Blessed by the Sun,
Kissed by the Moon,
We made Love on the Summit,
While the Peak lay still and deep,
Below us.
– Gerry Roach
7,887-foot Store Skagastolstind in Norway
Tired of their unpronouncable names, the locals call Norway’s third highest peak Storen.
Much harder to climb than Norway’s first and second highest peaks, Storen anchors the western end
of the Jotunheimen or Home of the Giants in south-central Norway.
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Welcome to Norway’s Jotunheimen!
Approaching Storen in the northern twilight.
Storen is the rightmost peak. |
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Looking up Storen’s south side at Andrews Chimney which splits the upper face |
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Gerry entering Andrews Chimney in 1973 |
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Looking south from Storen’s summit. Store Ringstadt is the dramatic peak in the center. |
| Photos by Barb Roach and Gerry Roach |
Like most European peaks, Storen has a colorful climbing history. The Englishman William Cecil Slingsby and
Norwegian Emanuel Mohn started up Storen in late July 1876. They pushed up into bad weather, simply because their guide
Knut Lykken didn’t have much time. To further complicate their climb, Mohn and Lykken had no crampons.
When ice stopped them, Slingsby continued alone to the summit to complete the first ascent.
I marveled that even this early climb was full of hubris.
– Gerry Roach - From Ride The Breath
