Location and surroundings
Auster-Krutfjellet sits in the chain Fennoscandian Shield > Scandinavian Mountains > Northern Scandes > Central Border Highlands > Bogrefjell > Krutfjellet. It lies in Hattfjelldal municipality in Nordland county, on the Norwegian side of the Krutfjellet area that spans Norway and Sweden. At 1,040 m, it is a substantial summit for the district, though not the highest in the range.
The surroundings are typical of a high inland border landscape: open ridges, broad slopes, passes and scattered hills rather than sharp alpine walls. The mountain sits among other named tops and saddles, so travel in the area is shaped by terrain that rises and falls steadily across the border highlands.
Neighbouring peaks
The closest named features around Auster-Krutfjellet are:
- Austerklumpen (hill), 1,040 m, 0.3 km S
- Auster-Storskardet (mountain pass), 800 m, 1.6 km N
- Storskaret (mountain pass), 980 m, 2.0 km W
- Greipfjellhumpen (hill), 740 m, 3.1 km NE
- Slakken (hill), 780 m, 4.0 km NE
- Varnfjellhumpen (hill), 760 m, 4.2 km N
- Reinhagen (hill), 580 m, 4.3 km NE
- Rundhumpan (hill), 740 m, 4.3 km NW
Auster-Krutfjellet is close in height to Austerklumpen, which is also 1,040 m and lies just south. The nearby passes show how the summit is set in a broken upland, with low saddles to the north and west and lower hills spreading out to the northeast and northwest.
The view from the summit
Within 25 km, the highest surrounding peaks are Aahkansnjurhtjie at 1,395 m, 22.8 km W; Hjartfjelltinden at 1,340 m, 13.6 km N; Olfjellet at 1,307 m, 16.7 km NE; Sodra Storfjallet at 1,264 m, 22.4 km SE; Kruvhtegenvaerie,jillie at 1,260 m, 6.0 km W; and Litlokstinden at 1,260 m, 23.3 km N.
From Auster-Krutfjellet, the skyline is therefore dominated by higher borderland summits in several directions, especially to the north, west and northeast. The nearest of these giants is Kruvhtegenvaerie,jillie, only 6.0 km away to the west.
The range
Auster-Krutfjellet belongs to the Krutfjellet, a mountain area that spans Norway and Sweden. The highest peak in the range is Hjartfjelltinden at 1,340 m, about 14 km north of Auster-Krutfjellet. The range contains 353 named peaks, which shows how many separate tops and ridges make up this border highland.
In that setting, Auster-Krutfjellet is a high but not dominant summit. Its rank, 19th highest in the Krutfjellet, places it among the upper group of peaks while still leaving a clear margin to the range high point.
Climate and weather
Climate estimates from NASA POWER for the summit suggest a short cool summer and a long cold season. The warmest month is July, at about 9 °C, while January is the coldest month at about -11 °C. Mean temperatures above freezing at the summit are expected in June, July, August and September.
Annual precipitation in the surrounding area is about 1,300 mm, with the wettest month in July at about 140 mm and the driest in April at about 85 mm. In this part of Norway, weather can change quickly, with wind, rain, snow patches and poor visibility possible even in the warmer months.
Best time to visit
The most practical season for Auster-Krutfjellet is the period when the summit is most likely to be snow-free and temperatures are above freezing: June to September. Those are the months with a mean temperature above 0 °C at the summit, and they also cover the warmer part of the year in this inland mountain area.
Even then, conditions can be wet and cool, so clothing for wind and rain is sensible. Earlier in the season, lingering snow may remain on slopes and in passes; later in autumn, colder nights and fresh snow become more likely.
Nature and wildlife
The landscape around Auster-Krutfjellet is a high Scandinavian border upland, so vegetation is likely to be sparse on the upper slopes, with low shrubs, heather, grasses and mosses giving way to bare rock, gravel and snow patches higher up. In sheltered lower ground, birch woodland and wet hollows are typical of this latitude and elevation.
Wildlife in such terrain can include reindeer and other northern mountain species, along with birds adapted to open uplands. The exact mix changes with season, snow cover and grazing pressure, but the overall character is one of open, cold-country mountain nature rather than dense forest.
Guides and organised ascents
For a peak like Auster-Krutfjellet, a certified guide is most useful if you are travelling in poor visibility, early-season snow, or if you want help with route-finding across open ridges and passes. In Norway, the national mountain guide association is Norwegian Mountain Guides Association (Norske Tindevegledere, NORTIND), an IFMGA/UIAGM member. The national alpine club is the Norwegian Climbing Federation (Norsk Klatreforbund).
Examples of established guiding companies in Norway include Jostedalen Breførarlag in Jostedal and Lofoten Mountain Guides in Kabelvåg. Guided trips in Norway usually include route planning, safety decisions and local judgement; the cost depends on trip length, group size, hut nights and equipment needs.
Safety and preparation
Auster-Krutfjellet is a moderate mountain by height, but the open borderland terrain still calls for proper preparation. Wind, rain, lingering snow and poor visibility can make navigation harder than the elevation suggests, especially where ridges and passes break up the landscape. Good footwear, warm layers, map and compass, and enough food and water are sensible even on a day outing.
For mountain rescue in Norway, call 112, which reaches the police emergency service; the police coordinate mountain rescue with volunteer rescue corps. For a medical emergency, call 113. Rescue is free of charge.
Interesting facts
Auster-Krutfjellet is 19th highest among 353 named peaks in the Krutfjellet. Its nearest higher major summit in the range high point sense is Hjartfjelltinden, the highest peak of the range, about 14 km to the north. The mountain also sits close to the border-spanning core of the Krutfjellet, which extends across Norway and Sweden.
Another notable point is that Austerklumpen, only 0.3 km south, matches its elevation at 1,040 m. That makes the immediate area a compact cluster of similar-height summits rather than a single isolated peak.
FAQ
How high is Auster-Krutfjellet? It rises to 1,040 m.
Where is Auster-Krutfjellet? It is in Hattfjelldal municipality, Nordland county, Norway, in the Krutfjellet mountain area.
What range does it belong to? It is part of the Krutfjellet, within the wider Scandinavian Mountains system.
What are the nearest named features? Austerklumpen is 0.3 km south, Auster-Storskardet is 1.6 km north, and Storskaret is 2.0 km west.
Is there water on the way to Auster-Krutfjellet? In this upland terrain, water is usually from snowmelt, wet ground or small streams, and conditions can be dry on ridges. Carry about 1.5-3 litres for a day, depending on heat and length, and treat any surface water before drinking.
When is the best time to go? June to September is the most suitable period, because those are the months with mean temperatures above freezing at the summit.
Is mobile coverage reliable? Coverage in the hills is patchy and depends on the operator. 112 reaches emergency services over any available network, and maps should be downloaded before setting out.