdalsvatnet. We followed a small valley east of Nipa before we reached the southeast end of the glacier. We followed a ridge up to point 1562m - and arrived on our first top of the day at 1:08pm. Glory, glory...

 

On the way to 1562m

On the way to 1562m
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What a day and what a view! Moreover, the hardest part of the trip was over and the rest of the trip would just be a wonderful cruise! I felt good and could not detect any form of penalty for dragging heavy skis and boots up to the glacier. But 1562m was not the main goal, so we moved on after a short stay. We took a steep route down to the glacier and got mentally ready for a 2km plod.

 

On the way to the high point

On the way to the high point
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We reached Steindalsbreen's highest point (1585m) at 1:55pm - 4h:45m after leaving the trailhead. We couldn't see the end of the world from here, but we did see Galdhøpiggen, Hurrungane, Tverrådalskyrkja, Fresvikbreen, Meneseggi, Jostefonni, Jostedalsbreen and more. We did NOT see the Sunnmørsalpane range, which was quite OK. That gave me at least a feeling of being somewhere else than home...

 

On top of Steindalsbreen

On top of Steindalsbreen
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I was so much looking forward to the Grand Finale - the descent - that I (almost) forgot that we already had two new mountain tops in the bag, and that the third one (Steindalseggi) was just around the corner. Oh my ... I can only take so much good news at one time...

After a nice stay on top (I've made a mental note to bring the shovel more often, as it's quite nice to dig out a place to sit...) we moved on. Within a couple of minutes, the route across Steindalseggi came into view;

 

Steindalseggi

Steindalseggi
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The descent from Steindalsnipa was short, but nice. At the bottom of the hill, I put on the skins for the 3rd time on the trip. The ascent up to Steindalseggi's north top was equally short, but now we had the time to enjoy the Fjærland peaks...

 

 

Fjærland mountains

Fjærland mountains
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We reached Steindalseggi's north top 2:50pm, and by now there was little new to be seen in the horizon. However, there was big action on Frudalshesten. Anne had heard rumors about a wedding on top, and we could see a bunch of people on top and lots of tracks down the mountain. It seemed like the ceremonial part was over, and that folks were on the way to the party...

 

Wedding on Frudalshesten

Wedding on Frudalshesten
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We congratulated ourselves with the 3rd top for the day, knowing that the magic descent was getting closer and closer. We moved on to the south top, and I put on the skins for the 4th time today.

The south top was passed 3:10pm and for a while I really thought that we would start the real descent soon. But then there was yet another top (Sogndalseggi's east top - 1384m). Too insignificant to get my full attention, but way too cute to pass. Darn!

 

Cod-face peak...

Cod-face peak...
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Sogndalseggi's east top was conquered 3:37pm, and I had put on skins for the 5th time today. Perhaps I should revert to wax-free skis again? At least when skiing in Sogn og Fjordane. But now - yes really, really, really now - the descent was on!

The skiing was highly enjoyable, and the nature was just breathtaking. Just when you feel you've seen it all, Mother Nature slaps you in the face. Again...

 

Amazing terrain. Just amazing!

Amazing terrain. Just amazing!
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After a wonderful 974 vertical meter descent (approx.), we returned at Anestølen just as another pair of skiers (acquaintances of Anne) was about to head back to the trailhead. We talked for a little while before taking on the transport leg along Anestølsvatnet.

At 4:50pm (7h:45m after heading out), our journey across Steindalsbreen had come to an end. And what a journey it was! Unforgettable...

 

Returning to the trailhead

Returning to the trailhead
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Pictures

The pictures were taken with a Canon EOS 550D + Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM F 4-5.6
+ a Canon Powershot G12

 

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Anestølen

1. Barnakona 2. Our exit 3. The trailhead 4. Along the toll road 5. Into the valley 6. Towards Anestølen 7. Oksli 8. Anestølen ahead 9. Anestølen

Tverrdalen

10. Into Tverrdalen 11. Our descent route 12. Up Tverrdalen 13. Up Tverrdalen 14. Avalanche terrain 15. Avalanche terrain 16. The valley gets steeper 17. Narrow skins? 18. A nice pause 19. Into a cleft 20. The narrow part of Tverrdalen 21. Rising out of the cleft

To point 1562m

22. Setting course for the glacier 23. By Tverrdalsvotni 24. By Tverrdalsvotni 25. Rising out of Tverrdalen 26. Nipa 27. The end of Tverrdalen 28. View towards Barnakona 29. Nipa ahead 30. A nice moment 31. Happy Anne 32. Another nice pause 33. Almost up on the glacier 34. Tverrdalstind and Torstadnakken 35. Towards point 1562m 36. On top of point 1562m

Wide-angle view from point 1562m

37. Wide-angle view from point 1562m

To Steindalsbreen high point

38. Frudalshesten 39. Steindalsbreen 40. Descending 1562m 41. Crossing the glacier 42. To the high point 43. Looking back on 1562m 44. To the high point 45. On the high point

Steindalsbreen panoramas

46. Wide-angle view from Steindalsbreen 47. Zoom view from Steindalsbreen 48. Zoom view from Steindalsbreen 49. Zoom view from Steindalsbreen

To Steindalseggi N

50. Melsnipa 51. Jordalsnipa - Holefjell 52. Hurrungane 53. Bleia 54. To Steindalsnipa 55. Frudalshesten 56. Steindalseggi ahead 57. Skiers on Nyastølseggi 58. Descending from Steindalsnipa 59. Descending from Steindalsnipa 60. Skrednipa - Fjellstølsnipa ridge 61. Steindalseggi ahead 62. Anne picks up speed 63. OK hon? 64. Up Steindalseggi 65. The Steindalsnipa - Steindalseggi saddle 66. Wonderful view! 67. Anne and Blånipa 68. Fjærland paradise 69. Activity on Frudalshesten 70. On Steindalseggi north top

Steindalseggi panoramas

71. Wide-angle view from Steindalseggi 72. Zoom view from Steindalseggi

To Steindalseggi S

73. The south top ahead 74. Steindalsbreen 75. Descending from the north top 76. Ascending the south top 77. Fantastic views 78. On the south top

Wide-angle view from Steindalseggi S

79. Wide-angle view from Steindalseggi S

Sogndalseggi

80. Frudalshesten 81. The route ahead 82. Descending from Steindalseggi 83. Descending from Steindalseggi 84. Wonderful spring! 85. Anne is still happy 86. Skiing was big fun! 87. A Cod-faced peak appears 88. Sogndalseggi east top ahead 89. Me, heading up point 1384m 90. Where we descended 91. Do be careful... 92. Anne arrives on point 1384m

Descent

93. Descending from Sogndalseggi 94. Oh yeah! 95. Whoo.. that IS low.. 96. Hallelujah 97. Omigod! Look at that background! 98. Detail 99. No complaints? Sure? 100. View up the valley 101. Sail on! 102. Soft, but OK snow 103. Another valley view 104. Hello dear! 105. Mountain view 106. Me, casually passing by... 107. Returning to Anestølen 108. Crossing bridges by Anestølen 109. Leaving Anestølen 110. Returning to Sogndalsdalen

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