How to get there:
If one should climb Kleivfjellet from the north side, one first needs
to get to Ortnevik. This is a small community on the south side of the
Sognefjord. There is a road connection from The west, E-39 at Oppedal.
In the summer, one may also drive across (from Bjordal) part of Stølsheimen and
connect to Matre.
The road along the south side of the Sognefjord ends in Ortnevik.
Drive around the local bay and continue to the last house. If you see people
there, then ask if you can park at the end of the dirt road, next to a small
building. This location is N61.11289, E006.14285, elevation 1 meter. The road
continues from here as a grass covered road, it makes sense to stop at the
location suggested above.
Route description:
Continue along the grass road. You will pass a small structure, then
soon find a pole with trail signs on your right side. This is a trail fork
and this route should now fork gently uphill to the right. The trail is hard
to see, but look carefully and follow blue marks painted on rocks and then
on trees as you enter the forest.
This trail will take you past an old farm building, there will be some more signs
with trail elevation as well as some local names.
You will get to elevation
450m where there is another old farm house,
this place is called Bjørkestølen.
Be aware that the trail indicated on the map is incorrect, the trail now runs
south-east, then a long traversing climb more west to match the upper part of the trail
turning south into Fitjebotnen as seen on the map. There should be blue paint marks
on trees and rocks quite often.
In Fitjebotnen, you will pass some ruins from
an old mountain farm house, a bit
lower is a small, new cabin. From here, continue uphill south of Hegrefjellet, then
directly south to Raudfjellet. The uphill slopes are slightly less
than 30 degrees, one should be aware of possible avalanche danger in winter.
Kleivfjellet finally comes into view a bit south-west
across lake Skjerjavatnet, 1197m.
Comments:
The forecast was still very good and a ski trip from Ortnevik to Kleivfjellet
had been on my mind for some time. I left Bergen around 5AM and drove to Ortnevik
using the mountain road
from Matre to Bjordal. This road just opened after winter
closure on May 1st. Arriving in Ortnevik, I should have asked in the last house
about permission to park, however, on a Saturday morning before 0800, I did not
want to disturb anybody. I therefore drove carefully
to a natural place to park
about 400 meter beyond the last house.
I was ready to walk by 0800. Arriving at the pole with the trail sign, I first tried
walking uphill as directed, but did not see any trail. I then continued a bit on
the lower, more horizontal trail, but soon concluded that I should have been more
uphill. A short bush-wack sort of diagonally uphill towards where the trail should
be soon got me onto a pretty nice trail climbing to the first old farm building.
The trail was now easy to follow to Bjørkestølen at 450 meter elevation.
From there, I continued following blue marks, but then lost the trail and turned
more west too early. However, the terrain was
easy and I went more directly uphill
to again intersect the trail. From here, no more
issues until arrival at snow that
could be skied in Fitjebotnen.
The route was pretty straightforward. Missing snow here and there made my skitrack deviate
from the best possible line. The ascent gaining the ridge north of Raudfjellet involves a pretty
steep slope, essentially 30 degrees. The snow was nice, so quite good both up and down. The ridge
was free of snow on top, but I found some connecting snow on its west side and continuous snow to
the summit.
I was there at 1220, so 4:20 travel time up. After a good 20 minute rest in just beautiful
weather, I started my return ski.
The entire trip was done wearing only a thin wool net shirt.
The descent was uneventful,
I again lost the trail above Bjørkestølen, but no big
inconvenience. Somewhat more trouble as I also lost the trail below the lower farm building, but
then regained it near the end. I had been on a trail with a staircase and a chain going
uphill, never to be seen when descending. Back at my car at 1600, so one hour less going down.
A very nice drive back to Bergen, back home around 1900, a 14 hour day.
