Romsdal is situated in the northern part of the westcoast in Norway, it is the capital of alpine sport, and the slogan of the region is nothing less than: The world’s best community for mountain people. As climbers, skiers and general outdoor people we must agree. We live here for a reason, or several reasons.
I vår serie “First things first” presenterer vi informasjon tatt ut fra vår isklatreguidebok Romsdal Selected ice- and winterclimbs fra 2022, skrevet av Lodge guidene Asgeir og Bjørn.
So what about trolls, do they exists? If yes, this is for sure where they would live.
The history says that the trolls were invited for a big wedding east in Norway. On the way from the west coast, they had to pass Romsdal. The area touched them so much that they forgot to hide from the sun and turned into stone. This is how the big mountains where created and how the Trollwall became the highest rockface in Europe, believe it or not.
Anyway, welcome to what we know is, by far, the best community for mountain people.
Romsdal Lodge with Store Venjetind 1852 masl in the background.
The different areas
To avoid misunderstandings; Romsdalen is a valley and Romsdal is an old county covering the whole area.
In the book Romsdal has been divided into four areas; Innfjorden, Isterdalen, Romsdalen and Isfjorden.
Innfjorden is a settlement and a valley located on the south side of Åndalsnes. High and steep mountains that are well suited for alpine climbing and skiing, but not as well-known peaks as around Åndalsnes and Isfjorden. Long periodes of the winter you can drive up to Bøstølen, a cottage village of 350-400 masl (toll road).
Skiing in Isfjorden with the fjord and Åndalsnes in the background.
The valley that goes up to the famous Trollstigen-road is called Isterdalen, here are, among other things, the famous peaks Bispen, Kongen and Dronninga. In terms of climbing, there are many opportunities for long climbs with a pleasant return down the road. The road (winter closed) can usually be driven all the way up to the barrier where the road steepens early in the season before big snowfalls.
In Romsdalen you will find, among other things, the famous Trollveggen, the highest vertical rockface in Europe. The Romsdalen valley hosts most of the long ice climbs in the area. The valley is exposed to mild weather and the season can be unpredictable. The center of the municipality, Åndalsnes is a good place for rest days. When you drive the E136 road up Romsdalen, you drive into the Romsdal landscape conservation area at Flatmark. This is where the three great classics Ølmåa, Kvernagrova and Døntefossen are located.
Further up the valley lies Verma, a village next to Bjorli. The name Verma has the meaning “warm”, but does not reflect the normal winter weather in the valley. Verma and Bjorli are known for stable cold winter weather, and this is where you usually find the first climbable ice in Romsdalen.
At the innermost part of the fjord Romsdalsfjorden, a short drive from Åndalsnes, you will find the small village Isfjorden. Apart from Venjesdalen, the area is better known for skitouring than climbing, but can still offer several fantastic alpine and ice lines, mostly shorter and more moderate than in Romsdalen. In Venjesdalen you will find the big alpine summits of Store Venjetind 1852 masl and Romsdalshorn 1550 masl, and it is from Venjesdalen the popular hike Romsdalseggen starts in summer. The climbs we present up in Venjesdalen are characterized by longer alpine climbs with complicated and often avalanche-prone returns.
High above Romsdalen in december sun.
I vår serie “First things first” presenterer vi informasjon tatt ut fra vår isklatreguidebok Romsdal Selected ice- and winterclimbs fra 2022, skrevet av Lodge guidene Asgeir og Bjørn.
