Location: North 61:12.177, East 007:54.986 (GPS on the summit)
Difficulty: YDS class 2
Climbed January 31 2010.
Information:
How to get there:
The trailhead is located on Hwy. E-16 on Filefjell, about 12 kilometer from
Tyinkrysset (on the west side). More precisely, the trailhead is next to
Buhaugane, just where a small road (summer only) forks west, crossing a bridge
over the short river connecting Øvre and Nedre Smeddalsvatnet. In winter,
the parking is about 100 meter further south, this location is
N61:09.785, E008:01.195, elevation about 936 meter.
Route description:
Cross the bridge and continue to the first cabin. From here, find a line that
ascends the left (south) slope of vetleFrostdalen such that you approach the
center part of the valley approximately where you initially have a local horizon.
As you get into the more level area (around point 1134 m), cross the creek
and continue up the valley along its right hand side. You will get Frostdalsnosi (1536 m)
up on your right and there are two summits marked at 1495 meter, more in front (slightly
right). From an elevation of about 1260 meter, start a gradual ascent out of
vetleFrostdalen, your goal is to cross between the two 1495 points.
As you reach more level ground at 1400 meter, turn more left (west) and gain the
broad col just north of
point 1495 (the west point). The terrain falls off
on your left (west) side
and you have the
small mountain (point 1656 meter) right ahead.
Ascend gradually north-west in order to gain the saddle between point 1656 and
point 1576, the terrain is quite easy here. Proceed to climb higher on the north
side of point 1656 and traverse onto the broad saddle between point 1656 and Berdalseken.
A distinct valley comes up from the north side and there is a short passage around
1600 meter that is a bit steeper than what one can read from the map. It pays to climb
higher if this short traverse should pose any problems.
From the 1600 level saddle,
Berdalseken has a very nice and smooth slope (great skiing) climbing
to its main, east ridge. Follow this broad ridge across a small, false summit, then
the summit with its impressive cairn is right ahead. Comments:
Driving up from Vestre Slidre, I had planned to stay at Nystuen. The place was open and had a
big sign inviting guests for dinner and overnight stays. However, nobody seemed to be home.
We (there were several more potential guest) rang the bell at the reception repeatedly, no
sign of life. After about 10 minutes, I gave up and returned to the hotel at Tyinkrysset.
At dinner I met three nice guys that enjoyed a weekend of off-piste skiing at the local
downhill area. Two from Tønsberg, one from Hønefoss, they collected Norwegian
2000 meter summits as well, but admitted that any summit that had a good skirun down was indeed
attractive.
Breakfast at 0900, no hurry - it was more than a bit cold. I wondered if it would get any
warmer a bit later in the day. I drove the short distance to the trailhead about 0930.
The parking was about 100 meter further down the road. The temperature showed minus 25 Celcius - brrrr!
I had put on 4 layers on my top body, only Devold plus my mountain pants below. A double pair of
mittens, both wool as there was little wind.
There must have been almost no wind recently, the snow was deep, often knee-deep. I broke trail all
the way to the summit. No crust, part of the way I only sank in about to the top of my ski boot, but
very soft and deep snow was present in patches even quite high on the mountain. I left the car 0945
and arrived at the summit precisely 3 hours later. It had been an exceptionally fine trip. I managed
to stay warm and the scenery was close to perfect. It is quite special to reach the high ridge and
look north,
Hurrungane and
Jotunheimen laid out like a huge mosaic.
It was really too cold to make any
stops or to take many pictures. A moment without a mitten and I immediately felt the cold. Still,
I was pretty warm when arriving at the summit cairn
and managed to take a few pictures of the nice
scenery that I could see all around.
I left the summit at 1310 and got a double bonus, a track to ski in and mainly downhill slopes.
Thus, I was back at the car in just over one hour, at 1415. It felt a lot warmer than higher up,
but the temperature was still a cold minus 21 Celcius. I wonder how cold it was at the summit,
most likely below minus 30.
I spoke briefly with a man that had been to his cabin located just across the bridge. He was
highly surprised when I told him that I had been to Berdalseken, he said they did not attempt
it before Easter time.
The drive back to Bergen went smoothly, quite many cars from Voss and I was home by 1800.
