The Jotunheimen National Park in Norway
The delightfully named Jotunheimen, meaning “The Home of the Giants”, is an area of mountain wilderness in Southern Norway. It forms part of the Scandinavian Mountains that form the spine of the subcontinent.
The best parts of the Jotunheim are contained within the Jotunheimen National Park which is popular among native Norwegians, foreigners, walkers and climbers alike. The mountain park covers includes the Hurrangane mountain range and covers about one third of the Jotunhein mountainous area. It contains 29 of the highest peaks in Norway, deep gulleys, gleaming glaciers and cascading waterfalls. The highest three mountains are the Galdhøpiggen at 2469 metres, the Glittertind at 2453 metres and Store Skagastølstind at 2405 metres. Many other mountains reach above 2300 metres.
Most visitors reach Jotunheimen from Lom using the scenic Sognefellet Road. Tourists can reach Lom on a coach which takes six and a half hours from Oslo.
The Sognefellet Road which runs from Lom to Lustrafjorden giving access to the northern reaches of the park is the highest mountain road in northern Europe. The highest point is 1434 metres above sea level. Drivers can expect snowy conditions. Snow does not melt along the road until July. It was built by unemployed youngsters in 1939.
There are several other scenic roads. The RV 51 takes visitors from Gol to Vågå and gives access to the eastern area of Jotunheimen known as the Valdresflya. The road climbs through forest and hills onto a high plateau with views of glaciers and mountain peaks. The RV 51 calls at Gjendesheim which is the starting point for a very popular day hike along the Besseggen ridge. Over 30,000 tourists hike this route during the three months in summer in which it is passable. The walk takes about six hours is along a ridge which is never less than 10 metres wide.
The toll road between Turtangrø and Øvre Ardal which leads up onto the high plateau and is regarded as one of the most scenic in Norway.
In the mountains the Norwegian Mountain Touring Association operate a number of mountain lodges. They also way mark trials between the huts and onto the summits. Some of these routes are extremely busy. Others, because of the expanse of the park, are empty and retain the sense of wilderness. Experienced walkers and climbers like to make for the Hurrangane where scaling the peaks involves either a technical climb or a skilled scramble. Hardy walkers can complete an eight hour hike at Galdøpiggen. Their path takes in cirques, arêtes and glaciers on a well marked route. At Leirvassbu hikers can take an eight hour guided glacier walk.
There is accommodation in the park at Bøverdsalen. Visitors who expect to do a lot of hiking would do well to join the Norwegian Mountain Touring (Den Norske Turistforening or DNT). By doing so visitors can stay at their mountain huts. However, it is advisable to book early. The walking season is short and most huts are shut during the winter. There is cross country skiing in the winter.
The Jotunheimen is a great outdoor destination. It offers some of the finest hiking in the world.
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