Mount Skala

Skala rises 1,848 metres almost directly from the head of Nordfjord, and the marked path from Tjugen near Loen climbs the entire height in about eight kilometres, which makes it the longest unbroken vertical ascent on a footpath in Norway: five to seven hours up, and a descent that punishes the knees. At the summit stands Skalatarnet, a round stone tower built in 1891 by the doctor Henrik Kloumann as a high-altitude sanatorium for tuberculosis patients, the idea being that clear mountain air would help; it failed as a clinic and became a mountain hut, still open for overnight stays with bunks and a wood stove. From the top the view runs across Jostedalsbreen, the Nordfjord and out toward the coast.

What you actually see

• Skalatarnet - a stone tower of 1891 on the summit, now a hut.
• The unbroken climb - 1,848 metres of ascent from fjord level.
• The glacier panorama - Jostedalsbreen and the Nordfjord peaks.
• The stone-laid path - sections of built trail on the steep lower slopes.

When to go

July to September, once snow has cleared from the upper slopes; the route holds drifts into midsummer. Many walkers go up in the evening to sleep at the tower and see sunrise. Weather can turn quickly at the top even in August.

Honest expectations

This is a demanding full-day walk with continuous steep ascent, exposed sections near the top and no water high on the route. Poor visibility makes the upper path hard to follow. The tower is basic, unstaffed, and requires carrying a sleeping bag and food.

Nearby

Loen and Lovatnet lie below; the Loen Skylift climbs the neighbouring peak of Hoven.