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Frostadtinden is located on the Skodje/Vestnes kommune border, and is a very popular mountain for skiing. The mountain is also the highest point in Skodje kommune. There are several ways to get onto this mountain, but the normal winter route begins in Engsetdalen, and is linked from on this page.
The Frostadtinden southwest ridge includes the named points Høgsalen (622m), Grasdalsfjellet (602m) and Ramnfloget (282m). Many routes lead up to this long (12Km+) ridge, and once you are on the ridge, you have many alternatives for descent.
Another good trailhead is Reset, the highest point between Vatne and Fiksdalen. If you are looking for a long day hike or ski-trip from Reset, you can easily include Melen (807m) and Oterfjellet (726m) along the way. Whether you begin your trip from Engsetdalen or Reset, you can descend via Høgsalen - Frostatinden's northwestern ridge.
The views are fantastic. The higher mountains Blåskjerdingen, Trolltinden and Sprovstinden block some of the views, but you would rather watch these wonderful mountains, rather than look beyond.
Frostadtinden summit has two high points; point 801m holds the main cairn, while point 807m is located 440m further east, and has a minor cairn with a visitor register. Be **very** aware of the cornices that face north on the summit. Make sure you stay on the safe side.
Frostadtinden and its neighbour Melen have the heights 807m and 805m on the Norge 1:50,000 map, but 806,97m and 807,0m on Økonomisk Kartverk. This means that in primary factor terms, Frostadtinden "reports" to Melen. One of these peaks has to be the most prominent mountain between Blåskjerdingen and Trolltinden, and by 3cm, it becomes Melen.
Frostadtinden (Norge 1:50,000: 807m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 806,97m, UTM 32 V 388893 6938418) has a primary factor of 364m towards the higher parent mountain Melen (807m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 388332 6939873) is found between the two tops. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 440m-445m, interpolated to 443m.
Høgsalen (Norge 1:50,000: 622m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 622,34m, UTM 32 V 384693 6938434) has a primary factor of 79m towards the higher parent mountain Frostadtinden (807m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 386750 6938530) is found SW of Svartevatnet. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 540-545m, interpolated to 543m.
Grasdalsfjellet (Norge 1:50,000: 602m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 602m, UTM 32 V 382405 6937925) has a primary factor of 69m towards the higher parent mountain Høgsalen (622m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 383742 6938103) is found between the two tops. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 530-535m, interpolated to 533m.
Google's interactive map. You can zoom, pan and click on the markers.
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.
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Route 1: Engsetdalen - Frostadtinden (winter)
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Access
From Ålesund, follow highway E39 towards Åndalsnes. From the E16/E39/Olsvika roundabout near Breivka, follow E39 13,3Km. Turn left onto highway RV661 (Skodje/Brattvåg/Vatne). Pay toll at an unmanned toll booth (coins + credit cards, AutoPass) 1,5Km later. 6,9Km after you left E39, turn right towards "Engsetdal".
Follow the Engsetdalen road 5,4Km, and turn left towards "Storsætra". Provided the road is open, you can drive 2,6Km up to the winter parking. In summer, you have to pay a fee (self-serviced toll booth) to drive further up this road.
The route
Follow the road upwards 900m, and shortly after crossing Skålselva river, turn left, leave the road, and aim directly for the Småheiane ridge you see ahead of you. Continue up the long hill that takes you to Frostadtinden's southwest ridge and follow it to the 801m cairn. Continue 440m eastbound towards the 807m cairn.
Be very aware of the large cornices that build up during winter. It is not safe to proceed beyond the cairns (north). Descend your ascent route, or find a route down Engsetbotnen, or directly down from Høgstolen.
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Route 2: Grasdal - Grasdalsfjellet (winter, on foot)
The following table assumes that you drive up to Grasdal.
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Access
From Ålesund, follow highway E39 towards Åndalsnes. From the E16/E39/Olsvika roundabout near Breivka, follow E39 13,3Km. Turn left onto highway RV661 (Skodje/Brattvåg/Vatne). Pay toll at an unmanned toll booth (coins + credit cards, AutoPass) 1,5Km later. 6,9Km after you left E39, turn right towards "Engsetdal".
Follow the Engsetdalen road 3,9Km, and turn left towards "Grasdal". After 400m, turn right towards "Grasdal", and then towards "Grasdal" once again after 300m. Follow the road up to Grasdal approx. 800m and find a place to park, without blocking for other traffic.
The route
Head upward to the leftmost (westernmost) house. You will enter a forest/tractor road that begins here. Follow the road approx. 350m, in the northwest direction, cross the stream and continue northbound on a path (coming from Beite). This path enters the forest, and is marked in red throughout the forest.
The path leaves the forest just SE of Høghaugen. From here, and up to Grasdalsfjellet, expect off-trail terrain even if you might cross a path here and there. Pick your best route the remaining 2Km up to Grasdalsfjellet. The cairn is not the high point. In order to get to the high point, which is not necessarily obvious, walk approx. 2-300m eastbound. The high point is not marked.
Descend your ascent route, or continue towards Høgsalen/Frostadtinden.
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Route 4: Høgsætra - Frostadtinden (summer)
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Access
From Ålesund, follow highway E39 towards Åndalsnes. From the E16/E39/Olsvika roundabout near Breivka, follow E39 13,3Km. Turn left onto highway RV661 (Skodje/Brattvåg/Vatne). Pay toll at an unmanned toll booth (coins + credit cards, AutoPass) 1,5Km later. 6,9Km after you left E39, turn right towards "Engsetdal".
Follow the Engsetdalen road 5,4Km, and turn left towards "Storsætra". Provided the Engesetdal Sætrevegroad is open, you can drive 2,6Km up to the winter parking (gate). In summer, you can drive further on this road, but you have to pay a fee (unmanned toll booth, NOK 30,- for passenger cars per Sep 2007) to drive further up this road.
Drive 600m to a junction. Turn left, and drive 700m up to the lower cabins at Høgsætra. Find a place to park.
The route
An old tractor road runs from the lowermost cabin on the right-hand side of the road, and proceeds to the Frostadtinden - Høgsalen saddle. From the saddle, follow a visible path to Frostadtinden. The route is marked by red paint all the way.
Note that the Frostadtinden cairn is not the high point. The high point is found 470m further west. Descend your ascent route, or descend Route #1 (also on path).
Variation: 4A
From Høgsætra, hike off-trail northwest to Høgsalen. Then follow the ridge eastbound to the Høgsalen - Frostadtinden saddle and follow the path towards Frostadtinden.
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