Jotunheimen in Norway

Jotunheimen (Home of the Mighty Giants in Norwegian) is home to the highest peaks in Northern Europe. If you think of Norway as a tadpole with its head in the South, Jotunheimen is located in the area where the body starts to taper to the tail. I became a member of the DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) and joined a week long hike through Jotunheimen.

The DNT is an amazing organization that maintains the hiking trails throughout the country as well as administers a series of staffed and un-staffed huts. Once a member, you can get a key that allows you entry into any hut throughout the country.

Arriving on a Sunday at the Gjendesheim hut, we were treated to the best weather all week. Looking down Gjende at sunset, you can see the famous Besseggen ridge on the right.

The lakes in Jotunheimen are glacially fed, so this green color is what you see. I did take a dip in Gjende and yes, it was cold. I lasted no more than 30 seconds.

Besseggen is the most popular and famous hike in Norway. What you might be able to make out here is that the two lakes are at different levels, with Gjende on the left being some 500 meters closer to sea level that Russvatnet on the right.

It is too bad that we traversed Besseggen the first day. My pack was full of needless items (I ditched them at the hut for later pickup) and I just wasn't yet in shape enough to appreciate what I was seeing.

The upside of not being ready for the traverse was that I also didn't know that I would encounter having to come down the ridge. I didn't anticipate being scared or have time to think about being scared until I was down at the bottom.

After the first day, most of the trek was not nearly as dramatic, but there were great rivers that we had to cross.

Another surprise was how rocky the trail was. Here is one of the group members boulder hopping, which was what we had to do a great percentage of time. It wasn't easy with my lack of feet flexibility. I came to savor anytime we walked on any flat surface, even mud.

Break time. I joked with our tour leader, Jorn, that I wore this yellow fleece because next time I would go to Sweden, where I claim there aren't any rocks.

Follow the red T!

Each night, we would arrive at one of the staffed hut complexes. Since we were hiking in a popular area, easily accessible by car, our huts were the biggest ones, basically hotel/lodges.

Four to a room with shower and bathroom down the hallway.

Always find the torkerom. What is it?

The important drying room.

Even though some of the time hiking was kind of miserable, it's this view at the end of the day that makes it worth it.

Dinner is included at the hut. At Glitterheim, we were served reindeer tongue.

Of course I ate it.

One hour into the next days hike. A group of reindeer crosses some 30 feet in front of me.

Rudolph!

On the left, Jorn, our tour leader and Florian on the right.

My friend John, who I met back on the Morocco trip. He suggested I check out the DNT and then he decided to come hiking as well. Many thanks to John for his hospitality and help.

Spiterstulen, check! Glittertind, the 2nd highest peak in Northern Europe was an optional climb. I stayed in the hut instead that day. Gjendesheim, check! Memerubu, check!

Glaciers are found throughout Jotunheimen.

The mountain in the distance is "Kyrkja", which means "Church" in Norwegian. I decided to pray for good weather.

It worked as we got good weather for the rest of that day and most of the next day as well.

The scenery while hiking.

Phillip and Ronny were two Germans that had the same itinerary as our group.

Our group of 14 had the four "single guys". Myself, Florian, John and Jostein. Note the grass on the roof of the hut in the background. That is common in Norway.

The group in front of Kyrkja.