Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Blåbretinden (Ingjebærtinden), 1476m
Litlehornet (Itljehønnjet), 1198m

Fylke/Kommune : Møre og Romsdal/Sykkylven
Maps : 1219-IV Sykkylven (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary factor : Blåbretinden: 266m
Litlehornet: 118m
Hiked : July 2008
See also :
Straumshornet Skopphornet
Urfjellet Tjønesfjellet
Hundatinden  
See also : Other Sykkylven mountains

Blåbretinden

Blåbretinden
(Click for larger image)

Introduction

Note: On text and pictures you will find the name Straumsdalen. This is the name given on maps, whereas the locals refer to the valley as Straumsheimdalen. This information surfaced after the page and pictures were released

Blåbretinden (Blue Glacier Peak)

Blåbretinden is one of the northern tops in the mountain range that runs between Brekketindane (south) and Hundatinden/Litlehornet (north). This mountain range is more than 20Km along the ridge crest (not incl. the drops) and never drops below 1000m. Råna (1586m) is the highest peak in this range, which is normally referred to as the mountains east of Hjørundfjorden. When you have this mountain range in view, Blåbretinden is quite easy to identify through it's pointy summit.

The trade routes to Blåbretinden run from Fet and Erstad. These routes are documented in the Fjellhug pamphlet. This page will describe a summer route via Straumsdalen, giving you the option include the Litlehornet and Trollkyrkjetindane peaks.

The route via Straumsdalen involves crossing of the Ljøsabreen glacier. As for most glaciers, it is not advised to move around unroped on the Ljøsabreen glacier, but well into the summer, the outskirts of the glacier is (mostly) free of snow. Access to Trollkyrkjetindane via Straumsdalen is an established route, as the route is normally free of snow in the summer. But getting to Blåbretinden means passing below a pointy cliff before you get to the glacier outskirts. Some may (at their own risk, and if the snow conditions are optimal) decide to cross this section unroped. The pointy cliff has no official name. On this site, it is referred to as Ljøsabrepiggen (well knowing that "piggen" is not a suffix used in this part of the country..)

The Ljøsabreen route seen from Sykkylven

The Ljøsabreen route seen from Sykkylven
(Click for larger image)

Litlehornet (Little Horn)

While Ljøsabreen and Blåbretinden is terrain that calls for experienced hikers (especially if you're alone), Litlehornet (Itljehønnjet) is a much easier top to reach. Provided that the best route is found, there is hardly any use for hands at all. A nice round trip could be to follow the path to Straumsheimsætra, then head up to Storfjellet, walk across Keipen, traverse Litlehornet and descend to Straumsheimsætra via Fremsteskaret. 

The name reflects the Straumshornet peak on the other side of the valley, and not the mountain range it is located in. While Litlehornet is actually higher than Straumshornet, Litlehornet got its prefix as it's further away from Straumgjerde, and thus, perceived to be smaller.

Trollkyrkjetindane (Troll Church Peaks)

will be documented when visited..

Primary factor:

Blåbretinden (Norge 1:50,000: 1476m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 1476,41m, UTM 32 V 373240 6910632) has a primary factor of 266m towards the higher parent mountain Råna (1586m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 374021 6908939) is found on the ridge between Skarrabben and Nonshornet. Ref. Norge 1:50,000 (20m contours), the saddle is within the range 1200-1220m, interpolated to 1210m.

Litlehornet (Norge 1:50,000: 1198m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 1198m, UTM 32 V 372062 6912167) has a primary factor of 128m towards the higher parent mountain Blåbretinden (1476m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 372112 6911689) is found in Fremsteskaret, on top of Straumsdalen. Ref. Norge 1:50,000 (20m contours), the saddle is within the range 1060-1080. The saddle height has been set to 1080m. See "From the GPS log" below.

From the GPS log:

Blåbretinden was measured to 1280m, and Litlehornet to 1203m. Measuring was done on top of the summit cairns, and over a 5-10min. period. The error margin was (surprisingly) as high as 3-4m, but leads to the conclusion that the readings were roughly in line with the map heights.

Fremsteskaret pass was measured to 1085m as average (based on waypoints and track log), both upon ascent and descent. Adding the geographic nature (quite flat) of this saddle, it seems correct to set the saddle height to 1080m. "Ljøsabrepiggen" was measured to 1367m (1min. sample, 3-4m error margin). On this site, the height will be set to 1363m, even if there is no 1360m contour. 

1412m on Ljøsabreen was measured to 1416m (1min. sample, 3-4m error margin). Blåbretinden's northwest top was measured to 1465m (1min. sample, 3-4m error margin). On this site, the height will be set to 1459m, as the map has no 1460 contour. In sum, based on known map heights, the GPS measured only slightly too high after cairn heights have been subtracted.

