Norway's Highest Peaks
A demanding trek through the spectacular Jotunheim Mountains,
to make the ascent of Galdhoppigen, the highest summit in
northern Europe.
Jotunheim, meaning ‘Home of the Giants’, is
without doubt the most famous mountain area in Scandinavia.
In ancient Norwegian mythology the gods lived in Åsgard,
the humans in Idgard, and the bad giants - in Jotunheim.
Until quite recently there was a dispute over which was actually
the highest peak in Norway. Some suggested Galdhoppigen, with
a dry-land summit at 2469m, whilst others said it was snow-covered
Glittertind, whose height varied with the seasons but had
once been set at 2472m. While the surveyors debated, mountaineers
simply made sure to bag the pair - no real hardship as they
face each other across a scenic valley and both are very fine
mountains with no technical difficulty. Today Galdhoppigen
is universally granted top status, but we stick with tradition
and include the two in our trek through this marvellous range.
We start in the west, with the shimmering peaks of Hurrungane
towering above, and hike eastwards on waymarked paths through
superbly wild country. We stay at a series of comfortable
mountain refuges until we eventually arrive at Spiterstulen,
our base for the ascents of the peaks. We tackle Galdhoppigen
first, making a tough, direct ascent over fairly rough boulder
fields until the more gentle summit slopes and snow fields
are reached. The views from the summit are superb and stretch
right across the Jotunheim range into the neighbouring Rondane
district. After a rest day we then turn our attentions to
Glittertind and embark on a two-day ascent which, although
technically easy, is long and tiring, but at the same time
tremendously rewarding.
Jotunheim offers a landscape with a stark quality which will
appeal particularly to anyone who enjoys mountain walking
and peak bagging in Scotland.
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