Day 14. Kringlevatn to Storsteinen
Posted by: James on January 14, 2009Distance 13km | Time 7.5hrs | Ascent 540m | Descent 570m
I was up early and away by 0845. It was just getting light. It was a beautiful morning. Crisp, clear and cold at minus 10.
The snow squeaked as my ski stick twisted in it. Great conditions with a firm base and a little frost on top. I made good speed across Kringlevatn lake and up the stream bed on the north side.
I then had to go through undulating country where there were lots of drifts and the dreaded cornices, which I could at least see today so I could nimbly skirt them.
About 3 km from Kringlevatn I ran out of map for 5 km until I gained the next sheet. During this period I confidently followed a stream bed with confidence. So much confidence that I never checked the compass or GPS. This a mistake I sometimes make when things are going well. I was a good 45 degrees off course.
By the time I realized my mistake I had happily followed the snow pasted U shaped stream bed for a good 2 km. To rectify this I had to climb over a ridge dividing the stream bed I was in and the one I should be in.
On reaching the top of the ridge I had a remarkable view over the Setersheiene mountains. They were absolutely plastered in snow. They are renowned for being ice scrapped bare craggy rock but much of this was smoothed over by huge amounts of snow. A couple of ice covered lakes stretched away to the distance.
Remarkably I got mobile cover on this ridge top so managed to update the last 7 days complete with about 10 photos taken on the phone. I received masses of emails also, with some 20 wishing me luck and other saying I was mad. They were all very heartening.
The way down the other side of the ridge was difficult. One area looked avalanche prone so I avoided it and followed the ridge westwards and down. It seemed to end in a steep shoulder. I started to pick my way down the craggs on the shoulder but it go too steep.
I could not afford to slip here so had to retrace my steps on foot. I tried another two places but they also just got too precarious and icy. Crampons would have made the difference but I had none. In the end I had to back track a good km before I found a safe way. The whole process cost me a lot of effort and about 2 hours.
I got to the cabin quite late as a consequence around 1630 as it was getting dark. It was a nice cabin however, and within 2 hours I was warm, comfortable and fed. I needed the time to relax as tomorrow, weather permitting is a big day.
It had been a frustrating day eased a bit by the wonderful views at last and also improved by the fact I could update the overdue dairy and receive emails. They route finding mistake was entirely due to overconfidence and laziness not to get the compass out. This laziness cost me 3 hours and a lot of effort. Let it be a lesson. One I have had a few times now!