Location: North 79:00.635, East 017:29.464 (GPS on the summit)
Spitsbergen, Norway
Climbed April 26, 2013
Difficulty: (YDS) class 2.
Information:
How to get there:
A more extensive trip report is also available.
An outline of our route can be seen on this map.
The point of departure for any trip into this area is Longyearbyen. This
city has frequent connections by air to/from Norway.
Route description:
From Longyearbyen, the normal approach to Newtontoppen would be to ski it in April or early May.
Most parties will use snow scooter transport part of the way in order to avoid a very long route.
Two possible starting points for a multi-day ski ascent would be Billefjorden, then up Ragnardalen
or one may start in Gipsdalen. Approach route:
From Longyearbyen, travel up Adventdalen then through Ekerdalen to Sassendalen. Follow Sassendalen
to the old trapper hut Fredheim at the outlet of Tempelfjorden. In April and early May, there is safe
ice here and one may cross Tempelfjorden to the delta outlet of Fuhrmeisterdalen. Continue up on the
Burn Murdochbreen to the col, then downhill on Boltonbreen to Gipsdalen. Gipsdalen is now followed up
north until it ends with a nice slope that continues north-west to the saddle between Urmstonfjellet (1116m) and
Minkinfjellet (1018m). From here, one can ski across Lomonosovfonna and further north to the base of Newtontoppen.
Alternatively, one can continue (scooter transport) from the saddle above Gipsdalen back down to the sea-ice on Adolfbukta and
then into the innermost part of Billefjorden. From here, one may ski up Ragnardalen and Ragnarbreen in order to
continue towards Sentralishetta and further onwards to the base of Newtontoppen.
Ascent route:
A very good starting point for this climb is at the broad sadlle (located between 1350m and 1400m)
located northwest of the summit ie. between Newtontoppen and the Makarovtoppen (1540m) further north.
A route that starts up the hillside close to the location N79:00.949 E017:32.683, elevation about 1400 meter,
will work well.
From here, head south ascending to 1500 meter or a bit more. Next turn more west and ascend to the
plateau (1650 meter) south of the summit. From here, proceed north to locate the summit.
m Longyearbyen, the normal approach to Newtontoppen would be to ski it in April or early May.
Most parties will use snow scooter transport part of the way in order to avoid a very long route.
Two possible starting points for a multi-day ski ascent would be Billefjorden, then up Ragnardalen
or one may start in Gipsdalen.
The summit itself is fairly well defined and there is a steep drop onwards to the north.
This route can be skied all the way to the summit as there are no steep sections along the way.
Trip Report / Comments:
Please consult my trip report.
