Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Blånebba, 1320m

Fylke/Kommune : Møre og Romsdal/Rauma
Maps : 1320-II Eresfjord
(Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary factor : 590m
Visited : Apr 2006
See also : Romsdalshornet
See also : Breitinden
See also : Storgrovfjellet
See also : Kyrkjetaket
See also : Skarven 1048m
See also : Finnan
See also : Kvanndalstinden
See also : Gjuratinden

Blånebba seen from Kyrkjetaket

Blånebba seen from Kyrkjetaket

Introduction

Blånebba is very popular skiing mountain, located between Vengedalen and Romsdalen valleys. The summit also offer superb views towards Vengetindane, Romsdalshorn, Trolltindane and Trollveggen. The normal route runs from the cabin village in Vengedalen, but it is also possible to traverse across Mjølvafjellet and Nesaksla and end up in Åndalsnes. The traverse normally begins at Lake Vengedalsvatnet and involves scrambling and exposed terrain. This page describes the normal skiing route from Vengedalen.

The summit has two tops with roughly equal elevation. There are cairns on both tops, but it is the westernmost that is marked on the maps. Both tops have the 1320m contour on the Økonomisk Kartverk map.

Although the 1320-II map uses "Venjedalen" and "Gjuratinden", I have decided to use the more common names such as Vengedalen, Vengetindane and Juratind.

Primary factor:

Blånebba (M711: 1320m, Ø.K.: 1320m, UTM 32 V 437847 6933423) has a primary factor of 590m towards the higher parent mountain Romsdalshorn (1550m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 437795 6931853) is found between Litlefjellet and Holstind. Ref. the M711 map (20m contours), the saddle is within the range 720-740m, interpolated to 730m. Note that Økonomisk Kartverk has 20m contours (!) here.

Averaged over 5 minutes, my GPS reported 1318m on point 32 V 437868 6933389, 39m SE of the western cairn. This point seemed higher than the cairn, but it might have been because of the snow. A quick waypoint at the western cairn indicated that the elevation was 1317m.

Trail descriptions:

Notes: Class ratings are in reference to YDS. Click here for more information.

The trails described below are not necessarily the *easiest* trails to this mountain.

Vengedalen - Blånebba (spring)

Difficulty : Class 2 (YDS)
Exposure : No
Comments : Possible avalanche danger
Distance : Approx. 4,3-4,5Km to the top
Time : Approx. 2,5-3 hours to the top
Starting Elev.: Approx. 370m (when road is plowed)
Vertical Gain : Approx. 1000m (total)

Map of the area
Map of the area
(No Javascript)
Detailed map
Detailed map
(No Javascript)

Access

From Åndalsnes, follow highway RV64 eastbound (Molde) to the place Isfjorden. Turn right towards "Liabygda" and follow this road approx. 750m. Turn right towards "Liabygda" and drive 1Km to an Y-fork. Turn right in the Y-fork (signed "Vengedalen") and drive approx. 1,9Km. Turn right onto the road into Vengedalen. Pay toll at the beginning of this road (NOK 30,- for passenger cars per August 2006) and drive the remaining 2,4Km up to Vengedalssetra parking.

I am not sure when the road into Vengedalen opens, but it is fair to assume it always opens up for Easter.

The route

This is a straightforward route; ski up into the valley between Storehesten and Blånebba. You will need to determine the avalanche hazard from the overhanging cornices on Blånebba. The cornices will also determine your ascent route. The normal ascent route is south of a distinct shoulder, but the cornices may force you to ascend the shoulder closer to Mjølvafjellet. Again, avalanche hazard in these slopes must be evaluated, independent of the overhanging cornices.

Once on the ridge, follow it up to Blånebba's western point. Head over to the easternmost top if you find it safe. Descend your ascent route.

Another interesting route is a direct ascent to Blånebba (instead of skiing into the valley between Blånebba and Storehesten). The route should be obvious, and people do ski down here. An ice-axe and possibly crampons is needed. There is avalanche hazard on this route.

