Location: North 61:56.395, East 010:09.201 (GPS at the summit)
North of Atnsjøen, Hedmark, Norway
Difficulty: YDS class 2 (winter)
Climbed February 28, 2006
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Information:
How to get there:
Gravskardhøgda is located near Hwy. 27, an attractive alternative to
E-6 between Ringebu and Hjerkinn. From Lillehammer, drive 61 kilometer north along E-6
to Hwy. 27 that forks right about 4 kilometer north of Ringebu. Hwy. 27 connects across
Venabygdsfjellet, the road may be closed at night in winter. This crossing is 34 kilometer from
E-6 to the intersection where Hwy. 219 connects from Atna. Turn left and continue along Hwy 27 another
14.1 kilometer. You pass Atnbrua, then drive on the east side of the lake Atnasjøen. The road
makes a distinct curve as it crosses the creek Gravskardbekken, shortly after there are two parking
areas on your left. Park at the second, you may see a small road that comes down to the main road slightly
further ahead. This is the trailhead, elevation 782 meter, location
N61:53.415, E010:09.246. Route description:
Cross the Hwy. and locate the small road (snowed in in winter) that makes a 180 degree bend and then climbs
gently eastwards. Follow the road until a side road forks sharply left, take this and continue a gradual climb
until near the treeline at 920 meter. These roads serve many cabins in the area, there may be smaller trails
or skitracks that cut more directly uphill as well.
You have Neskampen (1188m) to your left, while Blåkampen (1621m) is straight uphill. Continue uphill keeping
just right (east) of Blåkampen. Gravskardbekken runs in a small valley on your right, the best course is
due north. There is a bowl just east of Blåkampen. The best way seems to be ascending the ridge above this
bowl from east to west (that is from right to left when facing uphill). In this way, you enter the main ridge
north of point 1617, clearly one may also climb more west at an earlier point, then traverse or bypass point 1617.
You have reached 1600 meter and a somewhat steeper ridge is ahead. The best ski route starts out on the left side
of the ridge, then crosses to the right side higher up. The ridge tops out just before point 1735, the main summit is
further north. Descend slightly and cross the wide, flat summit ridge in order to locate a slightly smaller ridge
leading to the highest point, 1667 meter. A nice cairn greets your arrival. Comments:
I climbed this peak solo on the last day of February.
I left my car at 0915 and arrived at the summit at 1200. After 15 quite cold
minutes on the top, I headed back down in one hour returning at 1315.
The weather was overcast and the temperature below minus 10 Centigrade as I headed
up the small roads serving the many cabins in the area. The snow cover was a bit minimal,
numerous rocks, a few sharp ones hidden in the powder snow and causing damage to my skis.
I had planned to climb the saddle just north of Blåkampen, but the ridge forming the north
side of the bowl looked better. The final ridge had good snow and soon I was up near point 1735.
Visibility was now very limited and I could not see any sign of the main summit further north.
After descending a bit, I did locate the final ridge and soon I was near the cairn.
It was considerably colder up here, most likely closer to minus 20 Centigrade.
The weather
cleared and four very different sceneries came into view. To the west Rondane, sharp and rugged
when viewed from this side. Then north, the very characteristic bowl below Snøhetta with
Svånåtindane further west. East, in fact just across the valley, the very
impressive Storsølnkletten, 1827 meter and only 8 kilometer away. Finally, further south east,
the impressive Sølen, 1755 meter. Each of these groups
has a mountain with prominence (primary factor) exceeding 1000 meter, Snøhetta being one
of Norway's four ultras (Mountains with primary factor exceeding 1500 meter).
