A
Alan Law
Guest
I hope I may be allowed the indulgence of making this report. It is
off-topic, both because it refers to mountains outside UK, and because the
demands of the mountains in question go beyond the customary interpretation
of hill-walking.
I recently had the good fortune to complete my "3 peaks" in the north of
Norway, being the three dominant peaks in mainland Norway north of the
Arctic Circle. [There is also an offshore peak called Beerenberg (2,277 m)
in Jan Mayen Island that seems to be the highest Norwegian mountain in the
arctic---it is seldom visited. The mountains in Svalbard rise to only 1,717
m.]
In the order of ascent they were:
1) Storsteinsfjellet (1,893 m)-Narvik area. Climbed on a magnificent
winter's day in March 2001. Skis off 250 m below the summit, and a
moderately steep snow climb to reach the final ridge. Minus 20 degrees
Celsius at the top. This is the most alpine, but least well known, of the
three mountains. A superb winter mountain.
2) Suliskongen (1,907 m)---Sulitjelma area. Climbed in August 2003 with no
views above 1,600 m on account of hill fog. There are a lot of glaciers on
this mountain, but I found a summer route that only involved a few hundred
metres on a glacier, which was dry and without crevasses. This hill is
normally climbed on ski in the late spring.
3) Jiehkkevarri (1,834 m)---Lyngen Alps. Climbed on a nice warm day in July
2004 with a congenial group of Norwegians. This mountain lies in a very
alpine area, but it is relatively flat-topped, and has many of the features
of a small ice-cap. Because of crevasses a rope is essential---even, I was
told, for ski ascents earlier in the season. Although accessible, it
involves a start at sea-level and, allowing for significant re-ascent, it is
a long day.
The peaks indicated are the highest in the respective areas, but there are
many other fine mountains in these areas. I have posted reports (currently
unillustrated) at http://www.frostisen.com/mountain/MountainTripIndex.htm.
Those who do not know Norway normally start in the south where there are
many good things, and where conditions tend to be easier. People seeking
footpaths and marked winter routes in the north of Norway are liable to be
disappointed.
--
Alan Law
off-topic, both because it refers to mountains outside UK, and because the
demands of the mountains in question go beyond the customary interpretation
of hill-walking.
I recently had the good fortune to complete my "3 peaks" in the north of
Norway, being the three dominant peaks in mainland Norway north of the
Arctic Circle. [There is also an offshore peak called Beerenberg (2,277 m)
in Jan Mayen Island that seems to be the highest Norwegian mountain in the
arctic---it is seldom visited. The mountains in Svalbard rise to only 1,717
m.]
In the order of ascent they were:
1) Storsteinsfjellet (1,893 m)-Narvik area. Climbed on a magnificent
winter's day in March 2001. Skis off 250 m below the summit, and a
moderately steep snow climb to reach the final ridge. Minus 20 degrees
Celsius at the top. This is the most alpine, but least well known, of the
three mountains. A superb winter mountain.
2) Suliskongen (1,907 m)---Sulitjelma area. Climbed in August 2003 with no
views above 1,600 m on account of hill fog. There are a lot of glaciers on
this mountain, but I found a summer route that only involved a few hundred
metres on a glacier, which was dry and without crevasses. This hill is
normally climbed on ski in the late spring.
3) Jiehkkevarri (1,834 m)---Lyngen Alps. Climbed on a nice warm day in July
2004 with a congenial group of Norwegians. This mountain lies in a very
alpine area, but it is relatively flat-topped, and has many of the features
of a small ice-cap. Because of crevasses a rope is essential---even, I was
told, for ski ascents earlier in the season. Although accessible, it
involves a start at sea-level and, allowing for significant re-ascent, it is
a long day.
The peaks indicated are the highest in the respective areas, but there are
many other fine mountains in these areas. I have posted reports (currently
unillustrated) at http://www.frostisen.com/mountain/MountainTripIndex.htm.
Those who do not know Norway normally start in the south where there are
many good things, and where conditions tend to be easier. People seeking
footpaths and marked winter routes in the north of Norway are liable to be
disappointed.
--
Alan Law