Estimated net time	2-2½ hours
Difficulty	No difficulties.
Drinking water	No stable access to running water except for the stream by trail head.
GSM coverage	Coverage throughout the route (December 2012).
Parking	Room for many cars at car park by trail head.
Start height	235 metres
Vertical metres	390 metres for the roundtrip.
Trip distance	5.3 km
GPS-file	X
Map		Google Interactive Map
Route photo	Høgsalen trail head at Storsætra.   Høgsalen route up to start of path at Høgsætra.

From Ålesund drive road E39/E136 east towards Åndalsnes. Turn left onto road 661 by Digerneset, towards Vatne and Brattvåg and drive approximately 7 km to where it is signed "Engsetdal" to your right. Turn right here, and drive 5.5 km to the "Storsætra" exit. Turn left and drive 2.6 km up to the Storsætra car park. Park here.

Start your hike by following the forest road uphill. When the road forks after 700 metres make sure you fork left, and continue another 900 metres to the end of the road. From the old houses at the end of the road continue west on a vague paint. Leave this path after 250 metres and head north-west up the slopes. Turn a little right when you get up above the steepest section and head north towards the summit, which is marked by a proper cairn.

Descend by reversing your ascent route.

02. December 2012

The weather forecast for this Sunday was very promising, but I was a little restricted time-wise so decided to hike something that wouldn't involve a long drive. After a quick look at my maps I decided to hike Høgsalen from Storsætra, which is a top I have had on my to-do list for a couple of years.

At the Storsætra trail head I noticed that the gate to the gravel road was open, but I didn't fancy driving up to the end of the road as this would take too much distance out of my hike, and wouldn't make for a proper outing. Walking up the gravel road to Høgsætra was a cold experience, with temperatures down towards -10°C and a chilling wind. But the gentle uphill got the blood pump going and I soon got warm and enjoyed the easy walking.

At the end of the gravel road, at Høgsætra, I followed the vague path across icy patches a couple of hundred metres before heading off-path up the heather clad south slopes. Up at approximately 580 metres I was happy to see a proper cairn, and soon got confirmation that this was Høgsalen's summit. It was cold and a little windy, but not colder than I allowed myself time to take photos and enjoy the fine views. I also studied potential ascent routes to Grasdalsfjellet from north, before heading back down via my ascent route.
Photos 02.12.2012