Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Veten, 503m

Fylke/Kommune : Møre og Romsdal/Rauma
Maps : 1320-III Åndalsnes (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary factor : 400m
Hiked : Jan 2008
See also : Kvitfjellet/Oksen
See also : Skarven
See also : Kyrkjetaket
See also : Blånebba
See also : Other Rauma mountains

Veten, located by Isfjorden

Veten, located by Isfjorden
(Click for larger image)

Introduction

According to the book Den Norske Leidangen, this mountain is known as Vetakollen i Torvikbygden. The name Veta originates from the name Vetter, which were wooden "cairns", lit when the enemy was spotted. From the viking age, and all the way up to the end of the 20th century, these "cairns" were an important part of a.o. the coastal defense system.

In modern times, the surrounding farms all apply the "correct" name for their local mountain, and as such, this mountain is known as Klungnesveten, Torvikveten, etc. In short, just Veten. Like many other tops with the same name throughout the Norwegian coastline.

Veten is a forest hill located above Gjersetbygda, north of Isfjorden and 8Km west of the city of Åndalsnes. The views from the top would have been just great, hadn't it been for the forest on top. The mountain consists if three tops. The westernmost top (503m) is the highest. Then follows the middle top (499m) and the easternmost top which has an antenna and a building, approx. 481m. The easternmost top has a visitor register in a mailbox, put there by Eid Idrettslag.

The normal route to the top runs from Gyldenåsen, a farm south of Lake Gjerdsetvatnet. You reach Veten's easternmost point via forest paths and forest roads. A typical family hike. The saddles between the Veten tops can be perceived as airy by those with little tolerance for heights. There is however no immediate exposure, and all tops can safely be visited.

Veten seen from Blånebba
Veten seen from Blånebba

Primary factor:

Veten (Norge 1:50,00: 503m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 502,78, UTM 32 V 424354 6937866) has a primary factor of 400m towards the higher parent mountain Nyfjellrørin (558m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 427084 6938339) is found between Bjørnaskarhaugen and Holen. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 100-105m, interpolated to 103m.

Google map

Google's interactive map. You can zoom, pan and click on the markers.

 

Google maps
Google maps
(Click on image)

 

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.

Route 1: Gyldenåsen - Veten (summer)

Difficulty : Class 1 (YDS)
Exposure : No direct exposure
Distance : Approx. 11,5Km round trip
Time : Approx. 4 hours round trip
Starting Elev.: Approx. 300m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 800m
Map of the area
Map of the area
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Detailed map
Detailed map
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Access

(all distances are approx. distances)

From Ålesund, follow highway E136->E39 eastbound towards Åndalsnes. You pass the place Sjøholt, drive across Ørskogfjellet, down Skorgedalen valley to the Molde/Åndalsnes junction by Tresfjorden (51Km from the last roundabout in Breivika).

Turn right onto E136 and drive 64-65Km towards Åndalsnes. From the main roundabout in Åndalsnes, drive 21.7Km on RV64 (Molde). You are now in Gjersetbygda, between Innfjorden and Rødvenfjorden, and have Lake Gjerdsetvatnet on your left-hand side. Turn left and cross the drain from Gjerdsetvatnet on a bridge. The road forks. You'll be going left. Park on the other side of the bridge (UTM 32 V 425190 6939196).

A road sign says "Privat Veg" (private road), which means that they don't want strangers driving on.

 

The route

Upper route to Veten

Upper route to Veten
(Click for larger image)

 

The route itself is quite easy, but the description is a bit complex. First, walk 900m on road up the Gyldenåsen farm (UTM 32 V 425348 6938469). Then turn right and walk 200m along a forest road. At the end of the forest road (UTM 32 V 425161 6938362), you see two forest paths. Follow the leftmost path. This path is marked and can be followed all the way to the top.

After 200m on this forest path, you'll join a tractor road coming up on your left. Walk this tractor road to its end 150m ahead, by a small dam. To the left of the dam, continue 150m on the marked route until you join a larger forest road. Follow this forest road, which heads southeast in the beginning, but then turns westbound and leads you to Veten's east ridge. Then follow the marked route up the ridge to the Veten mast and building. 

Note 1: 50-100m after you joined the larger forest road, you'll see that the markers head into the forest. This is a shortcut, and joins the forest road as it ends in front of the east ridge.

From the Veten mast, follow the obvious ridge over to the middle top (499m, UTM 32 V 424464 6937887), and then proceed to the westernmost top (503m, UTM 32 V 424354 6937866) which is the highest. It is steep terrain all around, so be careful. But there is no direct exposure, and there are trees and bushes for support. The high point is not marked.  Descend your ascent route.

Note 2: The current (Jan '08) 1:50,000 map shows a different path than described on this page. The older path (paint on trees) joins the new path on the east ridge.

Pictures and Trip reports:

Other pictures:

1. 85mm zoom view from Trollvasstindan north top

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