Ascent of Galdhøpiggen on 1993-07-17| Date: | Saturday, July 17, 1993 | | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | | Peak: | Galdhøpiggen | | Location: | Norway | | Elevation: | 2468 m / 8100 ft |
Ascent Trip ReportWhat peak is Norway's highest is a matter of some dispute. Glittertinden at 2472 meters (8108 feet) is ostensibly the highest, but it is crowned with a thick, perpetual snowbank, and nearby Galdhoppigen, 3 meters lower at 2469 meters, has a prominent, rocky summit. It seems that most people consider Galdhoppigen the highest point in Norway (and all of Scandinavia), but isn't permanent snow really just as much part of a mountain as rocks? In any event, I was planning to climb both mountains.
Galdhoppigen was an easier climb, since there was a dirt road that provided car access to 1845 meters, high up on its southern flank. I drove up this steep, switchbacked road, shocked at the 45 NKr (US $6.20) a old lady at its entrance took as toll. The road ended at a busy parking lot above timberline for a mountain hut, the Juvvasshytta. I hurriedly changed and got my pack together before setting off up the trail for Galdhoppigen, even though it was almost 5 PM. It was a beautiful, cloudless day, I knew the sun wouldn't be setting until 11 PM or so, and the weather might be bad tomorrow, so I decided to go for it now.
The path led to the broad snowfields of Galdhoppigen, where a well-worn track in the snow led easily upwards to the summit. It was an easy hike, despite the snow, with only one steep section containing a very solidly bridged mini-crevasse. I didn't even put on my crampons in the very soft afternoon snow, even though I had them in my pack. I was up top by 7 PM, and I spent some time chatting to the guys on the summit with me (including a Czech), looking around the closed stone hut at top, and taking pictures. The views were awesome. The downhill hike was easy plunge-stepping down the snowfields to the open rocky terrain, then a short hike back to the Juvvasshytta. I arrived back at 8:45 PM, in broad daylight thanks to my extreme northern latitude.
I was able to secure a bunk for myself in the Juvvasshytta hut for 125 NKr (US $17.25), and after exploring the area, chatting to a Norwegian guy in my crowded eight-bed bunkroom, scavenging up some food for dinner, and watching the latest sunset I had ever seen, I went to sleep.
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 | | Photo: Galdopiggen is a fine rocky peak. View from the north approach. | | Summary Total Data | | Elevation Gain: | 624 m / 2048 ft | | Trailhead: | 1844 m / 6052 ft | | Grade/Class: | 1 | | Gear Used: | Ice Axe |
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