[14-3 |] Between Resvatnet and Trollheimshytta [14-4]
[14-5 |] Skiing weekend across the summits in northern Trollheimen [14-6] The trip goes mainly off the marked trails. [14-7]
[14-8] Have you ever experienced skiing forward across the rolling ridge from Svarthetta via Svarthamran and making your descent down into Finnskaret on the way to Folldalen and Trollheimshytta. [14-9] And have you completed the descent from Trollhetta via Skardet and down to Resvatnet? [14-10] Both of these experiences are part of the weekend trip to Jøldalshytta and Trollheimshytta. [14-11] Both have excellent self-service lodging during seasons when they are unstaffed. [14-12] The trip is suitable during weekends in late winter with good snow conditions in the mountains that permit you to get in to the Jøldalshytta in the period of an afternoon and a bright evening. [14-13] The trip is suitable only for those who are in good physical shape. [14-14] Outside of the summits and ridges, the trip is much easier. [14-15]
[14-16] We get to Resvatnet by the Orkdal bus to Å in Meldal, and then a taxi or car the rest of the way. [14-17] This is an excellent starting point for trips over to Jøldalen and toward the Trollhetta and Rinnhatten area. [14-18] In order to get quickly up to the good snow conditions in the mountains, we bear southwest up the gully and along Ruadbekken. [14-19] We head south over Jølfjellet and past Grønlihammaren to Jølvatnet and Jøldal Lodge, attended (self-service during the non-staffed season), TT. [14-20] The trip is about 14 km. [14-21] With good skiing conditions, the trip may take approx. 3 hours. [14-22]
[14-23] On the trip toward Trollheimshytta, attended (self-service during the non-staffed season), TT, we begin up along the route toward Gjevilvasshytta to Skrikhøa. [14-24] Here, branches are cleared for the Easter vacation. [14-25] We cut diagonally across Kjølen, merge in toward the ridge that runs out from the southern part of Svarthetta, and up onto this ridge. [14-26] Eventually our skis have to be removed. [14-27] The ascent is steep going, but manageable. [14-28] Go to the stone marker, 1548 m. [14-29] The surface is stony on the descent from the summit toward the southwest, but farther along the ridge toward Svarthamran, it is easy skiing. [14-30] It is also all right to drop the trip to the summit and go up the ridge south of Svarthetta. [14-31] Gradually bear west toward Finnskardet. [14-32] Bear right on the southern side of the westernmost peak of Svarthamran, 1383 m, and ski in the fine, soft snow down toward the gorge. [14-33] Cross the somewhat difficult terrain to the lowest part of the gorge, cut diagonally down the hillside beneath Geithetta, take the inner side of the small hill near the pond and continue down to the mouth of Slettådalen. [14-34] Make the descent down through the tall pine forest and find Trollheim Lodge. [14-35] Easier alternatives are to take Litjsvartådalen and climb up into Finnskardet from there, or generally follow the summer route over Geithetta and steeply down to the lodge. [14-36]
[14-37] It is good to be here in the heart of the Trollheimen Mountains. [14-38] In addition, it is worth taking an extra day for a day trip to Snota. [14-39]
[14-40] To get up to the summit of Trollhetta in the wintertime, we have to approach from the east, and it is recommended to go only to the eastern summit, 1522 m. [14-41] Then we follow the normal winter route toward Jøldalen down via Gråsjøen and up the hillside before Kvernbekken. [14-42] From here, branches are cleared down to the Jøldal Lodge at Easter. [14-43] We may plan the trip over Rinnhatten, 1335 m. [14-44] To do that, we ascend the ridge to the summit from the west. [14-45] To get down from the summit, we can make our descent over Dukfonna on the south side, if snow conditions are good and safe. [14-46] Or we can make the pleasant descent on the northern side to Litjrinnvatnet and ascend again through the beautiful pine forest, via Helgetunsetra and on to Raudfjellvatnet . [14-47]
[14-48] But we are going up to Trollhetta, and that trip is more difficult. [14-49] We follow the lake east and eventually make our way up over the hillside from the eastern part of Bjørnaråvatnet (Langvatnet). [14-50] It is a demanding climb to the summit. [14-51] But the view, as well as the descent that awaits us, make this a rewarding trip for the effort to get to the top. [14-52] Ski down the glacier toward Piksteinhøa and take the gentle, fine slope down along Brebekken toward Storrinnvatnet. [14-53] Ski on flat terrain along the hill to Skaret and then via Raudfjellvatnet and down along Raudbekken to Resvatnet. [14-54]
