|
Slogen and Store Smørskredtind
|
Slogen may just well be the most known Sunnmøre peak. Just as "everyone" ski Kolåstinden in spring, they hike Slogen in summer/autumn. There are several reason why this is so. Foremost, Slogen is one of the most characteristic peaks in Sunnmøre. Contributing factors are also the superb view from the summit, and the fact that you park at the mountain foothills. You can hike Slogen from Norangsdalen, Urke and Habostaddalen. This route will describe a route from Øye, which is also the shortest route to the top.
Many choose to walk the path from Øye to the Patchell Hut, spend the night in the hut and hike Slogen the next morning. Slogen is nevertheless an ordinary day-hike, even if you live in Ålesund. Most people reach the summit within 4 hours. Whether you start from Øye, Urke or Habostaddalen, you'll end up on Slogen's east ridge. The summit section looks very steep as you approach it, but few will find Slogen DIFFICULT under good conditions.
The booklet Rock climbs in Sunnmøre says the following about Slogen:
This grand peak which rises sheer out of the fjord near Union Hotel at Øye, has provoked more lyrical outbursts from prominent climbers than any other peak in Sunnmøre. Slingsby called it the prettiest peak in Norway. Mrs. Shannon has said that the view from the top literally took her breath away; Raeburn has said that the Fjord Route affords more climbing than what is afforded from the Italian or Swiss side of the Matterhorn; and Patchell has said that there can scarcely be another rock peak of its height in the world more impressive. It is certainly a peak which is equally attractive to experts and novices alike.
In other words, the mountaineering pioneers thought highly of this majestic peaks above Norangsdalen. Slogen was first ascended by Jon Klokk and his brother from Urke, around 1870. William C. Slingsby, Mr. Klokk and Mr. Ecroyd ascended the peak for the second time in 1884. A number of scrambling and climbing routes have been done since then. The booklet (1953) says about Slogen's east face;
A horrible and dangerous route which has been made only by two English and Swedish climbers. The mere fact that they survived and lived to tell, makes on believe in miracles.
As mentioned, the route description on this page describes the direct route from Øye. The route from Skylstad to the Patchell Hut begins 1,1Km further east in Norangsdalen. As such, consider a roundtrip hike. From Urke, drive northeast into Langsæterdalen to road end near Myrsætra. This route give you a high start, approx. 370m. However, the distance is greater. If you start by Liasætra in Habostaddalen, you start even higher (440m), but there is also some distance involved.
Slogen (Norge 1:50,000: 1564m, Økonomisk Kartverk: -, UTM 32 V 378967 6899542) has a primary factor of 554m towards the higher parent mountain Store Brekketind (1578m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 380086 6899594) is found between the two tops. Ref. the 1:50,000 map (20m contours), the saddle is within the range 1000-1020m, interpolated to 1010m.
Personal GPS measurement read 1569m on top of the cairn (approx. 1m high).
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.
|
Øye - Slogen (summer/autumn)
|
|
Access
From Ålesund, follow highway E39 towards Bergen, and then highway RV60 (Stranda) to the Magerholm - Ørsneset ferry. This ferry runs quite often; every 20 minutes in the busy hours of the day. From Ørsneset, drive RV60 to Stranda (34,3Km). Turn southbound (right) and continue on RV60 to the Norangsdal junction (30,8Km). Make sure you turn right towards Stryn when you pass Hellesylt. Drive Norangsdalen to the "Slogen parkering" sign in Øye (16,5Km), on your left-hand side. The self-served parking fee was NOK 30,- per September 2006.
The route
From the Slogen parking, cross the road and follow a signed path towards "Slogen". You cross an acre and pass a few gates before the (well-worn) path climbs steep up the forest. Initially marked by red paint on trees. There are no difficult or particularly exposed sections along the way. Just a strenuous hill. Very strenuous. At 600m elevation, you will see a sign pointing to water. There may or not be water in the nearby creek. Bring a small cup, as it can be difficult to use the bottle in this creek.
The SE ridge route joins the route from the Patchell hut on Slogen's east ridge at approx. 1200m. Proceed westbound towards the summit. You will be able to follow a path (in places, there are more than one) up to the ledges just below the summit. Take the time to find a route that you are comfortable with. There are several options.
The summit is marked by a proper cairn, and (normally) contains a summit logbook. Be careful while descending the upper part. Consider a roundtrip via the Patchell hut, and descend to Skylstad. You have then only 1,1Km on road to the SE ridge trailhead.
westcoastpeaks.com
Other Møre & Romsdal mountains
Other Norwegian mountains