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: Straumgjerde - Litlehornet  (summer)

Difficulty : Class 2+ (YDS)
Exposure : No
Distance : Approx. 3,8Km to the top (2D distance)
Time : Approx. 3 hours (not incl. pause)
Starting Elev.: Approx. 50m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 1150m (total)
Map of the area
Map of the area
(No Javascript)
Detailed map
Detailed map
(No Javascript)

Access

(all distances are approx. distances)

The nearest larger city is Ålesund. From Ålesund, follow highway E39 towards Bergen, and then highway RV60 (Stranda) to the Magerholm - Ørsneset ferry (towards Sykkylven). This ferry runs quite often; every 20 minutes in the busy hours of the day. From Ørsneset, follow RV60 (Stranda) 10,3Km. to Straumgjerde. Turn right towards Riksheim (signed). Cross the river on a bridge, and 50-100m later, turn left (Slettegjerde Stadion). 200m up the road, cross another bridge and turn left again. Drive 350 until you reach a road junction and a parking area with an information board. Park here.

Here is an overview of the road leading to the trailhead.

The route

The route to Litlehornet

The route to Litlehornet
(Click for larger image)

 

From the parking (facing Straumsdalen), turn right, cross the gate and follow the forest road 150-200m. Turn left onto the Straumsheimsætra path (sign on the right-hand side of the road). Note that there is also a path marked Stramsheimsætra next to the parking.

Follow the forest path. You'll pass several forks, but just stick with the Straumsheimsætra sign. After a long forest ridge, the path curves tops out by the Straumsheimsætra ruins (420m). Head for the innermost ruins and locate a vague path that runs in the direction of Storfjellet (up to your right), but after just a few meters, the path continues into Straumsdalen. The path runs where it should run, and you don't lose any vertical gain until you have the river in front of you.

Cross the drains from the river and hike up the valley where you see fit. At 900m elevation, you'll see a neat hillside that will take you directly up to the ridge. This route saves you from going all the way to Fremsteskaret (the pass above) and come back up the ridge. Aim for a distinct arch on top of the ridge.

Once on the ridge, cross over to the west side of the ridge. With one exception, you can pretty much walk to the summit without the use of hands. Any obstacle can be avoided by seeking further left. Litlehornet summit is marked by a small cairn and offers a great overlook of the Straumsdalen valley. As you followed the ridge, you may have noticed that you could have headed up more than one gully upwards (but they are steeper towards the valley).

Upon descent, consider following the ridge all the way back to Fremsteskaret. When you reach the point you topped out, stay on the left (east) side until it is natural to move up on the ridge. The snow in the upper Straumsdalen valley stays long into the summer. You may get a good slide on snow upon your descent.


Route 2: Fremsteskaret - Blåbretinden  (summer)

Difficulty : Class 3, possibly 4 (YDS)
Exposure : Yes
Comments : Bring ice-axe and crampons
Distance : Approx. 2Km to the top (2D distance)
Time : Approx. 1,5-2 hours (not incl. pause)
Starting Elev.: Approx. 1080m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 500m (one way)
Map of the area
Map of the area
(No Javascript)
Detailed map
Detailed map
(No Javascript)

Access

Same as for Litlehornet above.

The route

The route to Blåbretinden

The route to Blåbretinden
(Click for larger image)

 

From Fremsteskaret (1080m, see Litlehornet section above), head directly up the ridge leading to Ljøsabreen glacier. As you top out on the glacier (1300m), you'll see Trollkyrkjetindane straight ahead (and below). Turn right and walk along a sugar loaf cliff (referred to as "Ljøsabrepiggen" (approx. 1363m) on this site). Be aware of melting gaps between the glacier and the rock.

Once past "Ljøsabrepiggen", head for the outskirts of the glacier, where the snow probably has melted away. As you head up to the top of Ljøsabreen glacier (as defined through the small cairn at point 412m), you'll see one or more cairns on a plateau down to your left. This is Litletinden (Itljetinden), approx. 1340m. This "peak" looks more pronounced when viewed from below...

After a brief descent, continue up to Blåbretinden's NW top (approx. 1459m). Crampons/axe may be needed. From here, you'll see Blåbretinden rise steep up from the Blåbreen glacier. Don't follow the ridge towards Blåbretinden. Instead, descend down on your left-hand side. This route will take you into the saddle (Vintervindskaret) between the two tops. On snow, this will be a steep descent. Alternatively, see if you can bypass on the south side of the ridge.

From Vintervindskaret, head directly up towards the summit. The amount of snow will determine the amount of scrambling. Crampons/axe may be needed. Alternatively, turn right (south) and walk along the foot of the mountain until you see a distinct, steep gully that runs up to the summit in the northern direction. Caution is advised in this gully (loose rocks). Blåbretinden summit is marked by a proper cairn.

Descend your ascent route, or descend to Fet via Trollkyrkjetindane and Fetkollen. This site aims to present this route at some time in the future. Consider stopping by "Ljøsabrepiggen" upon your descent.

Pictures and Trip reports:


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