Description

"Store Hollendaren" is located on Kvaløya and is one of several fantastic peaks on the north side of "Ersfjorden". There are two "Hollendaren" - the small, and the big.

These peaks are a few kilometers apart, where the BIG is the highest with 1017 meters.

The small -"just" 1016 meters above sea level On the way to the parking, you get a taste of what's in store, as you round the exit down to "Grøtfjorden".

Here you can see the top rough majestically in the distance.

The terrain with its mountain formations are a fantastic sight. The starting point, "Vågbotn", is about 32 kilometers from Tromsø, and there are good parking facilities at the starting point.

"Store Hollendaren" has 3 used routes, the described route is the normal way to the top.

The normal route goes up in the direction directly towards "Vågstinden", before you start the traverse towards the valley, which leads you up to a lake at 543m.

Stay on the north side of the river that comes down from the lake at 543m at the beginning.

After a steep section, the valley becomes wider and you can follow the valley up towards the lake. From the lake, traverse on the north side of the lake, this part is quite steep - about 35 degrees.

After this traverse, you come up onto the glacier where it becomes flatter.

Head straight east towards the top.

This section is flatter, with an average incline of around 20 degrees.

If you are going up on the very pinnacle, it might be advised to bring a minimum of an ice axe.

The view from the top to the peaks around "Ersfjorden" is one of the best. On the return you have different options, the same way as the route up is the normal descent.

A possibility is also to traverse on the ridge east, towards Tromsø.

Here you can find a "couloir", that brings you down to lake 543m.

It's very exposed, and should ONLY be skied with good conditions. From the Parking in Vågbotn, you can also see 3 big couloirs in the direction towards Store Hollendaren.

These are also popular possibilities for a descent, but they are often just skiable in the late season, due to avalanche risk.