A well-known ridge walk in western Norway has claimed the life of one of the country's brightest young athletes. Ida Amelie Robsahm, a 30-year-old Oslo teacher who had rocketed into the world trail running elite in just a few seasons, died on Saturday after falling several dozen metres near the high point of Romsdalseggen, above the resort town of Åndalsnes.
Per Norwegian broadcaster NRK, police were alerted on Saturday morning by her companion, Miguel Benitez. A rescue helicopter airlifted Robsahm from the ridge, which tops out at 1,329 metres, but she could not be saved. Police have treated the fall as an accident.
Robsahm's rise was remarkably fast. In December 2025 she debuted at the Valencia marathon in 2:29:57 — a sub-2:30 time at her first attempt at the distance. This year she hit her peak on the mountains: fourth at the Zegama-Aizkorri marathon in the Basque Country, second at the Marathon du Mont-Blanc, and fifth in the 60km OCC at the UTMB finals in Chamonix in August. Off the race circuit, she taught chemistry and mathematics at a secondary school in Oslo.
The tragedy comes barely three weeks after another loss in the mountains. Canadian skyrunner Kalie McCrystal, 38, from Squamish, British Columbia, died on the Matterhorn in August while descending after reaching the summit during a reconnaissance for a planned speed attempt on the Italian side.
For travellers, the story is a sobering counterweight to Romsdalseggen's reputation. The ridge — often ranked among Norway's finest day walks — is a popular, well-trodden route connecting Åndalsnes to Litlefjellet and the Romsdalen valley, and it draws thousands of hikers each summer. But it is still an exposed alpine ridge with steep drops, narrow sections and rapidly changing weather, and the high point sits well above treeline. The route is usually walked in the opposite direction to the descent most people expect, precisely to handle the scrambles more safely, and a helicopter flight from Åndalsnes brings walkers to the top before they follow the ridge down. conditions can deteriorate fast even on bluebird mornings.
Two elite mountain athletes dying within three weeks — on a famous hiking trail and on the most recognisable peak in the Alps — underlines a simple point for anyone lacing up boots this season: routes that look routine on Instagram are still mountain terrain. Check conditions, carry the gear for a sudden turn in the weather, and treat exposure with respect even on popular paths.
The original report is from ExplorersWeb.
