First part of route to Molnesfjellet.
| Molnesfjellet from
Molnes Molnesfjellet |
| Estimated net time | Less than one hour | ||
| Difficulty | No difficulties, but if you short-cut the route up to the west ridge you will be using your hands on the steep grass. | ||
| Drinking water | No stable access to running water. | ||
| GSM coverage | Coverage throughout the route (May 2011). | ||
| Parking | Room for a couple of cars next to the road at trail head. | ||
| Start height | 10 metres | ||
| Vertical metres | 125 metres for the roundtrip. | ||
| Trip distance | 2.1 km | ||
| GPS-file | X | ||
| Map |
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| Route photo |
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From Ålesund drive road 658 towards Vigra, through the two sub-sea tunnels. When you get out of the second tunnel, at Valderøya, drive 8.5 km and turn right where signed for "Roald". This junction is 1.5 km after the exit for the airport. Drive 600 metres along the road towards Roald and turn left towards Molnes. And then drive 1.7 km along this road. Find parking on the right hand side of the road just before a gravel road that goes off to the right. The direct line between you and Molnesfjellet's summit is now perpendicular to the main road.
Start your walk by following the gravel road towards Molnesfjellet and the farm at the end of the road, approximately 230 metres. After you have passed the barn turn left and continue left (west) and follow the hill side across the fields. After 200 metres the forest on your right hand side ends and you can climb the steep side to gain the west ridge of Molnesfjellet. Alternatively continue another 130 metres, until you meet a small forest, and then turn right in order to gain the ridge further west than if ascending the steep hill side.
Once on the ridge turn right (east) and follow the path to the summit, which is marked by a trigonometric point marker.
Descend by reversing your ascent route, noting that the western route gives the easiest descent.
After having hiked Signalen, as part of me waiting for my mum to land at Ålesund airport, I still had a good 90 minutes to wait. I therefore decided to pay a visit to the small top Molnesfjellet. First I stopped at the local store and bought a couple of rolls and some drinks, and then hit the road across to the north-western tip of Vigra.
As I approached the assumed trail head, all I could see where a number of "no parking" signs. I therefore drove a few hundred metres back along the road, where I found acceptable parking and what seemed to be a possible short route up to the west ridge of Molnesfjellet. This turned out to be a good choice, despite some steep terrain, and I could walk up the final hill to the summit. After enjoying the fine views and signing the summit registration book, I headed back down, and this time I proceeded past the point where I arrived the ridge, with the purpose to find a proper path down from the ridge without having to follow the ridge to its western end. This partly failed, but I did find a vague path down through the small forest, and from there on I could follow the hill side back to the farm.
Following the hike I drove across to the airport, where I managed to get a NOK
500 parking fine ...
Photos 05.05.2011