Jotunheimen (The Giant's Home) is a beautiful national park of lakes and mountains in the centre of southern Norway. It contains Norway's highest peaks, Glittertinden (8110ft) and Galdhøpiggen (8100ft).
I spent two days hiking in Jotunheimen with a party from ISS on 3/4 July 1999. An early morning start was rewarded with bright sunshine - perfect weather for hiking in spectacular mountain scenery. A four drive via Hønefoss and Fagernes brought us to the Jotunheimen national park, and a safari with a difference - Reindeer safari.
Our afternoon was spent with two shepherds responsible for looking after a herd of wild reindeer, some 4000 strong, that roamed in this part of Jotunheimen. We were lucky to catch some glimpses of part of the herd from a distance, and took a short hike whilst the shepherds explained how the herd is managed. The reindeer are owned by a collective comprising of the landowners and inhabitants of the area, and a number are culled each year, in order to restrict the size of the herd to that which can be sustained by the land, and to bring in revenue through meat and fur/skin sales.
Our final destination was the Bessheim Fjellstue lodgings near Lake Gjende. This is a comfortable, friendly and modern lodge with hytter (cabins) and rooms to cater for tourists to Jotunheimen.
Early on Sunday morning we set out for our main challenge of the weekend - a 6 hour hike from Gjendesheim back to Bessheim. Our group split into two, with one party heading out on a less challenging hike, but I was keen to reach the top of Veslefjellet at 5717ft (1743m), and see the Bessegen ridge, immortalised in Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt.
Having never climbed a mountain before, I had little idea of the physical effort required, but after 2 hours and a climb of approximately 2600ft (800m), we reached the cairn at the summit of Veslefjellet. The clear blue skies and brilliant sunshine afforded magnificient views, and I felt a great sense of achievement and happiness as I enjoyed lunch at the summit. One can only imagine the feelings of those who successfully reach the peaks of Mt. Everest and the like.
From here, there was only one way to go - down. After reaching the Bessegen ridge, we descended along the northern side of Veslefjellet, alongside Bessvatnet, meeting with the other group and finally returning, sunburnt, tired and happy to Bessheim. After dinner, we could rest our weary legs, as we returned by coach to Oslo.
Climbing Veslefjellet was a starting point for me - it gave me an appreciation of the fine views and tranquility at mountain peaks, and physical effort required to reach them. Since then I have climbed Jochberg (5133ft - 1565m) in the Bavarian Alps and Raudmelen (3188ft - 972m) at Balestrand in Norway.