Ascent of the Galdhøpiggen in the Jotunheim National Park, Norway

Ascent of the Galdhøpiggen in the Jotunheim National Park, Norway

climbing of the Galdhøpiggen, the highest mountain of Norway, Scandinavia and Northern Europe

I went on a hiking trip to the Jotunheim National Park in Norway with the intention of climbing the Galdhøpiggen, the highest mountain of Norway, Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

Before we founded Atlas & Boots, I did a hike from our base in Great Britain every summer. Usually I went on a few shorter excursions all year round and then set off in summer to find more demanding terrain.

Sometimes it was an exotic goal like the Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and sometimes it was closer to home in Europe. On one of my many trips to Scandinavia I targeted Norway.

As I mentioned, I fell in love with the natural obsession of the country and its freedom laws, which are known as all -round rescues.

I decided to fame: a hike in the National Park of Jotunheim, including Galdhøpiggen, the highest mountain of Norway and Scandinavia with 2,469 m (8,100 feet).

Jotunheim National Park

Although Jotunheimen is Norway's most popular national park, it is a largely undisturbed mountain area northeast of Oslo. With an area of ​​around 3,500 km², Jotunheimen Northern Europe has the highest concentration of mountains over 2,000 meters as well as waterfalls, rivers, lakes, glaciers and valleys.

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Although Jotunheim is Norway's most popular national park, it is largely undisturbed

from short walks to several days of hikes from hut to hut, Jotunheimen offers some of the most spectacular hiking trails in the continent. It is also the land of the Jotuns mountain role - although I haven't seen any on my trip.

hike to Spiterstulen

I arrived in Jotunheimen in the early afternoon after taking a bus from Oslo in the morning. I started my hike at the Gjendenheim huts next to the Gjendeee. From there I hiked across the comb and climbed down into the adjacent valley, where reindeer strips around and the lakes brewed and rose.

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reindeer through the valleys Bessvatnet and Russvatnet

The glacier lakes are emerald green, created by melting water, which is locked between the mountain walls and the glaciers at the end of the valley. Their characteristic green color comes from the rock flour, which flows off the mountains when melting the ice. Whatever the reason, it's a breathtaking scene and the perfect campsite for the night.

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The perfect campsite for the night

From there I spent the next two days to hike along the well -marked path to the refuge and to the Spiterstulen campsite at the foot of the Galdhøpiggen. On the way I played wildly until I arrived in Spiterstulen, where I stayed at the campsite for a night before I climbed on Galdhøpiggen.

My route to Spiterstulen and Galdhøpiggen can be viewed more in more detail on the UT.NO website, but is roughly as follows:

Day 1: Gjendeheim - Lake Russvatnet, 11 km (7 miles) Day 2: See Russvatnet - Steinbuvatnet (near Glitterheim), 19 km (12 miles) Day 3: Steinbuvatnet - Spiterstulen, 12 km (7km) (7km)

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(Image: ut.no)

The route shows a great cross-section of the jotun home national park with glacier lakes, wonderful valleys, waterfalls and rock plateaus in the shade of endless snow-covered mountains, the 2,000 m high.

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Camping right behind Glitterheim

Although the paths are well marked and mostly leaked well, going is anything but easy. There are areas in which you break the trail and go across the field, have to cross snowy combs and steep valley walls. When I reached Spiterstulen, I was exhausted but satisfied.

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Spiterstulen at the foot of the Galdhøpiggen

climb Galdhøpiggen

I should have really had a day off in Spiterstulen before I climb Galdhøpiggen, but afterwards it is a wonderful thing! Instead, after three days of strenuous trekkings, I woke up stiff and with pain and decided to sweat the mountain slope under a strong summer sun.

with 2,469 m (8,100 feet) Galdhøpiggen is not a little thing. The area of ​​Spiterstulen rises quickly and soon they climb up the steep mountain slope. Spiterstulen is around 1,100 m, which means that a considerable mountain can still be climbed.

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Approach to the climax of Keilhaus Topp 750m from the summit galdhøpiggen

It took me about 4-5 hours to climb the Galdhøpiggen, which included more than the usual number of rest and rehydration stops! The weather was nice, but also very hot, which made climbing all the more exhausting. On the way to the summit you will pass a smaller summit called Keilhaus Topp and the Svellnos glacier.

The view on the summit was only the reward for my exams. As far as the eye can see, rows of snow -covered peaks and rugged peaks stretch. It felt like the top of the world. At the summit there is a stone hut that offers some protection on a bad day, as well as hot and cold drinks when the hut is manned (in summer).

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A sea of ​​snow -covered mountains

The following day rewarded my decision to climb a day earlier because the weather was miserable. The view from above on Galdhøpiggen would have been dark at best.

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climbing on Galdhøpiggen: The essentials

Was: climbing the Galdhøpiggen in the Jotunheim National Park, Norway.

Where: In Oslo I was capable of a short bus ride from the city center at the Ekeberg Camp. In the National Park in Jotunheim, I played wildly while hiking and then in the Spiterstulen huts near Galdhøpiggen for 50 NOK ($ 6).

When: The summer season from around mid -June to the first week of October is the best time for hiking trips in Norway.

Norway is one of the most damp countries in Europe, so they are prepared for rain despite the summer season. Since Jotunheimen is a mountainous area, you should be prepared for everything that goes hand in hand with changeable assembly conditions: falling temperatures, strong winds, snow storms and even more rain!

The winter season in Norway is ideal for cross -country skiing and usually lasts from around mid -February to the end of April.

like: Hiking trails in Norway are carefully maintained by the excellent Norway Trekking Association (DNT). Your crowdsourcing route planning sister page UT.NO is also a great online resource full of hiking ideas, tips and cards.

I took bus no. 160 from Oslo to Gjendeheim in the Jotunheim National Park. The ValDreskSpressen runs every day from the Oslo Bus Terminal in the city center every day. There is also a night bus. The trip takes about six hours and costs 250 NOK ($ 30).

To get back to Oslo, I took a train from Otta. The journey takes 4-5 hours and costs about 600 NOK ($ 70), depending on when you book. You can book tickets and access timetables via the NSB website.

I flew from London to Oslo with a cheap airline. Book via Skyscanner at the best prices.

Oslo is flown in by three airports: Gardermoen, Torp Sandefjord and Rygge. If possible, we recommend using cloakrooms because the other two are further away and require a longer and more expensive transfer.

All airports are hit by trains and buses. For more information, see the Visit Oslo.

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Further activities in Norway can be found in the Lonely Planet Guide to Norway.
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