Location: North 60.21502, East 006.26485 (GPS on the summit)
Romsdalen, Norway
Difficulty: (YDS) class 2+
Climbed June 7. 2021.
Information:
How to get there:
From Bergen, drive Hwy. 7 to Nordheimsund, then turn right
and drive to the ferry at Tørvikbygd. The ferry leaves
10 minutes before the hour. In Jondal, turn right and drive about
6 kilometer. In the small traffic circle immediately before the
tunnel, exit right. After roughly one kilometer, fork left and
head uphill. You will notice a self serve toll pay, NOK 50 in 2021.
Continue uphill, then turn right at a fork and find parking
at location N60.23289, E006.20741, elevation about 175 meter.
Route description:
Continue around the left bend on the forest road and locate a trail
(sign for Daurmåldalen) that forks left.
This trail is well marked with red "T". The trail will soon climb
out of the big trees and ascend steeply on slabs of rock. A rope
is there in case of slippery rock. Higher up, the trail makes a first,
nice plateau.
Next, another more gentle climb to reach the proper
valley, Daurmåldalen.
A small water intake for a power plant
was under construction in 2021. Continue along the trail to the very
end of the valley. The trail markers will get you back onto the trail
when you temporarily loose it.
The route now climbs the slope ahead, first on the left, then traversing
towards the river. The upper section
is narrow and in early summer (mid June)
may still have snow. A perfectly good alternative is then to rather turn
left and ascend a distinct gully that climbs steeply. This gully has an easy
exit left at the very top, location N60.20375, E006.22961. Once on
easier terrain, look left, a natural passage
connects fairly horizontally
across the terrain just above steeper cliffs. You should cross to
the far side of the small streams that run down the cliffs.
A big boulder
may be best bypassed on the left (outside). You should now be close to
location N60.20643, E006.23476, just below 900 meter of elevation.
A distinct gully extends quite a long way uphill. This gully may be climbed,
one may also (more easily) walk on the rocks just to the right of this
gully. This option is best when the smooth rock is dry and provides
good friction. Gradually, the slope eases, in early summer there may
still be snow in the small valley that continues uphill.
The final ascent is now about 2 kilometer, one can follow a natural
route staying left (north) of the small lakes, ascending the summit
from the west. The summit is
marked by a pretty tall cairn. Comments:
The forecast called for a near perfect day. I left Bergen early and
arrived 30 seconds late for the ferry! After an hour wait, I was finally
crossing the fjord to Jondal. I left my car at the trailhead at 0835
and enjoyed the nice landscape as I ascended to the hidden valley
Daurmålsdalen. At the valley entrance, construction was
in progress (however nobody there on a Monday morning) to make a
water intake for a small hydro power plant.
This valley is really nice, unfortunately, a power line disturbs
the wilderness somewhat. A sign posted on a tree warns hikers about
possible snow in the upper, steeper exit from the valley.
Arriving there, I could easily observe the snow. I carried crampons
and an ice axe, so getting up should not be difficult. However, I decided
to explore an alternative gully going more left first. This route was
free of snow and provided relatively easy access (YDS class 2+)
to the terrain above.
I next traversed left in order to gain what looked like easier
terrain (some vegetaition). Some spots of easy scrambling, the rock was
also dry providing good friction. This section is the crux of
the route, but overall pretty easy. I hit snow above here and walked
on good snow essentially
all the remaining distance to the
summit. The 2 small lakes still had ice.
I arrived at 1205, so 3:30 up. Very nice views of the Folgefonn glacier.
I rested and enjoyed this
fine summit until 1220, then descended
my route
of ascent. Back at my car at 1525, an overall trip of 6:50. The ferry
back from Jondal leaves 20 past the hour. Summer temperature, 23 C, I
enjoyed a cone of strawberry ice cream while waiting.
