Storen, also called Store Skagastølstind, is a mountain in Luster and Årdal municipality in Vestland. It is 2,405 meters above sea level and is the third highest mountain in Norway. The mountain is the southernmost peak of Skagastølstindane. It is not only the third highest mountain in Norway, but also the highest mountain in Western Norway. Storen is the only one of Norway’s three highest mountains that requires climbing equipment and is one of the easiest ways to reach the summit.
Storen is part of Norway’s highest mountain range, Styggedals and Skagastøls. The mountainous area is called Hurrungan, southwest of Jotunheim. This is a uniquely alpine terrain and one of the wild mountain areas in Jotunheim.
The mountain is well visible from the old road through Sognefjellet, so it became known and described quite early. Several travelogues from the surrounding area were published in the 1820s, describing the rocky landscape of the mountains. There has also been speculation as to whether Storen could be Norway’s highest mountain. The height of the mountain from the neighboring mountains in 1836. measured by Theodor Broch and Harald Nikolaj Storm Wergeland in 1842, and at the same time Galdhøpiggen was found to be higher.
Until the early 1870s, Storen was famously unclimbable and no ascent was attempted. in 1872 English climber William Cecil Slingsby learned about the mountain during a trip in Norway. He returned in 1874. and in 1875 with the intention of trying to climb the mountain, but the idea was abandoned due to bad weather.
In 1876 Slingsby returned to Norway and brought Emanuel Mohn with him. Knut Lykken from Valdres was the mountain guide and after a very successful trip through Jotunheimen with many first ascents on July 21st. started from Wormel, having climbed Gjertvasstind the day before. After the difficult journey through Midtmaradalen and up to what is now called Slingsbybreen, only Slingsby continued from the gorge between Storen and Vetle Skagastølstind, which is now called Mohns skar. The mountain was covered in ice and the Norwegians were tired and not as experienced as Slingsby in climbing in difficult conditions. He managed to reach the top alone, thus achieving the biggest climbing achievement of those days in Norway.
After this feat, attention to Mount Storen grew even more. Many believed that the Norwegian repeated the feat for the honor of the nation. Harald Petersen was a young art student who accepted the challenge and after a failed attempt in 1877 completed the second ascent of the Slingsby route in 1878.
Johannes Heftye, son of Tho. John Heftye, had a heated public debate with Slingsby about Storen’s difficulties with Knutsholstinden, which Heftye first climbed in 1875. in 1880 he wanted to prove that Storen is easy to climb, and together with Jens Klingenberg and Peder Melheim Årdal, they mistakenly find an easier way up. The Heftye route later became a common route for climbing Storen.
