There was ice everywhere around the parking lot, remnants of last cold Thursday and Friday. There weren't very thick 2-3" in places but planty of slick ice where's there's water. One has to walk rather slowly and carefully on the tarmac, one bad step, you are bound to be on the ground in less than two seconds flat.
Last week we were too ambitious in attempting to climb both Mattiruddla (343m) and Bjorndalsfjellet (363m) in one go via the southern entrance. By the time we went through the circuituous route and ended up on Mattiruddla, we were well disoriented, short of time and tired.
Today we chose an alternate route which was more direct. We trudged through frozen muck and streams, trampled over frozen grass and branches; and clambered up rocks, some still covered in frozen snow. The climb up was slightly slow with too many breaks for snow fights and refueling stops.
We climbed up three ridges and walked down two valleys before ending up on the ridge ridge where the peak rests. The view all around was white, cold; and undoubtedly beautiful. Lucky for us the cold wind was blowing only from certain approaches, today there were only two spots facing the wind so temperature wasn't a big issue. The height was high enough for us to peer down Mattirudla, Dalsnuten and Eikenuten. And of course a great view of the the highest peak which is also on our list Bynuten at 671m.
Dalsnuten (323m).
First stop with the first toffy.
This is made with much effort from both subject and photographer.
A stop midway and an early celebration, toffies all around.
Snowball ...!
Chuck the old guy down the gulley and we can have all the chocolates to ourselves!
The cairns and the peak, we signed our names in the book!
Bjorndalfjellet from the steep side.
Future peaks!
The kids love to be able to find patches of leftover frozen snow for impromptu snow fights up at 363m! Everyone clamberred down with big smiles back to the parking lot.
No comments:
Post a Comment