Skarphornet parking by Vassteinen.
Start of path towards Skarphornet.
Towards Skarphornet from south.
Off-path route up Hornet’s east slopes.
| Skarphornet & Hornet
from Vassteinen Skarphornet Hornet |
| Estimated net time | 3-4 hours | ||
| Difficulty | No difficulties but a little steep up and down Hornet's east slopes. | ||
| Drinking water | Several sources of running water below the saddle between Skarphornet and Hornet. | ||
| GSM coverage | Coverage throughout the route except a short section around Vassteinsætra (April 2014). | ||
| Parking | Room for several cars along the road close to trail head. | ||
| Start height | 58 metres | ||
| Vertical metres | 845 metres for the roundtrip. | ||
| Trip distance | 6.3 km | ||
| GPS-file | X | ||
| Map |
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| Route photo |
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Start measuring from the 3-way junction where roads E39 and 60 intersect a little north of Grodås, and drive E39 in the direction of Ålesund/Volda.
- At 26.3 km turn left towards Hjartåbygda.
- At 27.1 km park on the right hand side of the road 50 metres past a farm on the right hand side of the road.
Start your hike by walking 50 metres back down the road and turn right (uphill) on a vague path where signed for "Vadsteinsætra". Follow this path, which gets better defined higher up, up to where the terrain levels out at 480m (make sure you don't turn right where signed for "Åseskaret" at 340m). The path now fades away and you should continue north across the small marsh and then up the small hump on a vague path. Aim for Skarphornet's south ridge and pick up a path from the base of the south ridge. This path will take you up to the unmarked summit.
From Skarphornet head back down the south ridge and then continue across a marsh and stay on the right (west) side of a small top). Walk down to the saddle between Skarphornet and Hornet, through some bush, and then find your best way up Hornet's east slopes. Note that there's a vague path a little south of east. Turn north-west from 630m and then up to the unmarked summit.
Descend by reversing your ascent route down Hornet's east slopes and then follow the path back down to Vassteinen.
After my evening skiing to Sætrefjellet the night before I wasn't keen on a day of skiing snow with crust that would give way in every turn. Kjetil and me therefore agreed to do some walking this slightly grey Easter Eve.
Kjetil picked me up at Fjellsetra and we drove to Austefjorden through Kvivsvegen. After driving back and forth a little, searching for a suitable trail head, I asked a local farmer for advice on a path leading to Vassteinsætra. He looked a little surprised by my question, and then told me that there should be a sign on the other side of the road from where we had parked the car. He then carried on and gave a good description of where the path runs. When I got back up to the car I was a little embarrassed to find the sign he had mentioned, but also happy that we were likely to have a path for the first part of the route.
Hiking up to Vassteinsætra was a little strenuous, on a fine but steep path. From a little south of the buildings we proceeded towards Skarphornet's south ridge, and soon found a path which took us to the unmarked summit. We had to cross some wet snow in the upper part, but this didn't cause much concern. But the wind made us turn back down after just a short stop, and instead we found some shelter further down for a sandwich and a little to drink. From here we were also able to plan our route up to Hornet, which looked a little steep and with some more snow, but not deterring at all.
We found a good route down to the saddle between Skarphornet and Hornet, and then did a more direct ascent than originally planned. We had to use our hands a little, but managed to stay away from most of the snow. After a slightly longer summit stop than at Skarphornet we descended via a vague path, which was a little slippery because of wet snow. Then back down via the good path leading up to Vassteinsætra.
When driving back we decided to do a small de-tour to Grodås to buy ice cream and a Coke, and I was lucky to manage to storm into the shop just as they were about to close. Since I wasn't going to buy beer they were more than happy to serve me, and I was happy to get some treatment for the drive back to Fjellsetra.