Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Fremste Blåhornet, 1478m
Heimste Blåhornet, 1354m
 

Fylke/Kommune : Møre og Romsdal/Stranda
Maps : 1219-II Geiranger   (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary factor : Fremste Blåhornet: 348m
Heimste Blåhornet: 164m
Hiked : April 2010
See also :
Flosteinnibba/Overvollshornet Emdalstindane
Kvitegga/Blåfjellnibba Storhornet (1309m)
Herdalsnibba Sætrenibba / Båsenibba
Roaldshornet Skurdahornet
Dalmannshornet Brekketindane
See also : Other Stranda mountains

Blåhorna

Blåhorna
(Click for larger image)

Introduction

Together with Flosteinnibba and Overvollshornet, "Blåhorna" are the prominent tops in the mountain region between Strandadalen and Synnylvsfjorden. "Blåhorna" refer to Fremste and Heimste Blåhornet which in turn connects to Overvollhornet and Flosteinnibba via Åkernesnibba. These tops form a horseshoe around the Fjørstaddalen valley.

Below Åkernesnibba is Åkernesremna - a landslide area which moves about 4cm/year. A rock avalanche (5-6 millions m³) may result in a tsunami that will be a disaster for the villages along Storfjorden - Hellesylt in particular. This area is being continuously monitored by NGU, in co-operation with several other researching institutes.

Blåhorna are normally reached from Fjørstad (Strandadalen) or from Vassetsætra (above Stranda), and are popular mountains all year around. This page will describe a skiing route to both tops, starting from Fjørstad. None of the tops are difficult or particularly steep. But given the total vertical gain (1300m) and distance (11km), hikers or skiers should be reasonably fit.

 

Fremste Blåhornet

Fremste Blåhornet
(Click for larger image)

 

Primary factor:

Fremste Blåhornet (Norge 1:50,000: 1478m, Økonomisk Kartverk: -, UTM 32 V 394769 6899939) has a primary factor of 348m towards the higher parent Flosteinnibba (1516m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 395277 6896929) is found between between Åkernesnibba and Flosteinnibba. Ref. Norge 1:50,000 (20m contours), the saddle is within the range 1120-1140m, interpolated to 1130m.

GPS measurement read 1483m (on the ground - on snow), averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin +/- 1,9m)

Heimste Blåhornet (Norge 1:50,000: -, Økonomisk Kartverk: 1354,49m, UTM 32 V 393850 6901474) has a primary factor of 164m towards Fremste Blåhornet. The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 394162 6900854) is found between the two Blåhorna tops. Ref. Norge 1:50,000 (20m contours), the saddle is within the range 1180-1200m, interpolated to 1190m. Note that map point 1336m is not the high point.

GPS measurement read 1356m (on the cairn, >2 metres high), averaged over a 5-minute period (error margin +/- 1,6m).

 

Heimste Blåhornet

Heimste Blåhornet
(Click for larger image)

 

Google map

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

 

Google maps
Google maps
(Click on image)

 

Trail descriptions

Route 1: Fjørstad - Blåhorna (spring - on skis)

Difficulty : YDS Class 2
Exposure : No
Distance : Approx. 11km round trip (2D distance)
Time : Approx. 5 hours round trip
Starting Elev.: Approx. 330m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 1300m (total)
Map of the area
Map of the area
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Detailed map
Detailed map
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This route description is valid per April 2010

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. This ferry runs quite often; every 20 minutes during the busy hours of the day. From Ørsneset, drive RV60 to Stranda (34,3Km). Turn south (right) and continue on RV60 11,2km towards Hellesylt.  Turn left onto a narrow gravel road and turn left again after 70m. Park by "Grendahuset" at Fram-Fjørstad.

The route

The route up Fjørstaddalen

The route up Fjørstaddalen
(Click for larger image)

Fremste Blåhornet:

From the trailhead, head east towards the birch forest. The footpath is marked, so keep an eye out for red paint on trees. Ascend the forest between Tverrelva river (on your left) and Juklestriket - a distinct cliff up to your right. After a while, you rise above the forest and continue up a ridge that leads into Fjørstaddalen. You pass the Heimfjørstadsætra cabin along the way.

At approx. 800m, turn east and head towards Fremste Blåhornet. Stay north of the west ridge and follow the slopes to the summit, which is marked by a signpost and a solar panel driven installation (purpose unknown). Stay away from cornices facing north/east.

Heimste Blåhornet:

The route is quite obvious; ski along the northwest ridge and aim for the saddle between the two tops. Continue straight up to Heimste Blåhornet, which is marked by a huge cairn. The same rule applies here; stay away from the cornices facing north/east.

Descent:

Descend to the saddle, or seek steeper slopes on Heimste Blåhornet's south side.

Avalanches:

These tops are normally considered safe. Small spring avalanches occur, but in the spring of 2010, an avalanche was released from Fremste Blåhornet, and we crossed this avalanche on the normal skiing route. But in this unusual weather period, most of the Sunnmøre mountains were considered dangerous and avalanche-prone.

 

Heimfjørstadsætra

Heimfjørstadsætra
(Click for larger image)


Pictures and Trip reports:


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