Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Støråkfjellet, 243m (Storhaugfjellet)

Fylke/Kommune : Møre og Romsdal/Skodje
Maps : xxx
(Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary factor : 195m
Visited : May 2006
See also : Ramnfloget
See also : Grøtshornet
See also : Grødet
See also : Nihusen
See also : Nesnakken

Støråkfjellet (right) seen from Ramnfloget

Støråkfjellet (right) seen from Ramnfloget

Introduction

Støråkfjellet (map name) or Storhaugfjellet (local name) is the high point of a long (9Km) forest ridge that runs from Stette to Taftasundet, where a bridge connects this peninsula to Ellingsøya island. A marked path runs across Støråkfjellet with one trailhead by Lake Engsetdalsvatnet (east) and the other from the Stavset - Tennfjord road (west). This page will describe a roundtrip which includes return via road. You can also join the forest path via forest/tractor road from Opskar.

Due to forest, the views are scattered. The upside is that the views change along the way. One minute, you have a good view towards the Haram mountains, the next you watch Slogen before you can dwell your eyes on the Sykkylven mountains.

This peninsula is also good for bicycling. Bring your bike as well as hiking boots, bike around the peninsula and pay a visit to the top of Støråkfjellet via the shortest route (Engsetdalsvatnet) before you call it a day.

Primary factor:

Støråkfjellet (M711: 243m, Ø.K.: 254,36m, 32 V 376653 6935411) has a primary factor of 195m towards the higher parent mountain Nihusen (438m) The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 378061 6935065) is found along RV661 east of Støråkfjellet. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 45-50m, interpolated to 48m.

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.

Engsetdalsvatnet - Støråkfjellet - Tennfjord (summer/autumn)

Difficulty : Class 1 (YDS)
Exposure : No
Distance : Approx. 7,5Km roundtrip
Time : Approx. 2-3 hrs roundtrip
Starting Elev.: Approx. 50m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 250m

Map of the area
Map of the area
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Detailed map
Detailed map
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Access

From Ålesund, follow highway E39 towards Åndalsnes. From the E136/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). Continue on this road until you reach the Haram/Skodje kommune border by Lake Engsetdalsvatnet. Find parking on a turn-out on the right-hand side of the road.

The route

The route begins by a road marker on the other side of the road. The path is signed "Fjelltrim" and is marked with sticks (w/red paint) throughout the forest ridge. The path runs eastbound for a little while until it turns south and joins a gravel road by the stone quarry. At the next junction, turn right and follow the gravel road to its end. The forest path continues here (westbound) and runs up the ridge to the high point where you will find the "Fjelltrimmen" mailbox.

The path continues westbound. At approx. 140m elevation, you turn left onto an old forest road. If you turn left again (once on the forest road), I assume you end up at Opskar and you can walk along the road on the south side of Støråkfjellet. Turn right instead and follow the forest path to its end. You pass a cabin (on your left-hand side) just before you join the Stavset - Tennfjord gravel road. From Tennfjord, follow the paved road back to RV661 and then back to the trailhead.

Trip report, May 2 2005

This was supposed to be a short hike, as I hadn't fell too good during the day. Some kind of virus seemed to drain the energy out of my body. I decided to follow the "widely accepted" medical advice; a short walk and a couple of beers afterwards.

The dog and I left the trailhead 17:35PM. Thanks to my colleague Toril Berg for letting me know where the trailhead was. I had passed it a dozen times without noticing it. Troll was in good mood and walked on his own free will until the path got wet. Fortunately, we scared off a deer at that very spot, and for the rest of the hike, "Troll" didn't mind the boggy parts of the route.

I found the route a bit puzzling. The road we joined at the stone quarry came from Stette. So why not start from Stette? I had a very strong feeling that the Stette farmers didn't want "those hikers" on their land. A good solution to this problem would be to move the trailhead on the other side of the forest. This is speculation of course (also based on a conversation with a Stette farmer), but at the end of the day I don't really care which side of the forest the path begins.

We reached the top of Støråkfjellet 18:15PM (after several stops for pictures) and I already looked forward to beer. The plan was to head back down the same way, but the marked path continued westbound. I knew there was an old forest road on the north side of the forest, and I assumed the path headed down to this forest road.

It didn't. It just continued. Forever. I didn't have a map, and realised that I hadn't a very clear understanding of the area. There were forest ahead, as far as I could see. I considered getting off the forest ridge several times, but the bush didn't look tempting. I decided to stick with the path and see where I ended up. After all, it was a lovely evening, and the beer would still be cold when I got home.

Finally, we reached civilisation in form of a gravel road. After a while, I could see Tenfjord in the distance and began to see an end to this lengthy walk. Troll got increasingly bored with the road and several rounds of pep-talk were needed. We reached the car 19:45PM after an "educational" walk across and around Støråkfjellet.

Pictures from the May 2 2006 hike

To Støråkfjellet

1. Støråkfjellet seen from Stette (152KB) 2. The trailhead (139KB) 3. On the path (389KB) 4. At the stone quarry (200KB) 5. On the forest ridge (403KB) 6. Auskjeret seen from the Støråkfjellet ridge (147KB) 7. Lauparen seen from the Støråkfjellet ridge (450KB) 8. Sprovstinden seen from the Støråkfjellet ridge (113KB) 9. Haram mountains seen from the Støråkfjellet ridge (308KB) 10. Sunnmørsalper seen from the Støråkfjellet ridge (735KB) 11. At the top (329KB)

The long way home

12. Leaving the top (387KB) 13. Sykkylven mountains (154KB) 14. Looking back up the forest (189KB) 15. Out of the forest (321KB) 16. Grytafjorden (213KB) 17. Grytafjorden (120KB) 18. A well-known logo (180KB) 19. Passing Støråkfjellet (220KB) 20. The long way home (151KB) 21. Back where we started (267KB)

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Other pictures:

1. Skodje, Haram and Vestnes peaks 2. Haram tops seen from Nihusen

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