Noruega. Besseggen. Gjendesheim
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 16.61 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,563 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 3,484 ft
- Max elevation
- 5,736 ft
- TrailRank
- 60
- Min elevation
- 3,194 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 7 hours 8 minutes
- Coordinates
- 2119
- Uploaded
- May 12, 2021
- Recorded
- July 2016
near Hølsætra, Innlandet (Norge)
Viewed 1279 times, downloaded 40 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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Besseggen is a mountain ridge on Vågå kommune in Innlandet county, Norway. Besseggen is located east of Jotunheimen, between lakes Gjende and Bessvatnet.
The Besseggen walk is one of the most popular mountain hikes in Norway. Approximately 30,000 people make this trip each year. The route over Besseggen starts in Gjendesheim, up to the highest point of the trails, Veslfjellet (1743 m), goes down Besseggen, to the relatively flat Bandet area and ends in Memurubu, where you can take the ferry back to Gjendesheim. Many choose to hike in the other direction starting in Memurubu after taking the ferry from Gjendesheim. The route is estimated to take around 5 to 7 hours to walk without rest stops.
The large number of hikers has caused severe erosion on the trails leading to Besseggen, both from Gjendesheim and from Memurubu. In 2005, the Norwegian government authorized an expenditure of NOK 1.2 million for the restoration of the trails. The project involves placing stone slabs on the trail to limit additional damage and prevent further erosion. The stone plates were brought by helicopter from Vågå.
We approach Gjendesheim, on the eastern edge of the Jotunheimen National Park and next to the huge Gjende lake. We will leave the car in the parking lot above the lake. From here we only have to go to the pier where the ferry stops that will take us across the lake to the Memurubu refuge where we will start this wonderful route.
From here, we will take a path that will be quite steep for the first two kilometers. Later we will "flatten" with small ups and downs, enjoying the view of Lake Gjende and the Jotuheimen National Park.
When we have completed half the stage and after a descent, we will find ourselves at the foot of the most famous part of the route: the Besseggen ridge. This ridge is a beautiful ridge that you have to climb for about 500 meters. It is the most exposed part of the route, although to the tranquility of many, hundreds of people cross it daily.
From this same edge you get the best views of the entire stage. It is the moment where you can see the blue lake Bessvatnet and the green lake Gjende ... and in the center the spectacular ridge.
From here to the end of the route, it seems that there is little left, but there really is a long descent to Gjendesheim.
This is possibly the most popular hiking route in Norway. Every year, in the summer months, thousands and thousands of Norwegians walk this path (almost like a pilgrimage).
Despite the fact that this route is made by hundreds of people every day, it is worth visiting this spectacular place even if we have few moments to be alone and enjoy nature.
The walking route is approximately 15 km (and by boat it is another 10 km). You walk on a perfectly marked path. The unevenness to be saved is important: approximately 1100 m.
As for the technical difficulty, I have to say that to cross the Besseggen ridge you have to put your hands on the rock on different occasions. They are not difficult climbs, but they do require minimal agility and not have much vertigo.
Waypoints
Waypoint
3,283 ft
Intersection
Panorama
Summit
Lake
Comments (2)
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Muchas gracias por tu descripción. Este verano queremos hacer senderismo por el sur este de Noruega. ¿Cuál podría ser la ciudad-pueblo base para realizar rutas por esta zona?. Gracias de antemano.
Preciosa ruta! Que tal para hacerla con perro? Que tal las trepadas?
Saludos.