[0-12 |] Best regards, [0-13 |] Per Roger Lauritzen [0-14]
[0-15 |] From Hunting to Tourism [0-16] Both weapons and the remnants of hunting pits have been found, confirming that reindeer were hunted in Jotunheimen already several thousand years ago. [0-17] Mountain legends and myths also reveal that this mountain area was important in our forefathers' consciousness, and arrowheads located high in the mountains make it clear that even a trip to the highest peaks did not daunt them. [0-18] The first primitive mountain pasture farms in Jotunheimen were probably built already before the 1300's. [0-19] They were crudely put together with rough logs or stones piled up to provide shelter at night for the herders. [0-20] Their animals had to manage out of doors for many centuries to come, but at nighttime, it was wise to gather the livestock in a fold. [0-21] Bear and wolf packs were abundant and aggressive. [0-22] The first high mountain farms probably emerged as the result of ever increasing grazing needs down in the valleys and possibly also out of the desire to combine hunting and trapping with animal husbandry in the mountains. [0-23] Long distances and miserable conditions for spending the night were justified by the lush expanses of pasture and the fine conditions for livestock throughout the long summer. [0-24] Indeed, even during winter there were people at many of the mountain farms, especially in Sjodalen. [0-25] Many farms sent their livestock to the mountains again during the late fall so that they could make use of the feed laid up in the mountains. [0-26] Already during the Middle Ages, the custom of sending animals to fatten in the mountains before slaughtering probably began. [0-27] Buyers traveled around in the rural areas and bought up animals. [0-28] During late spring, these were gathered together in large herds and taken to the mountains to fatten up on the rich grazing land that was found many places, such as, for example, around Bygdin Lake and in Leirungsdalen. [0-29] During the fall, the livestock were herded to town and sold for slaughter. [0-30] To clear and cultivate new land, be a dairymaid, hired hand or reindeer hunter in Jotunheimen in these days entailed a harder existence than people of today can imagine, and it is rather doubtful that our forefathers regarded the mountains as a fairytale-like kingdom. [0-31] Still, we can assume that they also had an eye for beauty and the diversity of nature in Jotunheimen. [0-32] At any rate, the tales of feats and adventures in the mountains that live on today in the rural communities bear witness to the fact that nature was highly revered. [0-33] At the beginning of the 1800's, the first scientists and artists found their way to Jotunheimen. [0-34] A few English tourists also followed, but the first true Norwegian tourist didn't arrive until 1854. [0-35] This was Axel Arbo, who had hiked through Utladalen in 1854 and who, a year later, climbed Galdhøpiggen. [0-36] The first tourist who entered the «Jotunfjeldene», which was the term used before Aasmund Olavsson Vinje introduced the catchier name «Fjøllstaven min» in 1862, had to resort to the few mountain farms here in order to find shelter. [0-37] Those that were visited most often were a number that have since developed into large, popular tourist lodges. [0-38] The private lodges of Spiterstulen, Memurubu and Leirvassbu, and DNT's Gjendebu and Skogadalsbøen can trace their roots back to the mid-1800's or earlier. [0-39] In 1874, the first T-marked route in Norway opened from Besseter in Sjodalen via Besseggen, to Memurubu. [0-40] Today, Jotunheimen is the mountain area in the country that attracts the largest number of hikers. [0-41] More than 30 000 each summer follow in Peer Gynt's footsteps over Besseggen. [0-42] Galdhøpiggen and Glittertind are also veritable magnets, and the peaks west in Hurrungane tempt many climbers and glacier hikers to try their skills. [0-43] Since the first stone-marked route was established, the trail network has come to comprise 650 kilometers. [0-44] During the winter, especially around Easter, DNT and the private tourist lodges mark out nearly 570 kilometers of skiing trails. [0-45] If you want to hike along marked routes and spend nights in pleasant lodges in beautiful mountain surroundings, then Jotunheimen has every possible choice. [0-46] If you want to avoid both the marked routes and the lodges, this is not a problem, either; here there is still enough room for those who want open spaces, quiet and personal challenges. [0-47]
[0-48 |] Norwegian Mountain Museum [0-49] A visit to the Norwegian Mountain Museum in Lom provides a good overview of the natural environment and people's use of the Jotunheimen mountains up through history. [0-50] DNT has collected equipment and documentation on the history of mountain tourism and the association, and these are included in the museum's exhibits. [0-51] The museum has the status of center for the Jotunheimen National Park and also houses Lom's tourist information office. [0-52]
