Telemark Skiing to Mount Litleskjerdingen (15.02.2020)

Written by Solan (Atle Solholm) GSM

Start point Nakkedalen (219m)
Endpoint Nakkedalen (209m)
Characteristic Randonnée/Telemark
Duration 3h 55min
Distance 8.4km
Vertical meters 629m
GPS
Ascents Litleskjerdingen (678m) 15.02.2020 14:05
Visits of other PBEs Blåskjerdingen p-plass (214m) 15.02.2020 14:05
#1: By the road through the valley Nakkedalen, there's a nice sign telling you where to start out when you want to ascend Mound Skjerdingen.
#1: By the road through the valley Nakkedalen, there's a nice sign telling you where to start out when you want to ascend Mound Skjerdingen.
#2: Mount Littleskjerdingen, as seen once you're above the birch forest in Nakkedalen valley. Due to the wind, there wasn't very much snow on this mountain either.
#2: Mount Littleskjerdingen, as seen once you're above the birch forest in Nakkedalen valley. Due to the wind, there wasn't very much snow on this mountain either.

On this particular afternoon I actually intended to go skiing to Mount Blåskjerdingen, but while on my way up there I had to change my destination slightly due to lack of snow. Mount Blåskjerdingen is quite steep on most sides, with snow shelves and a high risk of avalanches here and there, but the south ridge of the mountain is less steep, and is located on the windward side of the mountain; hence you're unlikely to run into an avalanche when ascending along that ridge, and so, as long as you stick to the south ridge, Mount Blåskjerdingen is considered a relatively safe mountain for winter skiing (as long as you don't go upon the large snow shelves on the east side [i.e. the leeward side] of the summit area). On the other hand, as the south ridge is located on the windward side, snow tends to blow away, and collect on the east side of the mountain; hence there are winters when snow along the south ridge is so scarce that it's difficult to climb the mountain on ski along the south ridge, at least without harming your skis. And this was the case on this particular day. Down in the valley, along the road, and at the parking lot, there was plenty of snow; and even in the birch forest that lines the valley up to about 450 m.a.m.s.l., snow was plenty.

#3: Part of Mount Blåskjerdingen as seen as I was skiing towards the foot of Mount Litleskjerdingen.
#3: Part of Mount Blåskjerdingen as seen as I was skiing towards the foot of Mount Litleskjerdingen.
#4: Mount Blåskjerdingen as seen during my climb up Mount Litleskjerdingen. Notice that even on Mount Litleskjerdingen there wasn't enough snow to cover all the stones.
#4: Mount Blåskjerdingen as seen during my climb up Mount Litleskjerdingen. Notice that even on Mount Litleskjerdingen there wasn't enough snow to cover all the stones.

Once out of the birch forest, however, I realized that the amount of snow on the south ridge could be a bit too scarce for an ascent on ski; and that was when I decided to go to Mount Litleskjerdingen first, and only thereafter make an attempt at Blåskjerdingen; so that if I failed to climb Mount Blåskjerdingen, I would at least have climbed one proper mountain on this day. From where I was standing, snow seemed to be sufficient, though not extremely abundant, on Mount Litleskjerdingen. I therefore headed towards Litleskjerdingen on my skis. From where I came out of the forest, there is about half a kilometer of horizontal skiing to get to the foot of Mount Litleskjerdingen. You actually go e little bit down at one spot, in order to cross a little riverbed; but it's not enough downhill to bother to remove the skins from your skis. (And the river is frozen and covered by snow at this time of the year, hence there's no problem in crossing it).

#5: Mount Blåskjerdingen as seen from the summit of Mount Litleskjerdingen. The deep cleft near the summit is characteristic of this mountain. Notice how little snow there seems to be along the southern ridge of the mountain.
#5: Mount Blåskjerdingen as seen from the summit of Mount Litleskjerdingen. The deep cleft near the summit is characteristic of this mountain. Notice how little snow there seems to be along the southern ridge of the mountain.
#6: View from Mount Litleskjerdingen towards Fixdalen valley, the fjord Romsdalsfjord, and the town of Molde (on the other side of the fjord. Part of Mount Melen is seen to the right, and part of Mount Storeskjerdingen to the left.
#6: View from Mount Litleskjerdingen towards Fixdalen valley, the fjord Romsdalsfjord, and the town of Molde (on the other side of the fjord. Part of Mount Melen is seen to the right, and part of Mount Storeskjerdingen to the left.

I then ascended Mount Litleskjerdingen from the west, as may bee seen from my GPS tracking. The climb was more or less straight forward, though due to the limited amount of snow, I had to go around some huge stones here and there; and as I reached the top of the mountains, I even had to take my skis off an walk over to the highest point on my ski boots. Nevertheless, from the summit of the mountain view was fabulous in all directions. I captured a lot of pictures up there (Images ## 5-9), and then started on my descent.

#7: Mount Melen (805 m.a.m.s.l.) as seen from the top of Mount Litleskjerdingen.
#7: Mount Melen (805 m.a.m.s.l.) as seen from the top of Mount Litleskjerdingen.
#8: Mount Frostatind (807 m.a.m.s.l.) as seen from the summit of Mount Litleskerdingen.
#8: Mount Frostatind (807 m.a.m.s.l.) as seen from the summit of Mount Litleskerdingen.

I then actually did an attempt at Mount Blåskjerdingen, and climbed up to the edge of the south ridge, just to have a closer look in order to determine for sure whether there was enough snow or not on the ridge. Reaching the edge of the ridge at about 600 m.a.m.s.l. only confirmed what I had seen from the distance, however, i.e. that snow was to scarce, and too many stones were protruding out of the snow. It would have been possible to do the climb with snow shoes, but not on skis, and definitely not if you love your skis. So I just turned around at 600 m.a.m.s.l., and returned to my car at the parking lot in Nakkedalen valley.

#9: View from Mount Litleskjerdingen towards the town of Ålesund, located between the two fjords that are seen.
#9: View from Mount Litleskjerdingen towards the town of Ålesund, located between the two fjords that are seen.
#10: My Telemark skiing equipment along with my little backpack, in which I'm keeping my avalanche safety equipment, i.e. a snow shovel and a foldable probe.
#10: My Telemark skiing equipment along with my little backpack, in which I'm keeping my avalanche safety equipment, i.e. a snow shovel and a foldable probe.

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