The first skiing week
Index
| Date | Peak | Height | PF | Location | WCP/FP | MAP |
| 06.03.23 | Djupvikhaugen | 98m | 29m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
| 06.03.23 | Lysløypa, Leikongeidet | 160m | 0m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
| 07.03.23 | Røddalshorn | 563m | 100m | Sande, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 07.03.23 | Djupvikhaugen | 98m | 29m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
| 08.03.23 | Røddalshorn | 563m | 100m | Sande, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 08.03.23 | Kjeldsund | 0m | 0m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
| 09.03.23 | Melshornet | 809m | 567m | Ørsta, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 11.03.23 | Dragsund | – | – | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
| 11.03.23 | Huldrehornet | 271m | 113m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 12.03.23 | Huldrehornet | 271m | 113m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 12.03.23 | Røddalshorn | 563m | 100m | Sande, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 12.03.23 | Lysløypa, Leikongeidet | 160m | 0m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
| 12.03.23 | Dragsund | – | – | Herøy, M&R, Norway | – | MAP |
Djupvikhaugen (98m), Mar 6 2023
Monday: The week began with an afternoon ski-trip to Djupvikhaugen. We had never skied this forest hill before. Mainly, because when there’s snow, we’d like to go other places. But Djupvikhaugen was just enough for us today. With fresh snow, we had to consider where we could bring Karma.
We skied from my house, which is always a fun thing to do, regardless of where you live and where you go…
There was no sole under the fresh snow, so the descent would have to be – exactly – along our ascent route.
There was still a whole lot of weather going around, but nothing bad would hit us at this modest altitude.
Djupvikhaugen isn’t exactly how I would like to start my week in terms of outdoor activities, but far better than nothing!
The descent was fun. There were places you just had to “commit” as making turns was out of the question.
Trip statistics: 5,2km, 100 vertical meters, 1h:04m
Lysløypa, Leikongeidet, Mar 6 2023
Monday: After the ski-trip to Djupvikhaugen, we drove up to Leikongeidet to do a couple of rounds in the only prepared skiing track on Gurskøy island.
I chose skating skis and took off while Anne took cross-county skis and took Karma with her.
I did two laps and got bored due to soft snow. Good workout, though.
Trip statistics: 5,4km, 150 vertical meters, 0h:47m
Røddalshorn (563m), Mar 7 2023
Tuesday: Three important things “ticked” today; I felt fine, there was a good dump of fresh snow and the weather was OK. It was time for my first randonee-trip this year – to Røddalshorn.
Røddalshorn doesn’t give you what the Sunnmøre alps do, in terms of skiing. But, there are three important factors; it’s a short drive, a short trip up and an OK run down – and – you don’t have to worry about avalanche danger. Which – is a factor that should not be underestimated in my parts of the country.
I took the normal route up. At this time of the afternoon, the ascent route was in the shade and so I decided to ski down on the sunny side.
I reached the top in 40 minutes, feeling out of shape. It was a good decision to leave Karma back at the house. There was just too much snow.
Reaching the top was nice, but the upcoming descent scared me a little. With no sole, I could hit just about anything.
So, I headed down on the sunny side. But the skiing wasn’t particularly fun. There was too much snow to get good speed.
But all in all OK, I didn’t hit anything and my first trip on randonee skis in 2023 was in the bag. I was hoping more would come, and soon.
Trip statistics: 4,1km, 415 vertical meters, 1h:07m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:
Djupvikhaugen (98m), Mar 7 2023
Tuesday: Once back from my ski-trip to Røddalshorn, I took Karma on a walk from my house to Djupvikhaugen. I figured our skiing tracks from yesterday would be of help for Karma.
The road along lake Djupvikvatnet was *insanely* slippery. Hopefully, I’m too seasoned to fall on my butt and break anything.
Karma was as eager as it gets on the Djupvikhaugen trail, and didn’t have any problems with the snow. And on top, she immediately expected treats. As she should!
I was happy I brought my Canon. There was a lot of weather that I wanted to capture on disc!
We took the round-trip hike and Karma ploughed through the light snow without difficulties.
It looked like snow showers were moving in. I like to take pictures of them, but not so much being in them…
Trip statistics: 3,3km, 100 vertical meters, 0h:45m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:
Røddalshorn (563m), Mar 8 2023
Wednesday: The weather was OK when I decided to take another ski-trip up Røddalshorn after work. The weather was unstable, but I hope that I would just be lucky. It started all good!
My luck ran out halfway up the mountain, as a snow shower came upon us, leaving poor visibility.
Poor visibility is not a problem going up on a mountain I know quite well. But it takes all the fun out of the descent, and I hoped that this shower was a small one and would pass quickly.
When I reached the top, the shower had passed, but there was a lot of fog left and visibility wasn’t good. I waited fir approx. 10 minutes, hoping conditions would improve, but they didn’t.
Hence, I decided to descend along my ascent route, which I know best of all possible routes down from this mountain,
In the lower parts of the mountain, visibility got a bit better and it didn’t completely end on a bad note…
Trip statistics: 4,1km, 415 vertical meters, 1h:09m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:
Kjeldsund, Mar 8 2023
Wednesday: Once back from the ski-trip to Røddalshorn, I took Karma for a walk to Kjeldsund. The nice weather was back, and I felt a bit cheated, given the fog and the snow shower not too long ago.
I like Kjeldsund, without knowing exactly why. Maybe it’s the mix of mountains and the ocean.
