Estimated net time	3½-4 hours
Difficulty	No difficulties, but the route is a little steep in a couple of places. You're most likely to have to ascend both summits without skis, from somewhere above the saddle between Ringshornet and Småholtindan-1473.
Drinking water	The route runs along a stream up to approximately 1100 metres, but you'll have access to running water only from late spring.
GSM coverage	Coverage above the saddle between Ringshornet and Småholtindan-1473 (June 2011).
Parking	Room for a couple of cars by trail head. Room for many cars at the larger car park 300 metres further north on road 63.
Start height	720 metres
Vertical metres	915 metres for the roundtrip.
Trip distance	6.7 km
GPS-file	X
Map		Google Interactive Map
Route photo	Parking and trail head by Slettvikane.

From Ålesund drive east on road E136 to Sjøholt, approximately 30 km east from Spjelkavik/Moa. A few hundred metres above Sjøholt centre turn right onto road 650, signed for Geiranger. Follow this road 44.7 km to Valldal, and turn left on road 63 towards Åndalsnes. Drive 29.9 km to a small car park (might be a meeting place, but can easily serve as parking for a couple of cars) on the right hand side of the road. Park here. This is approximately 300 metres before you get to the bridge crossing the river at Slettvikane, and a large car park on the right hand side of the road.

Start skiing by aiming west up to the saddle. At 1100 metres you enter a flat section, and you should turn left (south), before finding your best route up the steep hill. Gradually turn right (west) and continue up to the saddle between Ringshornet and Småholtindan-1473. In the saddle you need to evaluate the snow conditions up the north ridge of Ringshornet. Most likely you will have to leave your skis in the saddle. Follow the ridge up to Ringshornet's summit, which is marked by a cairn.

From Ringshornet descend back to the saddle and then continue north/north-west up the south-east ridge of Småholtindan-1473, where you find a cairn at the summit. Descend back towards the saddle and then follow your ascent route back to the trail head.

16. June 2011

Sigurd had been snow-boarding every month since October last year, so the interest to get some boarding done also this month was high. Since he was going to Tafjord with his school class this Thursday, we decided to meet in Valldal on his way back home. That meant I had to leave work early, but after having put in long days earlier in the week I decided to allow myself an early afternoon. Another factor supporting our plans was the fact that it was a fantastic day. Unfortunately this changed a little in the afternoon, but we still had fine conditions.

Our plan for the day was to ski/board Ringshornet and Småholtindan-1473 (this top doesn't have its own name), which was based on the fact that my friend Arnt had skied this mountain 11 days earlier, and been able to ski from his car. But things had clearly changed dramatically during those 11 days, and now we had to carry our gear all the way up to 1100 metres. I wasn't keen on carrying heavy skis this far, which also meant walking in heavy plastic boots, so decided to put on my hiking boots and carry my snow shoes. Sigurd carried his snow board.

From 1100 metres there were plenty of fine snow, but only up to the saddle between Ringshornet and Småholtindan-1473 at 1370 metres. Sigurd decided to ascend Ringshornet via the north-east steep slopes, and thereby managed to get a longer descent on his snow-board, but the ascent was strenuous as the snow was loose and the terrain steep. At the top of the snow he left his snow-board and continued to the summit via the north ridge.

At the summit we enjoyed the splendid views, although by now a lot of clouds were blocking the sun.

From Ringshornet we descended back to the saddle, and then climbed Småholtindan-1473. Here we had a short summit stop before descending back down to the saddle and onwards down via our ascent route. In the steeper sections I sat down and sled downhill. This proved to be a bit risky because of difficulties to steer clear of the stones, so I had to do some emergency stops using my elbows. Sigurd, on the other hand, had an excellent run down to 1100 metres, and from here he continued on the narrow tongue of snow taking him down another couple of hundred vertical metres. With strong and healthy knees I assume I could have descended the tongue on skis, but unfortunately that is not where I am, yet.
Photos 16.06.2011