Iungsdalshytta, day 2
| Date | Trip |
| 26.06.26 | To Iungsdalshytta |
| 27.06.26 | Stølsbergi, Skorpa |
| 28.06.26 | Fødalsbrea, Toviknuten, Djupsnuten |
| 29.06.26 | Halldalsnuten, Iungsdalsnuten |
| 30.06.26 | Reineskarvet |
| Date | Peak | Height | PF | Location | WCP/FP | MAP |
| 27.06.26 | Stølsbergi | 1674m | 104m | Hol, Norway | – | MAP |
| 27.06.26 | Skorpa | 1674m | 117m | Hol, Norway | – | MAP |
Saturday: After a nice breakfast at Iungsdalshytta, we decided to hike on the Skorpa massif, southeast of Iungsdalshytta. The primary goal was Stølsbergi (1674m). The secondary goal was Skorpa – also 1674m. We knew that visiting both tops would involve a long hike, but time would show.
The weather forecast was unclear. Someone mentioned thunder and lightning around 1-2pm. That was the main reason for choosing the Skorpa mountain – from which we could exit quickly, if need be.
We started hiking at 9:20am and followed the path towards Kongshelleren.
Or so we thought. We had not checked the map properly and we were on our way towards Vadbotn.
After correcting our course, we crossed the river on a bridge.
A few minutes later, we reached the Kongshelleren – Storestølen junction and followed the Storestølen path up the mountain.
The terrain was gentle, the path was OK and the weather was not too bad. Life was good.
As we were approaching the high ridge, we discussed if we should go off-trail and take the shortest route possible towards Stølsbergi. But Anne wanted to follow the path all the way to the Grevskardet pass and that was clearly the best decision.
Finally, we reached the high ridge.
Grevskardnuten (1558m) to our left looked tall and I wondered if the prominence of 76m was correct. But I chose to trust Peakbook.org on this one. My focus was the mountains with prominence 100m or more.
In my head, I thought Stølsbergi was “just up the ridge”. Like, nothing to it. But reality was that this was a bit of a walk.
The big question was how the fog would evolve. We decided that if we got wrapped in fog, Stølsbergi would definitely be our turnaround point.
Approaching point 1668m, Anne was not too interested in crossing it, because: a) the hike would be strenuous enough, b) there was an unclear cliff on the other side and c) fog was moving in.
So we bypassed point 1668m, aiming for lake 1587m.
I think that was a good decision. The fog was not too bad, and I am quite sure we would have found a way down, but bypassing the top made the hike easier.
Now we just had – because of the fog – an Everest-looking hill and maybe 100 vertical meters between us and the main goal.
There are two humps on Stølsbergi, with a small lake in-between. We chose to visit both. We started with the point south of lake 1654m.
Ref. comments on Peakbook.org, using hoydedata.no as source, the south point is 1674,02m and the north point is 1672,37m. I decided that in case of future map revisions, it would be best to hike across all potential points on the south side while Anne headed for the north point.
At the north point, we had to decide if we wanted to go for Skorpa or turn back.
I was very happy when Anne said she was up for Skorpa. It would involve a good bit of hiking in rugged terrain and more vertical meters, but she was motivated.
But first, we had to descend from Stølsbergi.
Then followed fairly easy, but also tedious (snowfields) terrain until we got past point 1657m.
I was constantly fooled by the gap between reality and how I read the map. In reality, everything looked bigger and longer.
Finally, the ascent towards the high point could begin.
Closing in on the high point, I could see rain moving in. I hoped we could get to the top first, but the rain came fast and we had to stop to put on rain gear.
Then we continued up to the top.
It was delightful reaching the top. The main goals had been reached and the rest of the hike would be a) downhill and b) a nice descent along the Kongshelleren trail.
There were no questions about where the high point was…
We agreed on a route down to the Kongshelleren trail, but then the whole mountain got fogged in and we decided to head down to the nearest lake (1571m) and follow the river.
The rain ended after a few minutes and we took our rain gear off.
Once down by the lake, the fog lifted as well.
Then we followed the river and assumed the descent into Vestre Iungsdalen valley would be a trivial task.
When we got to the edge of the plateau, we had a problem. The terrain was much steeper than we had thought.
After some scouting, I found a route that took us safely down below the cliffs and we could set course for the T-marked route back to Iungsdalshytta.
Again, I had a wrong perception about the terrain. The hike down the valley was much longer than I had thought it would be. But, it was nice. I wasn’t very tired and life was good.
We crossed one creek after the other, but when we got to Skarvåne, it was clear that this was not a creek, but a river. And it could not be crossed without getting our shoes wet. So, we took our shoes off and forded the river.
The water was freezing cold and if the river had been wider, I fear I would have gotten cramps. But the crossing went OK for the both of us.
After a while, we rejoined our ascent route and followed it back to Iungsdalshytta.
Back at the hut, we were chatting with another couple, who had just arrived. After a little while, we talked about what we did for a living, and it turned out that I had worked with the husband. He remembered my name well and we said his name, I immediately remembered him – even if it was more than 30 years ago!
More guests had arrived and the dining room was full.
At dinner, we were seated with the couple we had just met. They were both climbers and my ex-colleague (Vegard Fluge Samuelsen) was even a big wall climber. Very impressive!
I felt OK after the long hike. Anne said she felt very tired but I hoped (and assumed) that she would be good and ready to go hiking the next day.
Trip statistics: 19,7km, 1080 vertical meters, 8h:04m
