Stortinden
1,321 m
Norway
Also known as Stortinden - Gobigáisi, GobigáisiAlso known as
Stortinden - Gobigáisi · Gobigáisi
- Elevation
- 1,321 m
- Prominence
- 1,244 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Apr–May
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: YDS class 2 (snow slopes, small glacier) (prominent-mountains.no)
The classic line, visible from the E8: cross Sørbotnelva, climb the avalanche-prone stream gully to a col at about 800 m, then a small glacier with 30–40° sections to the col at about 1,210 m and an easy, corniced ridge north to the summit. About 1,260 m of ascent; a popular spring ski tour and an early-summer snow climb.
About 100% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 8 check notes
- 100% approximate geometry
- DIN time up 4.75 h vs published 3.0 h (+58%)
- DIN time down 3.07 h vs published 1.5 h (+105%)
- low confidence 0.42
- Lavangsdalen (Mellomdalen) → Col 800: dem (snap_failed, 2.1 km)
- Col 800 → North-east glacier: dem (snap_failed, 0.9 km)
- North-east glacier → Stortinden: glacier (snap_failed, 0.5 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Sørbotnelva, Summit ridge col
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 3.5 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,280 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,321 m
- Time Up
- 4h 45m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 04m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Park on the west side of the E8 in Lavangsdalen where Mellomdalen comes in, about 35–40 km south of Tromsø (about 65 m). Sørbotnelva must be crossed first; there is a bridge near the small parking where the guardrail ends, about 1.2 km south of the large Sarastein car park, but late in the season it can take some searching, and without it the river is about 4 m wide and over 1 m deep. Climb the stream gully that drains the glacier north-east of the summit. Between 260 and 580 m there are slopes of 30–40°, and the whole lower section to 800 m lies under the steep sides of Pernilsfjellet and Tverrbotnfjellet, where large avalanches run both in midwinter and in spring. At about 800 m the ground flattens into the col towards the valley to the north-west (head of Tverrelva). From the col contour left onto the small glacier and follow its south side; 840–980 m again has 30–40° sections. Head for the low point of the col on the summit ridge (about 1,210 m); the last 30–40 m can be 30–35° and may carry a cornice. From the col the ridge is broad and can usually be skied or walked to the summit, but huge cornices overhang the vertical cliffs on the left (east) side: stay well back. Descend the same way. Times: about 2 hours up on skis for a fit party, 3 hours in deep snow on foot, 1.5 hours down.
Start
Lavangsdalen (Mellomdalen)65 m
- The trailhead is on the E8 about 35–40 km south of Tromsø; long-distance buses use the E8, but a convenient stop was not verified, so a car is the practical option.
- Parking at the trailhead
Waypoints
- Parking: Lavangsdalen (Mellomdalen)65 m
Turnout on the west side of the E8 near the outlet of Mellomdalen
- Col: Col 800801 m
Head of Tverrelva; flat area before the glacier
- Feature: North-east glacier1,066 m
Follow the south side; possible crevasses in summer
- Summit: Stortinden1,321 m
Key Passages
- Sørbotnelva crossing
- 30–40° gully section 260–580 m under Pernilsfjellet
- Col at about 800 m
- Glacier and steep last 30–40 m to the ridge col
- Corniced summit ridge
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 42%Overview
The highest peak above Lavangsdalen south of Tromsø, a 1,321 m snow-and-glacier summit with 1,244 m of prominence. It is a classic spring ski tour from the E8, through serious avalanche terrain and up to a corniced summit ridge.
Stortinden (Gobigáisi in Northern Sami) rises straight from the E8 in Lavangsdalen, about 40 km by road south of Tromsø near the Balsfjord boundary. With about 1,240 m of prominence it is among the twenty most prominent mountains in Norway, and its east side, a vertical cliff hung with heavy cornices above two small glaciers, is clearly seen from the road.
The usual line is the one you can see from the car: up the stream gully opposite the parking, over a flat col at about 800 m and across a small glacier to the summit ridge. It is short, about 1,260 m of ascent and 10 km round trip, and in spring it is one of the best-known ski tours in the Tromsø area, but almost all of it is avalanche terrain under steep walls. From the top the view takes in Senja, Kvaløya, the Lyngen Alps and the neighbouring Lavangsdalen peaks.
In summer the glacier route still holds snow into July; a longer summer alternative goes round the back of the mountain via Andersdalskjeften, avoiding the ice but crossing tiring scree.
Climbing Notes
Spring (March–May): a fit ski tourer needs about 2–2½ hours up and under an hour down. The route has 30–40° slopes at 260–580 m and 840–980 m and a lee slope of 30–35° to the ridge col, so travel only when the avalanche danger is low, check varsom.no, and space out under Pernilsfjellet. Carry transceiver, shovel and probe; ice axe and crampons are often useful. A rope is not normally used on the glacier in winter.
Summer: expect 5–7 hours round trip. Early in the season the gully and glacier are a straightforward snow climb (YDS class 2); later the snow can be hard and icy and the small glacier may show crevasses, so bring ice axe, crampons and consider a rope. On the summit ridge stay well away from the east edge, where cornices overhang a vertical cliff. The Sørbotnelva crossing at the start is a bridge, but it can be hard to find when the snow has gone; wading is unpleasant and over a metre deep.
Season
Best Apr–May- January: Not advisable
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Good
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Possible
- October: Not advisable
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Polar night until mid-January; high avalanche exposure
- Feb
- Ski touring in stable conditions only
- Mar
- Ski touring; check varsom.no
- Apr
- Best ski-touring month
- May
- Spring snow and long days; midnight sun from late May
- Jun
- Early-summer snow climb; wet-snow avalanches possible
- Jul
- Summer ascent; snow on the glacier
- Aug
- Glacier icier; crampons and ice axe
- Sep
- Icy glacier, early snow, shortening days
- Oct
- Early winter, little daylight
- Nov
- Polar night approaching
- Dec
- Polar night
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Tromsø
Tromsø Airport (TOS)
- By car about 35–40 km south from Tromsø on the E8 (via Fagernes and along Ramfjorden) into Lavangsdalen
- Park on the west side of the E8 at the outlet of Mellomdalen, or at the small turnout where the guardrail ends about 1.2 km south of the Sarastein car park
Hazards
- Avalanche
- Cornices
- Glacier
- Crevasses
- Weather
- River crossing