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Brøknipa seen from Gullfjellet |
In my personal opinion, Brøknipa is one of Hordaland's finest mountains. Located at the south-east side of the Osterøy island, the largest inland island in northern Europe. The south face towards Sørfjorden is immense, although you can find extreme skis sking down the steep couloirs from the summit.
Many routes lead towards the summit, and the mountain is clearly a people's mountain. On a nice sunny days, You will see "crowds" on the summit. Like Hananipa across the fjord, this mountain attracks people.
The views are great. You have a clear view to the central Bergsdalen and Kvamskogen mountains in the east, Stølsheimen mountains in the NE, Nordhordaland mountains in the NW, Byfjellene near Bergen in SW and the Gullfjellet massif in the south.
On maps, you will see the name Brøknipa used. The mountain is also locally known as Bruviknipa.
Brøknipa (M711: 822m, Ø.K: 822,40m, N60 29.055 E5 39.096) has a primary factor of 584m towards the higher Høgafjellet (868m), the highest mountain on the Osterøy island. The saddle is found in Lonedalen valley. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), you cross the 240m contours on the high route, but not 235m. The saddle height has been interpolated to 238m.
Utegardsnipa (M711: 770m, Ø.K: 762m, N60 28.903 E5 38.468) has a primary factor of 39m towards the higher Brøknipa. The saddle is found between the two tops. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), you cross the 725m contours on the high route, but not 720m. The saddle height has been interpolated to 723m.
Vaksdal/Trengereid view from Bruviksnipa.
Click for larger image
This section covers the most popular trails; The round-trip hike from Trollskardet (trail 1) and the trail up Skaftådalen (trail 3) with trail 2 (via Ytre Bruvik) as a variation. The popular skiing route from Njåstad to Brøknipa is not described here, but might be one day. All routes described on this page are routes for most grown-ups and kids. Although some routes may demand the appropriate physical condition.
As I find the time, I will add additional, less common, but exciting routes to the page. One of these routes will be the steep couloir facing Bruvik (Svartaberget on the map). Crazy extreme skiers run down this couloir! Another route will be across the Vindeggi ridge.
Note: Class ratings are in reference to YDS (Yosemite Decimal System).
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Trail 1: Trollskardet - Brøknipa Roundtrip (summer/autumn)
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Access
From Bergen, drive towards Osterøy across the Osterøybrua bridge. Pay the fee at the toll booth across the bridge. Go right immediately after the toll booth, and drive 200m up to a road junction. Follow the road all the way to Bruvik, and continue up towards Trollskardet. Drive until you see a large parking area on your left. Park here.
A more detailed description incl. distance will soon be added.
The route
ASCENT
From the parking, follow the visible and well worn trail. After a short stretch NW, the trail turns N and runs up a hill. On top of this hill, you arrive a small lake and a trail junction. Go left (you will be coming down the other trail). The trail continues towards Brøknipa, which is in your view, straight ahead. The trail is marked with yellow all the way, so there should be no confusion about the trail.
At the foot of the mountain, the trail runs steeply up the north end of the summit ridge. In summer, this section is only steep and strenuous, but with insignificant exposure. If there is hard snow, then bring an axe, as you could be sliding a long way in case you stumble. Once on the ridge, follow it all the way to the summit.
DESCENT
From the summit, head SW and follow the sticks across Flatafjellet. The sticks are obviously in place to mark the skiing route, and are easy to follow. Follow the sticks to the trailsign near Borgasætra cabins. Turn right at the trailsign and continue towards the cabins (the stick trail continues towards Njåstad). Pass the cabins and notice another trailsign. Go right here, towards Brøkbotnen.
The trail runs straight ahead close to the 500m elevation, and is marked with yellow signs. Eventually, the trail drops down between lakes Botnavatnet and Iglatjørni. The ground is boggy here. Cross a bridge nearby a hut, and follow the trail back to the lake where you turned left.
Brøknipa seen from the Trollskardet trail.
Click for larger image
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Trail 3: Skaftå - Brøknipa Roundtrip(summer/autumn)
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Access
From Bergen, drive towards Osterøy across the Osterøybrua bridge. Pay the fee at the toll booth across the bridge. Go right immediately after the toll booth, and drive 200m up to a road junction. Go right and follow the road towards Bruvik for approx. 6.6Km. Park on the right hand side of the road, just before a bridge. There is a bus stop on your left hand side.
The route
To Brøknipa:
Walk along the highway (cross the bridge) towards the nearest house, and go up left on the road leading towards the house. Pass the house and follow the road that climbs steep upwards. The first section of the road is a killer. Real steep. But in a while the forest road levels out, crosses the river (then you understand why you won't see passenger cars up here) and continues for a long ascent up towards "Stølane" cabins.
At the point where the forest road ends in a sharp left turn, follow a visible path straight ahead. Ignore the first trail forking to the right (this trail has a sign) and continue straight ahead. At the next trail fork, turn right and follow the trail towards a red cabin. Pass the cabin on the right hand side, and follow the trail over grass behind the cabin. Cross the grass for approx. 150m before the trail turns more visible. At this point, the trail is marked with various plastic objects, and is easy to follow.
Cross the creek, and hike up a valley with the mountain on your left and a ridge to your right. The trail passes two cabins before you gain the main ridge towards Utegardsnipa. Once on the ridge, be aware of that this trail leads to a flagpole (Keipen) that marks the descent towards Ytre Bruvik. You must leave this trail before it starts descending. Locate a vague path that starts on the center of the ridge, and follow this as long as you can. The path switches from side to side, giving you both views towards the fjord on your right and the valley to your left.
Cross Utegardsnipa, and continue across the muddy basin that is the saddle between Utegardsnipa and Brøknipa. Higher up on Brøknipa summit plateau, you will join trail #1. Follow this to the summit.
Descend your ascent route, or take trail 2 (below) back to Skaftå
ABOUT THE RIDGE EAST OF SKAFTÅDALEN (HAUGANE)
Near the trailhead, on top of the first hill, a road runs towards a house. You have to cross over a bridge here. This bridge used to be rotten and dangerous, but has now (per Jan 2005) been replaced. From the house, you may follow a trail across Haugane, which means you don't have to hike up Skaftådalen in order to reach Brøknipa from Skaftå. This route is not very good for skiing.
Osterøy bridge seen from E16.
Click for larger image
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Trail 2: Utegardsnipa SW ridge - Ytre Bruvik - Skaftå (summer/autumn)
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The route
Assuming you followed trail 3 to the summit, return the same way until you reach the visible trail with plastic objects. Go left, and you will soon see a flagpole (Keipen) that marks the descent towards Ytre Bruvik. Follow the trail, running steep down the mountain side. There is no exposure or difficulties on this route. The route will eventually take you down to the road by the fjord. Follow the road back to Skaftå.
The flagpole marking the Ytre Bruvik trail.
Click for larger image
Insta Gjelet, failed attempt, Sep 17 2005
Trip report and pictures, Jan 22 2005
Trip report and pictures, Sep 08 2004
Trip report and pictures, Jul 09 2004
Trip report and pictures, Apr 19 2003
Other hordaland mountains
Other Osterøy K. mountains
Other Vaksdal K. mountains
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