Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Kvitfjellet, 833m (Oksen, Storvarden)

Fylke/Kommune : Møre og Romsdal/Rauma
Maps : xxx
(Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000)
Primary factor : 815m
Visited : Aug 2006
See also : Blånebba
See also : Romsdalshornet
See also : Kyrkjetaket
See also : Skarven
See also : Veten
See also : Sekken island

Kvitfjellet (center) seen from Blånebba

Kvitfjellet (center) seen from Blånebba

Introduction

Kvitfjellet (White mountain), also known as Oksen (the bull/ox) is located on the Rødvenhalvøua peninsula, where Isfjorden meets Romsdalsfjorden and Langfjorden. Rødvenfjorden is a side-fjord that also defines this peninsula.

You get a good view towards the steep east face, when you drive between Vågsneset and Måndalen (E136), a bit west of Åndalsnes. The mountain rise from the fjord and up to 833m, and resembles in many ways another mountain named Oksen, although a bit higher and located in Hordaland.

The mountain can be reached on path from Dalset, west of Rødven. This is however NOT the route described on this page. If you want to visit Kvitfjellet, drive to Dalset and park by the waterworks building. This is a fairly easy route that runs in easy forest and partly across wet-ground. The route described on this page is cumbersome, and is only of interest in case you want to traverse the mountain.

Based on the mountain height and its location on a peninsula, the views are superb. Unfortunately, the pictures presented in the trip report section on this page, does not serve the mountain justice, as they were taken on a hazy and foggy day.

Primary factor:

Kvitfjellet (Norge 1:50,000: 832m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 832,57m ~ 833m, UTM 32 V 419922 6941889) has a primary factor of 815m towards the higher parent mountain Skarven (1048m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 421817 6940603) is found in Eidsbygda, east of Nørvikbukta. Ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), the saddle is within the range 15-20m, interpolated to 18m.

Averaged over 10 minutes, my GPS reported 836m on the ground. I did not record the accuracy.

Kvitfjellet (left) from Trolltinden 1240m

Kvitfjellet (left) from Trolltinden 1240m

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.

Eidsbygda - Kvitfjellet (summer/autumn)

Note: This is a cumbersome route, and not recommended unless you are planning a traverse!!

Difficulty : Class 2 (YDS)
Exposure : No
Comments : Strenuous
Distance : Approx. 3,5Km to the top
Time : Approx. 2-2,5 hours to the top
Starting Elev.: Approx. 90m
Vertical Gain : Approx. 750m (total)

Map of the area
Map of the area
(No Javascript)
Detailed map
Detailed map
(No Javascript)

Access

From Åndalsnes, follow highway RV64 eastbound (Molde) to the place Isfjorden (4,8Km) and drive along the north side of Isfjorden before you turn left when you see the "Rødven/Eidsbygda" sign. This is approx. 22Km from Åndalsnes (south side of the tunnel).

Drive 3,6Km (do not follow signs to Rødven) and turn right onto a steep gravel road (Eidsvollan, not signed) just before Nørvikbukta bay. Follow this road 800m (you pass a gate along the way) and find parking where the forest road forks.

The route

Follow the forest road that runs westbound. The road then turns north (towards Hatleelva river), but curves and heads southbound, and ends at approx. 250m elevation. Proceed up the forest and traverse northbound until you reach the center of the forest ridge. Become familiar with this terrain, so you are able to find the best route back down to the forest road, if you return this way.

The best route along the forest ridge is through high grass. A stick, a pole or an ice-axe can be useful to push the high grass aside, so you can see the ground. Follow the center ridge all the way, until you top out of above the tree-line at approx. 550m. elevation. The upper section (below the tree-line) has some minor cliffs, and you need to make some simple route decisions here.

Above the tree-line, proceed along the ridge up to the summit. The terrain is mixed bog and grass. The final 100 vertical meters involves crossing a boulderfield. The summit is marked by a large cairn. Descend your ascent route.

Kvitfjellet (right) seen from Skåla

Kvitfjellet (right) seen from Skåla

Trip reports and pictures


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