Hiking around Leirvassbu

From Leirvassbu there are 40 peaks over 2000 m. Several other cabins are reachable by foot from Leirvassbu. Many use the cabin/tent as a base camp for day excursions. Leirvassbu arrange guided tours on glaciers and peaks, one attraction is Storebjørn. Because of the altitude there is almost no vegetation in this area and it could be quite cold also in the summer time.

Geography

Leirvassbu is situated in the heart of Jotunheimen Nationalpark, at the end of Leirdalen.

How to get there

By public transport: From Oslo take Nordfjordekspressen to Otta and Lom. The Sognefjellsexpressbus takes you from Lom up to Sognefjellsveien (route 55) and stops along the road by every mountain cabin. When the cabin, Leirvassbu is open they organise transport. Reservation in advance is necessary.

By car: The fastest way from Oslo is to drive E6 to Otta (an other spectacular route is to drive E16 to Fagernes-Beitostølen-Valdresflya-Lom). Continue to Lom and take route 55, Sognefjellsveien. Take off to the private road to Leirvassbu, 15 km. This road will be closed a part during the winter.

Cabins

Leirvassbu – 1400 m.a.s.

Map

Jotunheimen West (Turkart, 1:50'000)

Duration/Time

3 days, July 2004

Tour description

 Kyrkja (~4 h. + break)

This peak is called, the church , what you can see at the formation. It is a majestic mountain with an altitude of 2032 m. It is a marked track up to the peak from Leirvassbu. From the top there is a breathtaking view over the area around Galdhøpiggen (highest peak of Norway ) and the western part of Jotunheimen.

Tverrbytthornet from the western ridge (~5-6 h. + break)

This is not a marked DNT-route. It is only recommended for experienced climbers, and climbing-equipment for securing could be necessary.

From Leirvassu follow the route 2 km in to the valley of Kyrkjeglupen. Climb to the pass between Søre Tverrbottindan and Tverrbytthornet. From here follow the edge direction Tverrbytthornet. At one point, a 15m step can't be crossed without a rope. Although, a path 50m below allows the crossing without. Continue up to the ridge as soon as this passage is over. Follow it all the way to Tverrbytthornet (2102 m). There is a marked path straight from the peak down to Kyrkjeglupen.

The route is quite challenging and exciting with a spectacular view.

Other routes:

To Spiterstulen: 5 hours, 13 km, marked track

To Gjendebu: 6 hours, 18 km, marked track

To Olavsbu: 4 hours, 11 km, marked track

To Skogadalsbøen: 6 hours, 9 km on a mountain-road, 11 km on marked track

To Krossbu or Sognefjellshytta: 8 hours. Guided glaciertour over the glacier, Smørstadbreen. Daily tours in the summer (July-August). Contact the huts for more information.

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