Skårasalen
1,543 m
Norway
Also known as СкорасаленAlso known as
Скорасален
- Elevation
- 1,543 m
- Prominence
- 1,384 m
- Difficulty
- 1/10
- Easy walk
- Best Season
- Apr–May
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2Sources differ: Fri Flyt ski grade 3 (complex) (friflyt.no)
One of Sunnmøre's most popular summits, on foot or ski: from the toll-road car park at Kvistadsætra (about 500 m) a clear path climbs through birch woods into Blådalen east of Blåhornet, then a cairned trail leads to the 1,210 m col on the main ridge and along a broad plateau to the summit cairns, 1,500 m above Hjørundfjorden. About 3.6 km and 1,010 m each way.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 4.0 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,098 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,560 m
- Time Up
- 4h 11m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 45m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Take Fv655 between Ørsta and Sæbø and turn off over a bridge at the sign for Kvistad, about 3.5 km west of Sæbø. A gravel road leads about 1 km to the barrier above the Kvistad farms; beyond it a toll road (NOK 45) climbs about 4 km up Kvistaddalen to the car park by Kvistadsætra and Årsetsætra at about 500 m. The road is closed in winter and usually opens in late April or May. Walk about 500 m along the tractor road above the field to the 'Skårasalen' sign, then turn left on a clear path up through open birch woods. Above the trees head north (left) into the gully of Blådalen between Blåhornet (1,120 m) and Skårasalen; the path turns to scree in the gully bottom. Follow the valley north to where the terrain opens out, then a good path marked with small cairns turns east up the slopes to the col on the main ridge at about 1,210 m. From the col follow the ridge east and then south onto the large summit plateau, which narrows towards the top and ends with a short rise to the three large cairns. There are no difficult or exposed points, but the east edge drops more than 1,500 m to Hjørundfjorden and carries cornices in winter and spring. Return the same way.
Start
Kvistadsætra462 m
- No public transport to Kvistadsætra; it is about 5 km from the main road.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kvistadsætra → Skårasalen | 4.0 | 1,098 | 18 | 4h 11m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Kvistadsætra462 m
End of the Kvistad toll road
- Feature: Blåhornet1,118 m
The route climbs the gully (Blådalen) on its east side; do not go to the top (not on route line)
- Col: Skårasalen col1,212 m
Col on the main ridge at the head of Lisje Skåradalen
- Summit: Skårasalen1,543 m
Key Passages
- Scree gully of Blådalen east of Blåhornet
- Col at 1,210 m on the main ridge
- Summit plateau above the Hjørundfjorden cornice
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
The most prominent mountain in Møre og Romsdal (about 1,380 m of prominence), a broad summit dropping more than 1,500 m to Hjørundfjorden. A straightforward path from Kvistadsætra makes it one of the most popular walks and spring ski tours in the Sunnmøre Alps.
Skårasalen rises on the Kolås peninsula on the west side of Hjørundfjorden in Ørsta municipality, south of Bondalen. Its gentle north-west side, a broad ridge and plateau reached from Kvistaddalen, contrasts with the east face, which falls more than 1,500 m almost directly into the fjord opposite Jakta and Slogen. To the south-west the jagged arête of Kvistadkjerringane, with named pinnacles first climbed in 1933, needs climbing gear in any season.
The normal route is a non-technical mountain walk of about 1,010 m from the car park at Kvistadsætra, reached by a toll road: a clear path through birch woods, a scree gully east of Blåhornet, a cairned path to the main ridge and a broad plateau to the three summit cairns. The view over Hjørundfjorden and the Sunnmøre Alps is counted among the finest in the region.
On skis it is a long-standing favourite. Most skiers go up and down the normal route; a classic alternative descends Lisje Skåradalen to Skår on the fjord and returns by boat, and experts ski the steep Vestrennene gullies. The summer-farm road is closed in winter, so most ski tours are in spring once it opens.
Climbing Notes
In summer this is a solid half-day walk for fit hikers: about 7 km return and just over 1,000 m of ascent, with no difficult or exposed sections; stay back from the east edge. Mobile coverage is poor on the way up but good on the summit. For ski tours, the gully east of Blåhornet regularly produces large avalanches that reach the summer-farm road, and cornices build on the east side of the plateau and ridge; check the varsom.no forecast. Book the boat from Skår in advance if descending to the fjord.
History
The first recorded ascent, as 'Skårtind', was by G. Arbuthnot and Johannes Vigdal on 29 July 1897, reportedly by the south ridge; westcoastpeaks.com questions whether they really started from Skår, since that would have meant traversing the Kvistadkjerringane pinnacles, first climbed in 1933.
Season
Best Apr–May- January: Not advisable
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Good
- July: Best
- August: Best
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Summer-farm road closed; avalanche-prone approach
- Feb
- Ski tour from Kvistad (5 hours up), stable conditions only
- Mar
- Ski touring
- Apr
- Prime ski season; road often opens late April or May
- May
- Spring skiing from Kvistadsætra
- Jun
- Snow on the upper mountain early in the month
- Oct
- Late-autumn ski tours possible after early snow
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Toll road from Kvistad to Kvistadsætra (NOK 45)
- Rules
- The Kvistad summer-farm road is closed in winter
- Getting There
Ørsta; Sæbø is the nearest village
Ørsta-Volda Airport, Hovden (HOV)
- Car: Fv655 from Ørsta towards Sæbø; turn off over the bridge signed 'Kvistad' about 3.5 km west of Sæbø, then about 5 km (toll) to the car park at Kvistadsætra/Årsetsætra
- Ferry: Sæbø–Leknes; boat or ferry from Skår to Sæbø for the Lisje Skåradalen descent must be booked
Hazards
- Avalanche
- Cornices
- Weather