Norwegian Mountains, Møre og Romsdal

Rundebranden (294m) on skis, Mar 15 2010

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Rundebranden on skis is a once-in-a-decade experience. Normally, there is very little snow on this coastal island, but there has been nothing normal about this winter. As twenty-some roads in the county were being closed because of avalanche danger, I took the trip to Runde, aiming to ski all the way up and down Rundebranden - the 2nd highest point on the island.  

 

Rundebranden, July 2008

Rundebranden, July 2008
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The weather was not good when I arrived at Goksøyr - my starting point. But I expected that the snow shower would pass on my way up the mountain. Just like it did on Røddalshorn the day before. It was already late in the afternoon, and I feared that I would have to ski down with a headlamp. That would take some of the fun away. To save time, I parked at Goksøyr camping without asking for permission (which I normally do, everywhere I go) - thinking I would get away with it. After all, it was hardly the prime time for bird watching (which this island is famous for), it was snowing, and it would get dark anytime soon.

No such luck. I was literally chased away...

 

Goksøyr camping. Bad weather and .. everything

Goksøyr camping. Bad weather and .. everything
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I found legal parking 500m southeast of the Rundebranden trailhead, and the time was 6:05pm when I was on my way up the mountain. I was surprised by the small amount of snow - having assumed that there would be plenty. But there was still enough snow for skiing, and being under the impression that it would get dark any minute - I didn't expect to return with any pictures. But the upside was that the snow shower passed.

But spring was obviously on its way, and it was still fairly bright when I reached the summit - 6:40pm. If I didn't stay around for too long, I could ski down without using a headlamp.

 

On Rundebranden

On Rundebranden
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It was cool to be up here. This trip was not about skiing, but skiing Runde. How many have been up here on skis?

Upon descent, it was difficult, not to say impossible, to find a route that did not involve skiing on grass. I was skiing on regular mountain skis and on leather boots, and found Telemark skiing utterly difficult. But I was more than happy just by leaving ski-tracks on this coastal top....

Skiing down Rundebranden

Skiing down Rundebranden
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Pictures

The pictures were taken with a Canon EOS 450D + Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM F 4-5.6

 
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To Rundebranden

1. Goksøyr camping 2. Meeting locals 3. Goksøyr 4. Goksøyr 5. View towards Rundebranden 6. Sandshornet 7. The Nerlandsøya - Runde sound 8. Rundebranden ahead 9. Do not faint... 10. Arriving on Rundebranden 11. Rundebranden summit

Descent + pictures on the way from Runde

12. Nerlandsøya 13. Barmen + Muletua on Nerlandsøya 14. The Runde plateau 15. Descending Rundebranden 16. Waves outside Runde 17. Runde bridge 18. Kvalsvik on Nerlandsøya 19. Flø on Hareidlandet

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