Friday Photo #225 – Mannen

Photo: Summit of Mannen (791m) at sunset, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. April 16, 2017. 20:04

My body still recovering after only half a day of rest from the first 4 days of my Easter adventures in west Lofoten, I found myself back in the parking lot at Å once again, with a new mountain in sight, and luckily, a light backpack this time! We were just going for a day trip…

Leaving around noon, we made good time to the end of Ågvatnet before putting on crampons and pulling out the ice tools for the 500 meter ascent of the couloir to the east of Mannen. Unlike the previous days, the snow was now firm and settled. Front pointing our way up, we made quick progress the the pass. I was confident that we’d be back to the car and I would be home in time for dinner – I was home for dinner, but not at a time I would have imagined!

One on the upper, north side of the mountain, there were many icy passages. We could have traversed out to the right and climbed up a gully towards a lower part of the ridge. But I, in my great wisdom, thought it would be funner just to go up the northern side of the ridge. So out came the ropes and we began to ascend.

Route finding was difficult, and progress was slow. 8 hours after leaving the parking lot I arrived at the summit cairn; the sun glowing orange just above the sea and a cold wind blowing across the high peak.

The sun had set by the time we began our descent, down the steep, sometimes icy gullies that we had originally though about ascending – it sure would have been quicker! There was some amazing light at times, but I was more focused on getting down safely, so my camera was stored in my backpack, out of reach.

It was almost midnight by the time we returned to my van. Utterly excused, but still exhilarated from an amazing day in the mountains. I could hardly get out of bed Monday morning, my body absolutely crushed.

Camera Info:
Nikon D800
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
15mm
ISO 160
f 7.1
1/500 second
WB Daylight