Store-SkagastølstindScandinavian Mountains over 2000 metres - James Baxter
Areas › Glittertind Massif › Ryggehøi › Alternative Routes
Ryggjehøe can be climbed from a number of starting points. The best is arguably from Glitterheim and this is the route which I have described below in detail. The other main alternative is from Spiterstulen lodge; which is very attractive as a winter option as the road here is usually open through the winter while road to Glitterheim lodge is always blocked in the winter until late spring and necessitates a days skiing to reach it.
From the parking place at Spiterstulen lodge at the end of the toll road up Visdalen head north down the road for 700 metres again until there is a cairn and sign to Glitterheim. In the winter branches every 30 metres will indicate the start of the route. Initially the route follows the main path to Glitterheim, Gl.1, as it follows the cairns (or in winter/spring the branches) north eastwards, diagonally ascending the slope up towards the small saddle south of Skrautkampen knoll, 1443m, for a short hour.
As the path reaches the saddle it levels off and heads east. Follow it east up a slight rise for 1 km then across undulating ground for another ½ km until there is a marked divide in the path. One cairned path goes north east across Skauta stream and then up the deep Steindalen and onto Glittertind and the other cairned path continues south west across the wide open valley of Skautflye.
Take the latter path across Skautflye. In the winter/spring time it is only the latter fork which is marked by branches, as this is also the path to Glitterheim. A km after this fork the path crosses the Skauta stream and passes to the north of a small lake marked as 1509m on the map. Pass the lake and continue for another two km south west along the path until you cross a small stream coming down the valley from the north east, between the mountains of Glitter-rundhøe and Ryggjehøe. Leave the marked path here and follow this small stream up the shallow valley for two km when stream disappears beneath the boulders.
At this point there are two marked saddles to the west to the north and south of the gently rising Steinbu-kampen hill. Head for the southern of these saddles, marked as 1481m. This scree covered saddle is also on the route Gl.2.and it is possible to continue to Glitterheim by descending down the east side into Storglupen, see Glittertinden massif introduction page for more details.
From the saddle head south up a shallow spur to gain the broad west ridge. There are some erratic cairns dotted but they do not mark a distinct path. Once on the west ridge it is only some 45 minutes up the gentle wide scree covered slope which narrows and steepens slightly as you reach the summit. The west ridge up to the summit does not hold the snow well especially towards the top and it will be necessary to remove skis for the latter part.
The return is by the same route, which is about seven hours return to Spiterstulen, or it is possible to continue down the east ridge to Glitterheim, as described below, which is about 6 hours.