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There is a wide contrast between the western and eastern areas of the national park:
the western area consists of savagely serrated peaks and glaciers; the eastern half
rolling fjells, devoid of glaciers. Equally so, there is a marked variation in rain
fall between the two regions: in the west you are more than likely to get soaked; w
hile the east enjoys a rain shadow climate.
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During a hill walking holiday in Norway, May 1997, an ascent of
one of the easier 2,000m peaks in the western half of the
Jotunheimen was attempted. The climb consisted of a 900m slog up
the west slope of Storbreatind, a satelite of the jagged
Smortabbtindane group.
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Our starting point was the Krossbu hut on the E55, the main
road that climbs up from Lustrafjorden to cross the northern
boundary of the Jotunheimen. Although the hut was still closed
in late May, the snow had been cleared from the car park,
allowing us somewhere to leave the car.
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After putting on our boots and snow gaiters, making sure that
the rucksacks were full of the neccessary food, hot flasks of
soup and other assorted paraphinalia associated with winter
hill walhing, we set off across the hard packed snow towards
the base of our fist objective, Veslefjell (1528m).
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After an hour of walking on hard snow, the top of Veslefjell
was reached, providing a good view point to admire Leirbreen
and its surrounding peaks. Although the air temperature was
well below freezing, the sun still managed to burn us, even
with a thick smearing of sun bloc on all exposed flesh. The
route ahead was clear, a direct asault on the whale back slope
of Storbreatind would lead us directly to the 2092m summit.
Although it didn't look like it, the 600m ascent to the top was
to prove to be a three hour slog. However, the improving views
were sufficient consolation.
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On convex slopes like this, the final few metres of climbing is
always filled with anticipation. What will the view, untill now
hidden by the ground infront, be like? What peaks will be
visible and how far will I be able to see? Well, I was not be
disappointed. Once on the top, a jumbled mass of peaks and
ridges lay before us, the handy work of man no where to be
seen.
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While we lingered on the top, wasting huge quantities of film,
some of the results being displayed here, we pondered our next
move. Having taken much longer than anticipated to reach the
summit, it was considered prudent to retrace our steps back to
the road, rather than continue, as originally planned, to the
next peak, Veslefjelltind. However, the afternoon sun had
managed to turn the snow from a hard walking surface to what
could only be described as a nightmare. Each step we took
resulted in us breaking through a thin surface crust and
sinking up to our wastes in the unconsolidated powder below.
During the ascent, this surface crust of snow was sufficent to
support our weight but the afternoon sun had partially melted
and weakened it. Conequently, the return journey was more
tiring than the ascent and the comfort of the parked car wasn't
reached untill after sun set.
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