Reitetinden
1,261 m
Norway
Also known as Elveskardtindan, РеитетинденAlso known as
Elveskardtindan · Реитетинден
- Elevation
- 1,261 m
- Prominence
- 1,066 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Aug
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: YDS class 3 (prominent-mountains.no) · Red / demanding (ut.no)
From sea level at Håkavika on the Lavangsnes road: a marked path up through birch forest to Nerskaret and the Isvatnet lakes (about 680 m), then pathless grass, scree and late snow up the basin to the ridge by point 1252 and an airy but easy scramble along the crest to the big summit cairn. About 8.5 km and 1,300 m of ascent one way.
About 100% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 7 check notes
- 100% approximate geometry
- DIN time up 5.72 h vs published 3.5 h (+63%)
- low confidence 0.4
- Håkavika → Nerskaret: dem (snap_failed, 2.4 km)
- Nerskaret → Isvatnet: dem (snap_failed, 2.1 km)
- Isvatnet → Saddle by point 1252: dem (snap_failed, 2.8 km)
- Saddle by point 1252 → Reitetinden: dem (snap_failed, 0.4 km)
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 7.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,365 m
- −107 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,261 m
- Time Up
- 5h 43m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 4h 02m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Rv 84 near Sjøvegan take the narrow road towards Lavangsnes for about 17 km to Håkavika and park by the boathouses (information board; sea level). Follow an overgrown cart track, then the well-marked path that climbs east of Håkavikelva through forest to the tree line at about 500 m. At a junction the path to Høgfjellet goes left; keep on across wet ground, cross Fjelltverrelva and climb to Nerskaret and in to Isvatnet (about 680 m), roughly 2 hours. Beyond Isvatnet there is no marked path, only sheep trails. Follow the left side of the valley past the lakes and up towards the saddle between point 1252 and Reitetinden; aim for grassy slopes to avoid loose scree. A large permanent snowfield lies on the east side of the main ridge and old snow often has to be crossed; Bjørstad used crampons and an ice axe here in September. Gain the crest north of the summit and scramble along it (never harder than YDS class 3, exposed in places) to the cairn. ut.no gives 3½ hours one way; kugo took about 2½ hours over 8 km by a higher traverse below the Elveskardtindan tops. Descend the same way. Note that the signpost for 'Reitetinden' on this path points to the lower Ånefinntinden, called Reitetinden in the local 30-trimmen challenge.
Start
Håkavika3 m
- No practical public transport to Håkavika; car required.
- Parking at the trailhead
Waypoints
- Parking: Håkavika3 m
Parking by the boathouses; information board
- Col: Nerskaret557 m
- Feature: Isvatnet676 m
End of the marked path
- Col: Saddle by point 12521,149 m
Low point between point 1252 and Reitetinden
- Summit: Reitetinden1,261 m
Key Passages
- Marked forest path east of Håkavikelva
- Crossing of Fjelltverrelva
- Nerskaret and Isvatnet
- Snowfield and scree below point 1252
- Exposed final ridge to the cairn
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
The highest point west of Lavangseidet in southern Troms, a 1,261 m ridge summit on the Lavangen–Salangen boundary with over 1,000 m of prominence. It is reached from sea level at Håkavika on a marked path, then pathless scree, snow and a short exposed ridge.
Reitetinden rises above Lavangsfjorden and Salangen in southern Troms. It is usually counted as one of the Elveskardtindan, a jagged chain of tops at 1,240–1,260 m that includes points 1243, 1258 and 1252, and should not be confused with Reitetindan (plural), two to three kilometres west, or with Ånefinntinden, which the local 30-trimmen hiking challenge also calls 'Reitetinden'. With about 1,065 m of prominence it is one of Norway's roughly 85 summits with a primary factor over 1,000 m.
The approach from Håkavika starts at the shore and follows a good marked path through birch forest to the Isvatnet lakes. Above that you choose your own way over grass, scree and old snow to the summit ridge. A large permanent snowfield lies on the east side of the main ridge. The view from the cairn covers most of the mountains of southern Troms.
Few people climb it compared with the region's marked summits, and route descriptions are scarce, so expect to find your own line.
Climbing Notes
A long day of about 8.5 km and 1,300 m of ascent each way; ut.no gives 3½ hours up for a fit hiker. The first half is a marked path; above Isvatnet (about 680 m) there are only sheep trails. Aim for grassy slopes to avoid loose scree, and expect to cross snow: an ice axe and crampons are sensible, particularly in autumn or early summer. The final ridge is a short scramble (YDS class 3), exposed in places but on fairly broad ground. Do not follow the 'Reitetinden' signpost on the path, which leads to the lower Ånefinntinden. Navigation can be confusing in fog because of the several similar tops of the Elveskardtindan. The road to Håkavika is narrow.
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 until mid-January
- Feb
- Winter; steep avalanche terrain
- Mar
- Experienced ski tourers only
- Apr
- Spring snow; avalanche risk
- May
- Snowmelt
- Jun
- Much snow above 800 m; midnight sun
- Jul
- Best hiking month
- Aug
- Best hiking month
- Sep
- Firm snow on the snowfield; crampons useful
- Oct
- First snow
- Dec
- Polar night
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Sjøvegan
Bardufoss Airport (BDU)
- From the E6 about 9 km south of Setermoen take Rv 851 west towards Sjøvegan, then Rv 84 and the narrow road towards Lavangsnes for about 17 km to Håkavika
- Park by the boathouses at Håkavika (signed trailhead with information board)
- No practical public transport to the trailhead
Hazards
- Exposure
- Rockfall
- Weather
- Avalanche