Blånebba (left) seen from Åndalsnes

Blånebba (left) seen from Åndalsnes

Trip report, Apr 14 2006

It was the second day at NTK's hut in Vengedalen. My friend Bjørn's back had not improved after yesterday's ski-trip to Kyrkjetaket and decided to head back to Oslo. Interestingly enough, my back was also in a terrible condition. We both looked at the beds, then at each other. We shook our heads and suggested that this had to be a coincidence. We parted in the morning, and I decided to visit Blånebba before heading back to Ålesund. The weather was gorgeous and I wondered what had happened to all the low pressures that were supposed to hit us.

I didn't feel bad at all about the very short stay in Vengedalen. I had learned a lot and seen a lot, and given the fact that I only live a two-hour drive away, there would be plenty of opportunities to come back.

I left the trailhead 09:15AM on frozen snow, but 30 minutes the later, the sun had warmed up the entire hillside. My back was bugging me a great deal, but seldom have I looked more forward to reaching the top of a mountain. Knowing that I would have a panorama up there, that would be second to none. Vengetindane, Romsdalhorn, Juratind, Romsdalen, and more.

The valley between Storehesten and Blånebba seemed almost untouched after the recent winds. I knew this would be a crowded mountain in a couple of hours, and was glad I started out so early. I had the mountain all to myself and it only got warmer by the minute. I reached the top 11:40AM and was given the panorama views I had hoped for. I noticed a second top, 150m further SE. No tracks led to this top, and it didn't look higher than the point I was on. That said, it didn't look lower either, and I considered ascending the steep and slightly exposed snowy hill. The aching back told me to go home, and I decided that reaching the other top wasn't very important.

A string of skiers were on the way up as I headed down. This is clearly a very popular (and very accessible) mountain. I was back at the trailhead 12:45PM. The trailhead was overcrowded and as I am not too keen about overcrowded places, I was happy to head back to Ålesund. Arriving Tresfjorden, the blue sky came to and end. I had hail on Ørskogfjellet and rain when I arrived Ålesund. A couple of hours later, I checked the isfjorden.com webcam, and saw that the bad weather had reached Romsdalen. A tiny comfort after leaving this wonderful part of Norway.

Pictures from the Apr 14 2006 ski-trip

To Blånebba

1. Blånebba seen from Vengedalen (180KB) 2. Romsdalshorn (190KB) 3. Romsdalshorn zoomed in (163KB) 4. Kyrkjetaket, visited the day before (270KB) 5. Vengetindane (131KB) 6. Looking for a way up to Blånebba (142KB) 7. Tracks from a steep descent (137KB) 8. The ridge comes into view (139KB) 9. The final hill (136KB) 10. Romsdalen below (214KB) 11. Romsdalen below (669KB) 12. The cairn (467KB)

360 deg. wide-angle panorama

13. 360 deg. wide-angle panorama from Blånebba (902KB)

50mm panorama, 2 parts

14. 50mm panorama from Blånebba, part 1/2 (1507KB) 15. 50mm panorama from Blånebba, part 2/2 (806KB)

Zoom panorama, 2 parts

16. Zoom panorama from Blånebba, part 1/2 (681KB) 17. Zoom panorama from Blånebba, part 2/2 (1025KB)

Other summit pics

18. Romsdalshorn (194KB) 19. Romsdalshorn (199KB) 20. Vengetindane (178KB) 21. Store Vengetind (178KB) 22. Trolltindane (1032KB) 23. Zoom panorama from Blånebba (664KB) 24. Zoom panorama from Blånebba (546KB)

Descent

25. Skiers on the way up (89KB) 26. Part of Åndalsnes (373KB) 27. Vengedalen (248KB) 28. Vengedalen (153KB)

Back to Ålesund

29. Kyrkjetaket seen from Måndalen (152KB) 30. Kvitnyken seen from Tresfjorden (173KB) 31. Lauparen seen from Tresfjorden (115KB)

No Javascript:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Other pictures

1. Romsdalen mountains seen from Skåla (559KB) 2. 360 deg. wide-angle panorama from Romsdalshorn (1268KB) 3. Zoom view from Grøtfjellet (704KB) 4. Tarløysa - Vengetind region, seen from Skarven (1695KB)

No Javascript:

1 2 3 4


westcoastpeaks.com Other Møre & Romsdal mountains Other Norwegian mountains