Torstadnakken (30.03.2018)

Written by hbar (Harald Barsnes) GSM

Start point Svedal (402m)
Endpoint Svedal (402m)
Characteristic Backcountry skiing
Duration 6h 27min
Distance 19.8km
Vertical meters 1,312m
GPS
Ascents Torstadnakken (1,568m) 30.03.2018
Visits of other PBEs Grøssete (843m) 30.03.2018
Parkering Svedal (402m) 30.03.2018

Torstadnakken

View towards Togga from the ascent
View towards Togga from the ascent
Dalavatnet seen from the ascent
Dalavatnet seen from the ascent
View toward Grøssete
View toward Grøssete
Grøssete
Grøssete
View from Grøssete
View from Grøssete
View towards Torstadnakken
View towards Torstadnakken

Given that the recent attempt to reach Torstadnakken had to be abandoned due to bad weather it was time for another try. This time with perfect skiing conditions: blue skies and close to no wind. (The only exception being the first stretch up from Svedal where there was more ice than snow. This did improve somewhat for the return though.)

We followed the standard route from Svedal up to Grøssete, where the views were much better than last time, and after a quick lunch we continued along the tracks of previous skiers towards Torstadnakken, enjoying the excellent views in all directions.

After visiting all of the three cairns at Torstadnakken, we quickly removed the climbing skins and started our descent, deciding to delay our break as it was now getting rather cold at the summit area. There would be more than enough continuous downhill skiing before reaching Svedal anyway, close to 1200 meters, and hence a small break during the descent would not hurt.

Excellent downhill skiing conditions until getting below Grøssete, where it started to get more icy (especially for me with my traditional mountain skis), but the final part down to Svedal turned out better than expected, given that the ice/snow had melted somewhat during our now close to 6.5 hour trip.

In summary, an excellent skiing trip that can be very highly recommended! Especially in near perfect conditions like we had on this day!

From the ascent
From the ascent
Looking back down Sogndalsdalen
Looking back down Sogndalsdalen
Towards Torstadnakken
Towards Torstadnakken
Looking back at our tracks
Looking back at our tracks
The first small cairn before the final short climb
The first small cairn before the final short climb
The first small cairn before the final short climb
The first small cairn before the final short climb
The cairn at 1553
The cairn at 1553
The cairn at 1553. The summit in the background left.
The cairn at 1553. The summit in the background left.
View towards the northern 1565 cairn
View towards the northern 1565 cairn
The northern 1565 cairn
The northern 1565 cairn
The northern 1565 cairn. The 1553 cairn is behind the small hill to the right.
The northern 1565 cairn. The 1553 cairn is behind the small hill to the right.
View towards the point north of Torstadnakken from the northern 1565 cairn
View towards the point north of Torstadnakken from the northern 1565 cairn
Looking back at the 1553 cairn from in between the three cairns
Looking back at the 1553 cairn from in between the three cairns
View towards the southern 1565 cairn
View towards the southern 1565 cairn
The southern 1565 cairn
The southern 1565 cairn
The southern 1565 cairn. The 1553 cairn in the background left.
The southern 1565 cairn. The 1553 cairn in the background left.
The southern 1565 cairn. The 1553 cairn in the background right.
The southern 1565 cairn. The 1553 cairn in the background right.
From the descent
From the descent
We were not alone in enjoying the excellent conditions
We were not alone in enjoying the excellent conditions
Getting close to Grøssete
Getting close to Grøssete
Start date 30.03.2018 11:06
(UTC+01:00 DST)
End date 30.03.2018 17:34
(UTC+01:00 DST)
Total Time 6h 27min
Moving Time 5h 17min
Stopped Time 1h 09min
Overall Average 3.1km/h
Moving Average 3.7km/h
Distance 19.8km
Vertical meters 1,311m

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