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Time
for a new visit to Spiterstulen in Jotunheimen, this
time accompanied
by Peter and Dante. The buildings, here
in the background, are at 1100m
altitude in Visdalen. We
have parked a bit away, where the 10km long trail up to
Glittertind begins. In the background is Styggehøe, 2200m.
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Another
picture towards Spiterstulen, now from 1200m altitude. The slopes
leading up towards Galdhøpiggen
can be seen to the right. |
After
a diagonal ascent of 300+ altitude meters, Glittertind turns up ahead.
Here it's a bit to the left, from 1475m. The trail now gets fairly
flat, for
about 3km to the actual mountain.
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A
larger mountain brook must be passed here, demanding some
planning.
From here we can see Galdhøpiggen,
2469m, to the west. |
Time
for the first real brake, on 1600m+, before taking on
the actual
mountain. We have walked for more than 2 hours now. |
This
is what's coming. A 400a.m. really steep slope, through the snocovered
area in middle of the picture. The staff in Spiterstulen told us that
the snow is difficult to walk now. And there is a lot of snow this year.
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Now we learn just how difficult it
is. All
three of us are more
or less exhausted, as we reach the crest at 2100m, and a
flatter climb begins. But now the
snow gets soft instead.
Time after time we sink down to our knees, and this
takes
even more energy. Here are two groups of cheerful
norwegian women (and one dog) catching up and passing
three tired swedes. Well, they are
tired too... |
Even
if the last part to the summit is flatter, it's still difficult
to walk
in the soft snow. We also have 300a.m. and 2km
left to walk. Some of
the women choose to crawl, to avoid sinking down in the
snow... |
Finally,
even we work our way up. In my own case it's mostly a matter of
willpower. Here is the last part to the summit, finally visible.
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Dante
at high point, 2465m. We needed more than 6h to
get here... But that's
how it can be, when conditions and
(my) fitness isn't the best. One
needs to stay a few meters
away from the edge, since there is an
overhang, with a
200m drop below. The last part up to the summit we
enter
the glacier, at this point 10-15m thick. |
In
spite of all the difficulties getting here, it's still well worthwhile.
The view from Glittertind is magnificent, and
we are completely alone
up here. Galdhøpiggen can be
seen to the west
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Jotunheimenfeeling straight
to the south. Closest in the picture is Ryggjehøe, 2142m
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More to
the southwest, Hurrungane in the background,
for once free from clouds.
The weather really is perfect. |
Hurrungane
once again, more zoomed in. |
As
an experience, Glittertind is quite different from Galdhøpiggen. The
glacier at the summit, fewer people going there, makes Glittertind a
clear winner. But it can be a physically demanding tour, if your'e out
of shape. Straight to the north, first some peaks belonging to
Jotunheimen, then
almost unlimited view of the mountin world up north.
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