Jiehtanasgáisi
1,549 m
Norway
Also known as Olmavaara, MannfjelletAlso known as
Olmavaara · Mannfjellet
- Elevation
- 1,549 m
- Prominence
- 1,060 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Aug
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2The usual approach from the east: about 5 km by gravel road and ATV track (often cycled) up Sørdalen from Søreng in Kitdalen, then pathless past the lakes Fiskelaus and Bogelvvatnan, scree to a plateau at about 1,250 m, the broad buttress to Mannfjellvarden (Olmmáivárri, 1,533 m) and a 500 m ridge with a few narrow passages to the highest top. About 13.5 km one way.
About 51% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 5 check notes
- 51% approximate geometry
- Søreng → Fiskelaus: bridge (snap_failed; one off-graph gap, 8.2 km)
- Fiskelaus → Mannfjellvarden: dem (snap_failed, 4.5 km)
- Mannfjellvarden → Jiehtanasgáisi: dem (snap_failed, 0.7 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Bogelvvatnan
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 13.5 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,529 m
- −115 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,549 m
- Time Up
- 7h 01m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 5h 07m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at Søreng in Kitdalen on the E8 and follow the dirt road into Sørdalen; it is a good gravel road for about half the way and a grassy ATV track beyond, and many parties cycle the first 5 km (e-bikes work well). From the tree line follow the river up to the lake Fiskelaus (886 m) and on to the Bogelvvatnan lakes (about 940 m), passing round Bogfjellet. Scramble up scree (20–30°) to the plateau at about 1,250 m south-east of the east buttress of Olmmáivárri, then climb the broad buttress, no steeper than about 30°, to Mannfjellvarden (1,533 m), a Storfjord 'Ti på topp' summit with a cairn. There is no path and no waymarking. The north-east ridge from Mannfjellvarden to Jiehtanasgáisi is about 500 m long, with steep drops on both sides and a few narrow passages; a few cairns lead round a distinct rock step. A rope is normally not needed in summer. The summit is airy, with a cairn and views to Otertinden, Vassdalsfjellet and the Lyngen Alps. Return the same way, or use a snow flank on the Blåisen glacier side and continue to Markusfjellet (1,541 m) for a long round.
Start
Søreng136 m
- None confirmed to Søreng.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Søreng → Jiehtanasgáisi | 13.5 | 1,529 | 115 | 7h 01m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Søreng136 m
Start of the Sørdalen gravel road
- Feature: Fiskelaus883 m
- Shoulder: Mannfjellvarden1,530 m
Olmmáivárri; start of the north-east ridge
- Summit: Jiehtanasgáisi1,549 m
Key Passages
- Scree to the 1,250 m plateau
- East buttress of Olmmáivárri
- Narrow passages and rock step on the north-east ridge
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 60%Overview
The airy highest top (1,549 m) of Mannfjellet, the massif between Signaldalen and Kitdalen at the head of Storfjorden in Troms. Pathless approaches from either valley end with a narrow but easy ridge to a small summit with views over the southern Lyngen Alps.
Mannfjellet (North Sami Olmmáivárri, 'the man mountain'; Kven Olmavaara) is a large massif in Storfjord municipality in Troms, separating Signaldalen from Kitdalen at the inner end of Storfjorden. It takes its name from rock formations on its ridges that look like men standing against the sky. Its highest top has a separate Sami name, Jiehtanasgáisi, 'the giant's peak'; locals often use Mannfjellet for the whole mountain. The rock is garnet mica schist.
The main top is reached from Mannfjellvarden (Olmmáivárri, 1,533 m), a popular local summit, by a 500 m ridge with steep drops on both sides and a few narrow passages. From the east the approach is a long walk up Sørdalen from Kitdalen, often shortened by cycling the first 5 km; from the west a steep, pathless climb from Signaldalen gains about 1,470 m to a high plateau. Neither route has a path or waymarks.
The summit is small and airy, with wide views to Otertinden, Vassdalsfjellet, Piggtinden, Bárrás and the Lyngen Alps. With about 1,059 m of prominence it is one of Norway's roughly 85 summits above 1,000 m.
Climbing Notes
Expect a long day: 27 km return from Søreng (less if cycling the valley road) or about 8–9 hours from Fredheim in Signaldalen. Carry a map and GPS; fog is common on the ridge and the plateau. In summer the ridge needs no rope, but snow often lingers on the plateau and ridges into July, and crampons and an ice axe are useful on the snow ridge from Signaldalen. Late June to August, with the midnight sun until late July, is the best window.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Polar night
- Mar
- Winter ascent for experienced parties; avalanche terrain
- May
- Much snow on the upper mountain
- Jun
- Snow ridge and plateau still snowy; crampons useful
- Oct
- First snow
- Nov
- Very short days (about 6 hours of daylight in November)
- Dec
- Polar night
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Parking at Fredheim in Signaldalen is on private farmland; ask permission
- Getting There
Skibotn; Tromsø for full services
Tromsø Airport, Langnes (TOS)
- Car (east): E8 into Kitdalen to Søreng, then the gravel road into Sørdalen
- Car (west): E6 to Hatteng at the head of Storfjorden, then the road up Signaldalen about 12.5 km to Fredheim
Hazards
- Exposure
- Weather
- Avalanche
- Remoteness