We drove for an hour or so to the same area as we were in yesterday and skinned 4 km in towards our peak. We were out to conquer Langdalstindane (1580 m) but the weather seemed to have other ideas. After ascending for a few hundred metres we were in a white-out. We found our way up to a bowl shaped area and sat there. Spirits were a little low as we had been wanting to summit today. Hallvard made his usual suggestion of building a kicker. This time a kicker was built and Chris, Aly, and Hallvard spent the next 45 mins or so jumping over a little cornice into the bowl.
Above left and middle: We ascended into cloud making our chances for a successful summit slim. Above right: Aly and Chris celebrate the “summit” in the bowl half way up.
Above left: We stopped due to poor visibility. As we waited for a potential break in the weather Chris, Aly, and Hallvard built a kicker. Chris drops into the bowl in this photo. Above right: Aly lifts off.
It seemed that waiting this was the right thing to do because it slowly began to clear until we could see awesome peaks above us. In front of us rising out of a basin was the glacier that leads up towards the summit. We decided to go for the top and began starting up the glacier. Chris, Em, and I roped up as we began to ascend. On both sides of the basin the mountains had the most awesome looking snowy/ice features. It was such an awesome feeling to be there.
After a while Emily decided she would prefer to walk and we debated whether I should stay on the rope or walk up alone. I tried to release my ski but the side of my boot got caught in the binding and it jammed. I pushed it out knocking the ski loose and it began to slide backwards down the steep slope. I swore as we watched it slowly pick up speed. Luckily however as it did that it turned so that the brake and ski crampon that I had fitted a minute earlier cut into the snow. The ski stopped and I went down and fetched it. We trekked the last 50 m or so of the 1530 m ascent to the summit without further problems.
The views from the top and during our ascent were absolutely awesome. Snow covered mountains in every direction. I could easily become addicted to this. Mmmm delicious.
Above left: Skinning up the glacier on the rope with Chris and Em. Above right: Skins off and it was time to carry our skis for the last 50 m.
Above: Views from near the summit.
Above: Photos from the summit of Langdalstindane.
Above left: Aly about to start the descent with Go Pro camera attached. Above right: Chris and Em about to make the descent.
Above: Chris prepares to ski down the last section of the descent.
By the time we got home it was nearly 9 pm. This was of course not a problem as it doesn’t get dark at the moment. We celebrated a good day by lounging in the hut tub by the sea.
Above left: Beer in the hot tub after a good day out in the mountains. Above right: As dark as it gets. The view out into the fiord taken at 1 am. I was keen to see the northern lights but it never got dark enough.