[0-53 |] Diverse Flora and Fauna [0-54] The rock species that Jotunheimen is composed of are about a billion years old and were pushed together by tremendous natural forces about 400 million years ago. [0-55] Since then, water, ice, wind and weather have formed and shaped the landscape we see today in a process that continues constantly. [0-56] The area encompasses the entire spectrum of topography from sheer, barren peaks and large glaciers to deep valleys and fertile hillsides. [0-57] The forces of erosion have created good soil in many places, and since precipitation and sunshine are generally abundant, conditions are favorable in many spots for plants to grow and thrive. [0-58] Altitudes and temperatures vary greatly, of course, and because of this, the variations in flora are naturally great. [0-59] At places such as Vettismorki and in Sjodalen, stalwart and stocky core pines stand lined up, and on a trip through Utladalen on a warm summer day, you will find the kind of lushness that is more often associated with more southern climes. [0-60] Also contributing to the diversity of species and excitement of the mountains, is the fact that both bird cherry and wild strawberries grow along the banks of Gjende. [0-61] Here, too, twisted mountain birch trees stretch their light green crowns toward the skyline at higher altitudes than in other places in the country, up to around 1200 meters! [0-62] A number of our flowering plants also hold records for altitude along Gjende, and the mixture of thermophilic lowland flora and purely alpine flora is unique. [0-63] Here you can find orchids such as the Lesser Butterfly-orchid and the Fragrant Orchid side by side with high mountain plants such as Purple Saxifrage and the Alpine Azalea. [0-64] The latter species may also be found on the barren mountaintops. [0-65] The record for altitude, however, is held by the Glacier Buttercup; it noddingly greets you 2370 meters above sea level. [0-66] Varied plant life provides the basis for varied animal life. [0-67] The most characteristic animal is the wild reindeer. [0-68] There was probably a very plentiful herd that first attracted our pelt-clad forefathers into Jotunheimen. [0-69] For many generations, reindeer hunting was very important; a fact corroborated by remnants from hunting pits and guiding fences. [0-70] Reindeer hunting pits were in use at least until 1624. [0-71] That year, Kristian IV banned pit-hunting, but in certain places they probably continued to be used until the 1800's. [0-72] With the advent of modern hunting weapons and at the same time the introduction of domesticated reindeer, the stocks of wild reindeer decreased dramatically. [0-73] The keeping of domestic reindeer caused a lot of bad blood between hunters and those who kept domesticated herds. [0-74] Many a domestic reindeer was shot by people who didn't bother much about earmarks, and many of them ran off with the wild herds of reindeer. [0-75] Today there are a few thousand domestic reindeer east in Jotunheimen, while the wild reindeer remain in the west. [0-76] These gracious animals are also hunted there. [0-77] In the valley regions on the outskirts of Jotunheimen, there are permanent herds of moose, for example in Utladalen, Veodalen, and Sjodalen and along Gjende. [0-78] Red deer and roe deer have so far been seen only in Utladalen. [0-79] In modern times, predatory animals are seldom encountered, but in earlier times, they had their haven in Jotunheimen. [0-80] Utladalen, among other places, was known for its sizeable bear population. [0-81] Hunting for bear was actually the most important source of income for the people at the Vormeli mountain farm. [0-82] In recent times, only occasional traces of bear, wolverines and lynx have been seen in Jotunheimen. [0-83] On the other hand, the smaller predators, such as mink, the short-tailed and the European weasels, and red foxes are common, while the arctic fox has unfortunately almost disappeared from the mountain area, as well. [0-84] Among rodents, there are mountain hares, rats and lemmings, but the stocks fluctuate dramatically. [0-85] Bird life in this type of mountain environment is what one might expect. [0-86] The rough-legged hawk is the most common bird of prey, but there are also a few eagles, especially to the west. [0-87] The same is true of several other falcon species. [0-88] The most common members of the bird stock here are the willow warbler, the redpoll, the snow bunting, the meadow pipit and the brambling. [0-89] There are also ducks in the area, especially the teal and the goldeneye, and an occasional arctic loon also stops by. [0-90] Besides this, Jotunheimen is like many other mountain areas: there are more and more seagulls. [0-91] In the wintertime, ravens are especially abundant. [0-92] In terms of fish, there are only trout, and the stock varies a lot.