Langlitinden
1,276 m
Norway
- Elevation
- 1,276 m
- Prominence
- 1,276 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Mar–Apr
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: Red (krevende / demanding) (ut.no; peakbook.org)
A sea-level start: a marked and cairned path climbs from the head of Straumbotnfjorden through birch forest beside Bjørndalselva to the glacial lake Innerholvatnet (575 m), then up a steep rocky ridge and the north flank to Norway's highest island summit. About 1,270 m of ascent, 5–6 km each way.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 5.0 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,273 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,276 m
- Time Up
- 4h 52m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 11m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Åndervåg on Andørja's north-west side, drive south along the east shore of Straumbotnfjorden to the road end at Straumbotn and park at the old gravel pit just before Bjørndalselva, where an information board marks the start (about 10 m). The red-marked path climbs the left (west) side of Bjørndalselva, crosses the river on a footbridge and continues moderately steeply through open birch forest. After about 1.5 km the path forks: the right branch goes to Juliusvatnet; keep left into the cirque below Langlitinden and follow cairns south to Innerholvatnet (575 m), a blue-green glacial lake and the natural rest stop. From the lake climb the ridge north of it, steep but on dry rock and cairned all the way, passing north of point 1033, then up the northern flank to the summit cairn with its logbook box. The east side drops steeply to the Blåisen glacier; keep back from the edge, which carries cornices into early summer. Allow 3–3½ hours up; a 2012 party took 4½ hours for the round trip, and a local guidebook gives about 5 hours. Descend the same way. In winter the same approach is a serious ski tour (KAST 3, complex terrain) with known avalanche paths at 800–900 m.
Start
Straumbotn8 m
- Buses on Andørja are infrequent; a car is practically required. Fly to Harstad/Narvik Evenes and hire a car.
- Parking at the trailhead
Waypoints
- Parking: Straumbotn8 m
Old gravel pit by Bjørndalselva; information board
- Feature: Innerholvatnet576 m
- Summit: Langlitinden1,276 m
Key Passages
- Footbridge over Bjørndalselva
- Fork to Juliusvatnet (keep left)
- Innerholvatnet
- Steep rocky ridge north of Innerholvatnet
- Summit edge above the Blåisen glacier
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
The highest point of Andørja (1,276 m) and the highest summit on any Norwegian island outside Jan Mayen, climbed from sea level on a marked path past a glacial lake. Its full height is its prominence.
Andørja, in Ibestad municipality in southern Troms, is a 135 km² island with eleven summits over 1,000 m, and Langlitinden on its north-eastern side is the highest. Because the climb starts at the fjord, the 1,276 m of ascent are all earned on foot, and with 1,276 m of prominence it is among the fifteen most prominent mountains in Norway.
The summer route from Straumbotn is a straightforward but steep and long marked hike: birch forest, a blue-green glacial lake at 575 m, then a rocky ridge to a summit cairn above the steep east face and the small Blåisen glacier, one of the highest-lying in northern Norway. The view takes in Løksetind and the other Andørja peaks and the surrounding fjords.
In winter and spring Langlitinden is a serious ski-mountaineering objective, with descents on all sides from moderate 20–25° slopes to steep couloirs, big east-facing cornices and well-documented avalanche paths.
Climbing Notes
Summer: a fit hiker needs about 3–3½ hours up and 5–7 hours for the round trip, with about 1,270 m of ascent from near sea level. The path is marked in red and cairned; the upper ridge is steep rocky terrain but needs no scrambling skills beyond sure-footedness. Expect old snow on the upper slopes into early summer, and stay well back from the corniced east edge.
Winter and spring (January–April): the west-side approach is rated KAST 3 (complex terrain). Large avalanches have run at 800–900 m on the traverse towards point 1033, and the east and north descents are steep and committing. Bring transceiver, shovel and probe, plus ice axe and crampons for the wind-scoured summit and ridge, and check varsom.no.
Andørja is reached by road from the mainland; a car is the only practical way around the island. Combined with neighbouring Kråkrøtinden the day becomes about 12 km and 1,700 m of ascent.
Season
Best Mar–Apr- January: Possible
- February: Good
- March: Best (best window)
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best
- August: Best
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Ski touring only; polar night until mid-January, avalanche terrain
- Feb
- Ski touring; check varsom.no
- Mar
- Best ski-touring month; longer days
- Apr
- Spring ski touring
- May
- Late spring snow; transition season
- Jun
- Midnight sun; snow lingers on the upper ridge
- Jul
- Main hiking season
- Aug
- Main hiking season
- Sep
- Autumn colours; shorter days and more rain
- Oct
- First snow; short days
- Nov
- Dark, wintry and stormy
- Dec
- Polar night
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Harstad
Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes (EVE)
- By car to Åndervåg on Andørja's north-west side, then south along the east shore of Straumbotnfjorden to the road end at Straumbotn (summer trailhead at the old gravel pit by Bjørndalselva)
- Winter ski tours start from the turning area at Vang (west side), the small paved car park at Fornes (east and north sides) or the road end by Holte in Vasskaret
- Public transport on the island is sparse; fly to Evenes and hire a car
Hazards
- Avalanche
- Cornices
- Weather
- Exposure