Svartisen: Vesterdalen

[Kennethgijsel]

Hi,

We're planning a hiking trip in the Svartisen area this summer (mid july). Does anyone know if it's possible to traverse the Vesterdalen between the two main glaciers of Svartisen without special equipment? Or is it too complicated with all those rivers?

[Vandrefalk]

Shouldn`t be a problem, exept maybe in periods with extreme downpour...

[DobbelNilssen]

Me and some buddies traversed the Vesterdalen in July 2007, and experienced no problems.

I would advise you to follow the eastern side of the river that's floats down the Vesterdalen. It is not possible to cross the main river

some kilometers downstream Lake Terskaldvatnet.

If you need more information, tracks, pictures and so on, please don't hesitate to ask me =) Just send me a PM =)

[Gjest Otto Støver]

Did you go over the glacier DobbelNilssen, or another way out at the north end?

[DobbelNilssen]

We were brought by boat over Lake Storglomvatn to Terskald, and headed south.

Our final destination was the old farm at Fisketjønna in Rana municipality.

It's possible to walk around lake Storgomvatn, both on the western and eastern side of the lake,

but there is glacier crossing involved on boath sides.

[erlendne]

This seems like a very nice trip. The area is awesome. If it's your first time there you can look forward to a very nice experience.

[Vandrefalk]

According to the logbook at the small cabin at Pikhaugvatnet there is a small trickle of hikers going through this valley each summer. A surprising percentage of whom seems to be Dutch! As they cannot rely on being transported by boat over Storglomvatnet I guess they traverse the (easy) glacier to the east of Storglomvatn and walks Sørdalen and Gråtådalen thus ending (or starting) in Beiardalen...

[JeroenBouman]

@Vandrefalk: you say 'traverse the (easy) glacier to the east of Storglomvatn'. But I guess you still need crampons and pickle, right?

Is it river A or river B (the Glormåga) on this google-map http://bit.ly/aOkb92 that can't be crossed?

[Vandrefalk]

I`d say you only need crampons, and they don`t have to be of the professional type..

None of the rivers will be especially difficult to cross in normal conditions, in case of heavy downpour both could prove interesting... Bear in mind that the water in these rivers comes from glaciers and will be extremely cold!

[JeroenBouman]

Thanks for that superfast answer Vandrefalk!

But cold water, serious?? I'll have to bring my water cooker

On topic again: I'll think about this fjell tur and get as must info as I can.

[Troels]

I'm planing a trip to the area so I hope its okay to rewake this old tread.

Is it reasonable to go east from Sørdalen over Lappflyttarskaret? It looks ok from the maps but I would like to hear if anyone here has crossed there? Or is it better to access Bogvatnet further south of Istinden along the edgde of the northeastern tongue of Svartisen?

 

Endret 20. april 2017 av Troels

[Vandrefalk]

I`ve only crossed there in winter, but I know of people who`s crossed in summer, and as the ice probably has been reduced the last years it shouldn`t be any problem..

[Troels]

Hi Vandrefalken

Thank you very much for your answer. Its always great with advice from the locals!

Troels