Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal
Litle-Eidskyrkja, Tårnet and Middagshornet from Skinnviksætra, July 31 2010
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The route from Skinnviksætra
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The time had come to visit Litle-Eidskyrkja. The natural starting point was Skinnviksætra, from where I skied to Eidskyrkja in March 2009. As I visited Eidskyrkja in fog, the plan was to visit Litle-Eidskyrkja in good weather. But when I arrived at Volda, the fog seemed stuck on the Eidskyrkja massif. As I'm running a bit low on new tops in this region, I decided to proceed with Litle-Eidskyrkja, and come back on a good weather day for Tårnet.
Driving along Austefjorden, the road was suddenly blocked by goats. Getting past these animals took its time, but there was no rush. I just love goats. I have this fantasy that if I should ever give up on computer programming, then I could be a goat sheperd in the mountains...
Most excellent animals
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I headed out from Skinnviksætra 12:26am and didn't bother looking for paths. I sat a direct course (off-trail) toward Litle-Eidskyrkja and stuck to it. For a while, I was under the impression that I could ascend Litle-Eidskyrkja's east ridge, but as I got closer, I couldn't say for sure that I would be able to get up this way. I decided to stick with my original plan, which was to ascend via the Tårnet - Litle-Eidskyrkja saddle. On the way upwards, I enjoyed observing nature at work...
Just ignore me...
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The route up to Litle-Eidskyrkja was quite straightforward, and I reached the summit 1:50pm - 1h:24m after heading out. It was a fairly short hike, so I started thinking about Tårnet. There would certainly be no harm in taking a quick look at the assumed obstacles? Surely not. But first, it was time to enjoy the views...
View from Litle-Eidskyrkja
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I was now on my way to Tårnet, but had no ambition of reaching the summit of this sharp peak on wet and slippery rock and in fog. But at least I could do some research!
As I ascended from the saddle, Tårnet looked quite intimidating, and I was curious what "the most challenging peak in Volda" (which I had read somewhere) actually meant...
On the way to Tårnet
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I followed the ridge upwards, hiking turned into scrambling and scrambling turned into climbing. It was clear that if I kept on going, I might not be able to get back down. Because of the fog, I didn't see much, but I felt that I was pretty close to the summit. I decided to climb back down and return on a sunny day.
Halfway down, I got a feeling that I should explore the area on my left-hand side. I scrambled down a boulder field and stared at a section that seemed quite doable. And when I noticed a vague track, I knew that I had found the route. It took me a little while to become friendly with the "crux" (YDS class 4), but once past this point, the rest of the route up to the top was easy. I felt a good, good sensation inside. I had climbed Tårnet, in fog and on slippery rock. Not bad! And as to - "the most challenging peak in Volda" - that's probably an accurate description.
Tårnet summit seen from the west ridge
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Upon descent, I visited the viewpoint on the west ridge. The ridge was narrow, but easy. I chose to walk around one obstacle on the ridge, thinking it would be best to stay on the safe side. After all, no one knew my whereabouts...
Once back in the mountainside below the Eidskyrkja massif, I decided to visit Middagshornet. I sat course for the Småvatna lakes, ascended Middagshornet along the west ridge and descended along the valley between Middagshornet and Tuva. I returned to Skinnviksætra 5:15pm - 4h:50m after heading out. 3 tops in one day was a bonus, and even if I've had mostly fog on the Eidskyrkja tops, there's plenty much to do and see up here. I'm confident that I'll return one sunny day.
Skinnviksætra
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