Norwegian Mountains, Møre og RomsdalMatøskja, 1332m
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Fylke/Kommune : | Møre og Romsdal/Volda | ||||||||||||||||
Maps : | 1119-II Volda (Statens Kartverk, Norge 1:50 000) | ||||||||||||||||
Primary factor : |
Matøskja: 731m Eggene: 118m |
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Hiked : | Jan 2009 | ||||||||||||||||
See also : |
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See also : | Other Volda mountains |
Trollvasstinden, Eidskyrkja (Kyrkjefjellet) and Matøskja are the dominating mountains south of Voldsfjorden/ Austefjorden. Matøskja is the 5th highest independent peak in Volda (Eidskyrkja ranks as #1). The Matøskja massif has several other high tops, including Eggene (1288m), Tverrelvhornet (1264m), Harpehornet (1192m) and Blåhornet (1180m). There is also a number of independent satellite mountains on this massif, such as Keipen (944m), Merket (845m) and Bjørnasethornet (739m). The Høydalsdalen - Langedalen - Feirdalen valleys define the logical end to this massif towards the east.
Matøskja can be reached from several trailheads, but this page will describe a winter route from Øvsteberget by Voldsfjorden / Austefjorden. With a couple of exceptions, the winter route follows the summer route. The only real steep section is the final 80 vertical meters up to the summit. Under icy conditions, ice-axe and crampons should be mandatory gear (which goes without saying, but..)
Even if most of the route is a nice plod on good snow, Matøskja is still considered to be a strenuous ski-trip. The distance from the trailhead to the top is 8km(+) and the vertical ascent is more than 1300m (if Eggene is included on your trip). But if you manage to get all the way to the summit, you'll be rewarded with an incredible view. In addition to the coastal region and the Sunnmørsalpene mountain range, you can enjoy a string of high mountains stretching from Nordfjord in the southwest to Lodalskåpa in the southeast.
The Matøskja name is peculiar and amusing. Once upon a time and from an unknown angle, someone must have felt that this mountain resembled a lunchbox of some kind.
Matøskja (Norge 1:50,000: 1332m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 1331,81m, UTM 32 V 350842 6881196) has a primary factor of 731m towards the higher parent Eidskyrkja (1482m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 354482 6879813) is found between Rindalsvatnet and Heimste Rindalsvatnet. Ref. Norge 1:50,000, it seems as if Rindalsvatnet drains both to the north and the south, but ref. Økonomisk Kartverk (5m contours), there is a hilltop further north, marked as point 600,6m ~ 601m.
GPS measurement read 1336m (on the cairn, 1m high), averaged over a 10-minute period (error margin +/- 2,7m).
Eggene (Norge 1:50,000: 1288m, Økonomisk Kartverk: 1288m, UTM 32 V 350738 6882080) has a primary factor of 118m towards the higher parent Matøskja (1332m). The defining saddle (approx. UTM 32 V 350586 6881659) is found between these two tops. Ref. Norge 1:50,000, the saddle is found between contours 1160m and 1180m, interpolated to 1170m.
GPS measurement read 1289m (on the ground), averaged over a 2-minute period (error margin not recorded).
Google's interactive map. You can zoom, pan and click on the markers.
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Route 1: Øvsteberget (Høydalen) - Eggene - Matøskja (winter)
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Access
(all distances are approx. distances)
The nearest bigger city is Ålesund. From Ålesund, follow highway E39 towards Bergen/Volda to the ferry at Solavågen. Take the Solavågen - Festøya ferry, turn right at Festøy and follow highway E39 towards Ørsta (38,3Km). At the highway RV655/E39 junction in Ørsta, follow E39 9Km to the Folkestad/Lauvstad ferry junction in Volda. Follow highway RV651 through Volda to a roundabout just above the centre of Volda.
At the roundabout, take the first exit (right) and follow RV651 19km along Voldsfjorden until you see the Straumshamn sign. Turn right and follow RV651 9,2km to Høydalen. 400m earlier, you've crossed a bridge. Turn sharp left on a road that is not signposted. Follow this road 2,2km up to the end of the road at Øvsteberget. The polite thing to do is to ask for permission to park here.
The route
At Øvsteberget, head towards the nearest gate and follow a summer path (if you can see it) that runs up to a ridge southeast of Lake Nykkjedalsvatnet. Proceed on the ridge up to point 720m. Descend to Lake Grøndalsvatnet. Cross the lake if the ice is safe, or go around the lake on the north side. Ascend to the ridge south of Varden and follow the valley upwards. You'll have Harpehornet up on your right-hand side. Once on the plateau west of Eggene, set course towards Eggene or keep going straight ahead to Matøskja.
Whether you visit Eggene or not, follow the ridge leading towards Matøskja, and ascend the mountain from the west. From 1240m elevation, the terrain gets steeper and some will prefer to complete the remaining distance on foot. Bring an ice-axe and crampons if you suspect hard or icy snow. Matøskja summit is marked by a cairn and a trigonometric point.
Upon descent, from Grøndalsvatnet, consider skiing down to Lauvhaugsætra and follow the forest road back to Øvsteberget. This route is the leftmost route on the above picture.
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