[14-55] There is also a variant for this trip by skiing down to Jøldalshytta and spending the night there after the trip up to Trollhetta, and then an extra day including a trip over Resfjellet to Storås in Meldal. [14-56] The trip is easiest via Resvatnet. [14-57] From here the route may be planned to go via the lake, through the handsome, old protected mountain farm complex of Vålåskardet and up the "steps" and "ramps" to Resfjellet. [14-58] It is a little gentler to ski from the southern end of the lake and in through the gully along Krokbekken and up toward the summit. [14-59] But here as well, one easily encounters steep areas and difficult terrain if one does not pay close attention to the map. [14-60] And in a private cabin area such as this, not all tracks lead to Resfjellet. [14-61] If one chooses to make the trip past Resfjellet, it is recommended to go via Vålåskardet and over the western ridge of the mountain. [14-62] Or the trip can be planned totally off-course northwest from Resvatnet and parallel with the road, over the water divide and then northward on the western side of Romundhaugen and on to Bakkjølen. [14-63]
[14-64] The descent from Resfjellet is recommended toward the northwest down in the direction of Bakkjølen. [14-65] From here there are kilometers and kilometers of beautiful moorlands north over Høgkjølen. [14-66] The area is protected as the Høægkjølen / Bakkjølen Nature Preserve. [14-67] Descend through the forest to Storås to the state highway crossroads, where buses go to Orkanger / Trondheim, Trondheim, Kristiansund / Molde and Berkåk. [14-68 |] Summer: [14-69] This trip is suitable as a somewhat expanded weekend outing during the summertime. [14-70] The trip from Resvatnet over to Jøldalen, 4 hrs, is a suitable afternoon outing for people in good physical shape. [14-71] The trip over Svarthetta, Svarthamran and Finnskardet is just as nice a summer trip. [14-72] It corresponds to approximately an 8-hour trip. [14-73] In the summertime, the trip over Trollhetta goes along marked trails over all three summits. [14-74] for the trip all the way to Resvatnet, the trip will be a good deal longer than to Jøldalshytta. [14-75] Leave the marked trail from Piksteinhøa, go via Åkerdalen and down to the marked trail from Jøldalshytta. [14-76] The trip will correspond to approximately a 10 - 11 hour outing. [14-77]
[14-78 |] Route descriptions: [14-79] For detailed route descriptions for the marked trails between the lodges and some of the most common trips off the marked trails, TT's book Sylene and Trollheimen and the websites: www.tt.no are recommended. [14-80]
[14-81 |] Map: [14-82] 1: 50 000 Trollhetta (and Snota, for the trip to Snota, and Løkken for the trip all the way to Storås) or trip map 1:75 000 Trollheimen. [14-83]
[14-84 |] Erik Stabell [14-85]
[14-86 |] Transportation to Trollheim Lodge [14-87]
[14-88] Today as many provisions, goods, equipment and fuel are driven in to Trollheim Lodge on winter roads before and after Easter. [14-89] This is done with snowmobiles or tracked vehicles into the valley from the automobile road at Gråsjøen. [14-90] Additional supply transportation is done by helicopter and boat across Gråsjøen and manual carrying 4 km up to the lodge. [14-91] Earlier, transportation to the cabin was done by pack horses from Rindal. [14-92] This is a nearly 30-km-long trip. [14-93] But at the time, far more of the dairy products came from neighboring mountain farms, so the transportation needs were different. [14-94] Motorized terrain vehicles were used for transporting from the 1950 - 1960's. [14-95] Nevertheless, transportation by pack horse continued all the way until the construction of the power station, about 1970, included a road to Gråhaugen and the lake at Gråsjøen. [14-96]
[14-97] It was the hired hand at the lodge who had the job of transporting by pack horse. [14-98] The round trip took two days. [14-99] When there were many guests at the lodge and the need for supplies and provisions was great, the cycle for pack horse runs was often two days' supply transport, work cutting wood or other errands at the lodge one day, a new supply run of two days, etc. [14-100]
[14-101 |] From Trondheim to Trollheimen in 1896 [14-102]
[14-103] Today we arrive at the Jøldal Lodge and Gjevilvass Lodge in the course of an afternoon, by car or a combination of train, bus and taxi. [14-104] With the Dovre railway, which opened in 1923, access to Trollheimen was made significantly easier, and Oppdal became a primary gateway to the mountains. [14-105] In TT's yearbook for 1912, E A Tønseth recalls an Easter trip he and five others had from Trondheim to Trollheimen in 1896. [14-106] The trip started with the evening train to Hovin and a first night spent at Lauvåsen after 12 km done on foot. [14-107] From here, they set out at about 4 a.m., passed Grut in Meldal at [14-108] 11, Jølvatnet at about 6 in the afternoon and reached Foldalshytten (Trollheim Lodge) at 11 in the evening. [14-109] They had gone 75 km in 19 hours. [14-110] At that time, Foldalshytten was 6 years old; there weren't any accommodations in Jøldalen and the cabins were not attended in the Easter season. [14-111] They continued the next day over to Storli and went back the following day to Foldalshytten. [14-112] The trip back to the city went to Grut and a night there, before a day-long trek over to Støren. [14-113] This was an impressive trip. [14-114] The story also illustrates how today's communications has made access to the mountains easier, but how they have "shrunk" the country, as well. [14-115]
[14-116] source: TT's yearbook 1912, (reprinted in DNT's yearbook 1996).