Location: North 61:15.613, East 006:42.670 (GPS at the summit)
Climbed on skis April 29, 2006
Difficulty: YDS class 2
Information:
How to get there:
This mountain is south of Fjærlandsfjorden and north-west
of the small village Leikanger in Sogn. The easiest approach is
through Grindsdalen that cuts north a few kilometer west of Leikanger.
However, this mountain can also be climbed as part of a long traverse from
the ferry at Hella to the village of Fjærland, along the south-east side
of the fjord.
From Bergen, the normal route would be via Voss, then across Vikafjellet to
Vangsnes with ferry connection directly to Hella. Route description:
This description starts at Hella and is part of the route called Sogndalseggi.
Head up the paved road from the ferry at Hella and traverse right just above a house
to locate the trail that heads uphill, initially passing a water tank.
This trail is easy to follow, well built from use in older days. Higher up, you pass the
farm Rud (white buildings) then continue uphill to Skarde at 513m and further to Rudstølen
at about 730 meter. Follow the ridge as it climbs on Storholtfjellet and to the cairn Storholten (1024m)
at a small but distinct top. Continue along the ridge to the base of Troeggi (1017m, N61:14.715 E006:39.194),
then nicely up and along the broad ridge to the SW summit of Stav (1456m). Head east and contour down into
the saddle between the two summits, then climb the gentle hill to the NE summit of Stav (1458m).
Continue north-east from the summit and descend the ridge. This ridge gets more narrow further down
and is best traversed on foot for a short section. Slight exposure, but an easy and fairly wide ridge.
Descend further east, then contour north and into the nice bowl east of Stavafjellet.
Descend to the valley floor near Stavatjørni (978m).
The route continues up the broad and gentle ridge to Skarholten (1543m).
Unfortunately, the weather forced us to turn around here. Hopefully, this route can be continued
later.
From Stavatjørni (978m), one may follow the valley Grindsdalen south passing the mountain
farm cabin Stavsete (770m) then connecting with a road further down. Comments / Trip Report:
This trip was organized by the Bergen Mountaineering club (DNT Fjellsport Bergen), the
plan was to complete a ski traverse of the high ridge starting from Hella and ending
in Fjærland. The route had been researched by the trip organizer,
Leif Rune Løland. His plan called for a tough trip with approximately
4700 vertical meter along the route.
The 3 day weekend forecast just improved as Friday arrived and promised
stable, good weather for the entire period. Everything therefore looked very promising
indeed for a spring ski trip in rough and wild mountains.
We left Bergen around 1630, our first task was to pick up a guy in Åsane.
Big time weekend rush traffic, and the guy canceled just as we made it to the agreed
meeting place.
We made the ferry from Vangsnes at 2000, and started hiking from Hella around 2030.
A nice trail headed up the hillside, the Rud farm with big white buildings, old apple
trees and no road about 250 meter above the fjord - fabulous views, but the manual labor
required to establish a farm up here is beyond imagination.
As we climbed higher, suddenly there were voices and music, the surprise of the evening.
A local school had established camp with big tents, a fire, guitar music and generally
good spirit.
We continued to Skarde, with old buildings and a nice place to camp just before hitting the
snow. Skarde is at 515 meter elevation.
The next morning we started out at 0730 and quickly got on skis. The skiing up along the ridge
was very nice and the first Stav summit was reached at 1100. We crossed over to the highest
summit and then descended the (east) ridge down to Stavtjørni (978m) where we had lunch.
However, one team member was clearly too tired to continue. It was decided that Leif Rune should
follow him down to Stavsete (770m), from where he could safely descend on his own. The remaining
party of 4 should head up across Skarholten. We had agreed to camp east of Frudalsvatnet that night.
However, just as we approached Skarholten (we were at elevation 1453m),
half the party felt that the wind was uncomfortably
strong. I felt perfectly happy to continue, but two members felt we should descend back down the hill.
Too bad, after gaining all this vertical. I was convinced that this decision would significantly
change the entire trip. We descended and met up with Leif Rune. He was certainly confused seeing his team
heading in the (wrong) direction. Well, not much could be done, but setting camp right there and then
consider the situation the next day.
We had strong gusts of wind throughout the night, but I still slept pretty well. The next morning, we considered
a shorter trip, crossing Skarholten, then heading south across Kaldekletten, but more bad news came across
from the other tent. One team member had an eye infection (similar to snow blindness), it had been
painful and kept him awake most of the night. He clearly should descend immediately. As the wind
continued with gusts at storm level (exceeding 20 m/s), we all decided to abort the trip
and return down Grindsdalen. This route is nice and easy and we all reached the road between Leikanger
and Hella at 10:55.