Lofoten Ski Trip - Day 3
Rundfjellet 2650 ft.
Route: East Face, Southeast Ridge
Distance: 6.5 miles
Vertical: 2,950 feet
Date: Mar 24, 2026
Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Partners: ALex Platt, Chris Haaland, Quinn Macleod, Matt Kelley, Andy Jensen,
Evan Miller
Colder air moved in overnight and we awoke to a dusting of snow and reasonably clear
skies. Breakfast is not served until 8:00 so we wolfed down food, packed the cars and
were on the road by 9:00. Our chosen route was very popular today due to a fairly
straightforward approach through the bogs that currently separate the tralheads
from the receding
snowline. The parking lot was jammed and several parties could be seen working up
the route when we arrived. This was the first somewhat clear and non-rainy day in
about a week so everyone wanted to get out.The first half mile was indeed boggy but soon enough we were skinning thorough a birch forest on thin ribbons of snow. We booted up a small headwall and then were on solid snow. This is where my pictures begin.
Finally on solid snow The bog is visible below, between the road and the snow slope. The snowy white patches are frozen lakes.
Our group moving up along a nice flat ridge.
A bit crowded at times, but parties gradually spread out at the day progressed.
Looking northeast. We would ski into this area later in the day.
High points along the summit ridge.
More pleasant skinning along a different ridge. The summit is just out of view to the far right.
Our team arriving at the summit. The snow was not in condition for skiing on the summit ridge so we left our skis below.
View to the southeast.
View to the east.
Summit panorama.
Most of our group on the summit.
Even though the climbing was fun and relatively easy, the weather was decent, and the views were spectacular, the skiing was not very good. The rain had produced a hard ice layer at the top of the snowpack and there was only token new snow on top. Turns were quite chattery and the light had become quite flat. We skied down into the zone noted in one of the photos above, which was quite aesthetic, but we never found decent snow. After some discussion we decided to forego another lap in favor of just skinning back to the ridge and returning to the car. Not very impressive statistics on the day but all of us were so pleased that we were able to get out and experience some amazing scenery.
Entering the bog on the way out.
The forecast shows some snow overnight, but then switching over to rain around daybreak. It may clear in the afternoon so we hope to squeeze in a short tour later in the day tomorrow.