And today, the weather allowed for some nice pics…
It was then time to turn around so that we wouldn’t run out of daylight. We had a nice stroll back home…
Trip statistics: 5,9km, 70 vertical meters, 1h:09m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:
Melshornet (809m), Mar 9 2023
Thursday: My shape and form seemed to be much better and more stabile now. It was time to “turn it up” a notch, by taking a trip to Melshornet. Normally, this is just a short ski-trip, but today it was “up a notch” from what I had accomplished so far this year.
We started out (like always) from Helgatun and I was happy to see that the track had been duly prepared. Not important to me, but it makes life easier for Karma. Even though she did her best to stay as much off the track as possible.
There was a LOT of people up here today. The parking space was full, and so was the lane between Helgatun and the exit to the skiing centre, where I had to park. And like always, there is a lot of people on the first leg up the mountain, but then it – like always – magically evens out and there is no problem letting Karma wander around without a leash. If I see a skier coming down, she understands that she has to be my side, and there has never been any problems with Karma on this mountain .
I was still totally out of shape. Normally, I can ski this mountain in a fast pace, passing almost everyone I can see ahead of me. But not today. True, I did pass a number of people, but I was also passed by one guy who I quickly lost sight of. That normally doesn’t happen.
Then one guy came down the mountain in a horrible speed. As such, I named this route “the only motorway in the county where 100km/h is allowed”.
The final hill was steep as it always is, but eventually we reached cairn and could enjoy the mighty fine Ørsta view.
Then we moved over to the high point for the usual rituals; GPS waypoint, pictures and treats for the dog.
Like always, I descended outside the track, with Karma struggling behind in the deep snow. And like always, I felt bad at the bottom of the steep hill and got back on track to make life easier for her.
Having her off-leash is never a problem. She will always run in a straight line, trying to catch up with me, disregarding any humans or dogs going up the mountain.
All in all, yet another nice trip up and down this fine mountain top. This was my 41st trip.
Trip statistics: 7,4km, 580 vertical meters, 1h:25m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:
Dragsund, Mar 11 2023
Saturday: Yesterday (Friday), we got hit by a massive dump of snow. I was out shoveling snow 5 times the day before, and on Saturday morning, I was at it again.
Afterwards, I took the dog for a walk to Dragsund. Fortunately, the sidewalks had been plowed and it was possible to walk outside the main roads.
Trip statistics: 3,1km, 30 vertical meters, 0h:36m
Huldrehornet (271m), Mar 11 2023
Saturday: Later in the afternoon, I planned to take Karma on a walk to my local forest top Rambjøra. But after 10 meters, I realized this was a no-go. The snow was way too deep, and Karma just refused to continue.
So, I had to take her back the house and decided to break trail to Huldrehornet, hoping to get her up there the next day. It’s been a while since I skied Huldrehornet, which has a natural explanation – it is NOT a forest top that you want to ski!
The first part of the route is really steep, and the trees are dense.
It gets better above the forest, but then the snow is normally quite deep.
The final part – the ridge – offers 50% no snow at all and 50% deep, wind-packed snow.
But it’s OK. I’ve learned the tricks needed to myself down this forest, on skis and live to tell.
Trip statistics: 3,1km, 260 vertical meters, 1h:14m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:
Huldrehornet (271m), Mar 12 2023
Sunday: This Sunday turned out to be quite a busy day! First of all, the weather was really nice and I decided to try to get Karma up the Huldrehornet forest. Fortunately, she seemed very eager today and completely disregarded the deep snow.
My tracks from the day before helped – a bit – but it was still a major struggle for her.
While the weather was totally OK, there was a lot of wind – which there usually is around these parts. Not that it seemed to affect her much, though…
It was nice to reach the top – as it meant that I could still walk the dog to a top, with or without skis…
Trip statistics: 3,6km, 260 vertical meters, 1h:17m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:
Røddalshorn (563m), Mar 12 2023
Sunday: After the ski-trip to Huldrehornet, I went onto another solo ski-trip to Røddalshorn.
This time, I was determined to descend the mountainside facing the road. By the looks of it, I would not be the first…
Neither the weather nor the visibility was the best, but it was still good enough to descend a route that I had never done before. I typically descend along my ascent route, so that Karma can run down in my tracks from the ascent.
But today, Karma wasn’t here, and I could spoil myself rotten.
The good thing about descending along the ascent route, is that you begin your ascent right away. Going for the center side of the mountain, means you have to descend the ridge to the point of the main descent, without losing speed. I managed to do this by skiing the cornices facing south.
The descent was very nice. Lots of snow, but still – no sole. You don’t bring your finest pair on days like these. Unfortunately, I have only one pair of randonnée skis.
On the upside, I skied up and down this mountain in less than 50 minutes…
Trip statistics: 3,6km, 415 vertical meters, 0h:49m
Pictures (Canon EOS RP/Iphone 13 Pro Max) from the trip:
Lysløypa, Leikongeidet, Mar 12 2023
Sunday: After the ski-trip to Røddalshorn, I went back home and then sat course for Leikongeidet again. This time – to do 3 laps along the prepared tracks.
The light wasn’t good, but the snow was a tad firmer than in the beginning of the week.
After 3 laps, I considered a 4th, but decided to return home and take Karma for an afternoon walk instead.
Trip statistics: 6,3km, 180 vertical meters, 0h:40m
Dragsund, Mar 12 2023
Sunday: The outdoor activity this week ended with another walk to Dragsund. Karma was happy about getting daddy back in the house and be taken outside.
We then ran into Mats (our neighbor kid) – who is really fond of Karma. He asked to tag along, and of course, he could…
Trip statistics: 3,4km, 30 vertical meters, 0h:41m
