Glittertind

Glittertind stands in the northeastern Jotunheimen and holds a permanent snow and ice cap on its summit, which is why its official height has changed over the years: measured with the ice it exceeded Galdhopiggen and was long listed as Norway's highest mountain, but the cornice has thinned with warming, and the rock summit at about 2,452 metres now leaves it second. The usual ascent starts from the Glitterheim lodge, reached by a walk in from the road end, and climbs a long broad ridge to the snow dome, five to six hours from the hut. The final section crosses the summit ice cap, corniced on one side, which requires care and clear visibility.

What you actually see

• The summit ice cap - a permanent snow dome over the rock top.
• The long ridge - a broad steady ascent from the Glitterheim side.
• The Jotunheimen panorama - peaks and glaciers in every direction.
• Glitterheim lodge - a staffed DNT hut at the foot of the route.

When to go

July to September, when the route is snow-free below the summit and the lodge is staffed; outside that window it becomes a ski-touring objective. Clear weather is essential because of the corniced summit.

Honest expectations

The day is long, with a walk in to the hut before the climb itself, and the summit ice can be corniced and unstable near the edge. Whiteout conditions make the top dangerous. The ice cap is measurably shrinking, so the recorded height keeps changing.

Nearby

Galdhopiggen and Spiterstulen lie west; Gjende, Besseggen and Memurubu are south in Jotunheimen.