Skiing: Vargabreen from Finse (10.05.2025)


Start point Finse stasjon (1,222m)
Endpoint Finse stasjon (1,222m)
Characteristic Backcountry skiing
Duration 6h 43min
Distance 24.7km
Vertical meters 984m
GPS
Ascents Vargabreen (1,765m) 10.05.2025 14:11
Vargabreen Nord (1,764m) 10.05.2025 14:45
Visits of other PBEs Finse stasjon (1,222m) 10.05.2025 10:45
Finse 1222 (1,222m) 10.05.2025 10:46

Skiing: Vargabreen from Finse

Starting out from Finse
Starting out from Finse
Marked winter route from Finse
Marked winter route from Finse
Vargabreen in the distance
Vargabreen in the distance
Vargabreen
Vargabreen
Winter route to Geiterygghytta
Winter route to Geiterygghytta
Winter route in Såtedalen
Winter route in Såtedalen

Three weeks after my ascents of Flakavassnutane and Såtehjallane I was back at Finse for what would most likely be the last skiing trip of the season. After safely crossing to the other side of the train tracks, I started on the marked winter route towards Geiterygghytta before later turning west in Såtedalen and briefly following the marked winter route to Hallingskeid. The final off-trail ascent to the highest point at Vargabreen was straightforward and it was easy to find a route that avoided all of the steeper areas.

After a lunch break at the summit I made the short detour north to the only slightly lower northern summit before turning back and descending along the same route. A descent that turned out a bit more complicated than expected given that I at the top had discovered that the soles of my ski boots, which were only two years old, were in the process of detaching from the rest of the boots. I managed to secure the worst one with an extra shoelace from my backpack and thankfully got to back to Såtedalen without any issues.

All that remained was then to follow the same marked winter route back to Finse, where I arrived with almost 1.5 hours to spare. I considered including a quick visit of Vetle Hansbunuten but decided to rather have a long break at the aptly named Togallmenningen before taking the train back to Bergen.

In summary, ascending Vargabreen on skis from Finse is straightforward and one can even stay on marked winter routes for the vast majority of the trip. The summit also provides excellent view and is well worth a visit.

Såta in Såtedalen where my off-trail ascent to Vargabreen began
Såta in Såtedalen where my off-trail ascent to Vargabreen began
Start of the off-trail ascent to Vargabreen
Start of the off-trail ascent to Vargabreen
Off-trail ascent to Vargabreen
Off-trail ascent to Vargabreen
Vargabreen Nord from the southwest
Vargabreen Nord from the southwest
Approaching the summit of Vargabreen
Approaching the summit of Vargabreen
The summit cairn at Vargabreen
The summit cairn at Vargabreen
Hardangerjøkulen from Vargabreen
Hardangerjøkulen from Vargabreen
Towards Hallingskarvet from Vargabreen
Towards Hallingskarvet from Vargabreen
The summit cairn at Vargabreen with Vassfjøra in the background
The summit cairn at Vargabreen with Vassfjøra in the background
Vargabreen Nord from the highest point at Vargabreen
Vargabreen Nord from the highest point at Vargabreen
Vargabreen Nord
Vargabreen Nord
Descending from Vargabreen with Hardangerjøkulen in the background
Descending from Vargabreen with Hardangerjøkulen in the background
Following the marked winter route back to Finse
Following the marked winter route back to Finse
Returning to Finse with Hardangerjøkulen in the background
Returning to Finse with Hardangerjøkulen in the background
Waiting for the train at Togallmenningen :)
Waiting for the train at Togallmenningen :)
Vetle Hansbunuten from the train station
Vetle Hansbunuten from the train station
Start date 10.05.2025 10:45
(UTC+01:00 DST)
End date 10.05.2025 17:28
(UTC+01:00 DST)
Total Time 6h 43min
Moving Time 5h 05min
Stopped Time 1h 37min
Overall Average 3.7km/h
Moving Average 4.8km/h
Distance 24.7km
Vertical meters 983m

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