Galdhøpiggen is the highest mountain in Norway, Scandinavia and Northern Europe, at 2469m (8100ft) above sea level. The mountain is located in the municipality of Lom, in the Jotunheimen mountain range.
Geologically, Galdhøpiggen belongs to the Caledonian period, as does most of the mountain range in southern Norway. The top of the mountain is made of gabbro, a hard but relatively coarse-grained rock found in most of the Jotunheimen range. During the ice ages, it was heavily glaciated and took its current shape.
For many years, geologists did not know that Galdhøpiggen was Norway’s highest peak. The honor went to the much more visible mountain Snøhetta in the Dovrefjell region. Therefore, no attempt was made to summit Galdhøpiggen. Mount Snøhetta was first visited in 1798. during a scientific trip to the surroundings of this mountain. in 1844 geologist and mountaineer Baltazar Mathias Keilhau made two unsuccessful attempts to reach the summit of Galdhøpiggen. During one of his trips, he reached the peak, which was later named the Keilhaus peak at 2355m. above sea level very close to Galdhøpiggen.
1850 three men from the town of Lom reached the summit of Galdhøpiggen. Guide Steinar Sulheim, local teacher Lars Arnesen and church warden Ingebrigt Floten.
Getting to the top of Galdhøpiggen is not particularly difficult: from Juvasshytta (1850 meters above sea level and 5km distance from the summit) it takes about three hours (including about 45 minutes to prepare to cross the Styggebreen glacier) and about two hours back.
On some summer days, several hundred people reach the summit every day. Guides are needed to cross the glacier, but they are not difficult to find.
Galdhøpiggen can also be climbed from Spiterstulen in Visdalen, a technically very easy route, but will still require strength and stamina to climb the 1,300 meter (4,300 ft) section. It will take about four hours for the ascent and two hours for the descent.
From Spiterstulen, hikers do not need to cross the Styggebreen glacier, so a guide is not needed. Avid summit lovers can count three peaks on the route from Spiterstulen: Svellnose, Keilhaus topp and the famous Galdhøpiggen peak. In high season, guided tours go to the summit from Spiterstulen via the well-known blue Svellnosbreen icefall.
At Juvasshytta there is a mountain ski resort with a lift on a glacier at 2,200 meters above sea level, the highest ski center in Scandinavia. The Galdhøpiggen summer ski center is open from June and throughout the summer, of course when the mountain road is open.
Galdhøpiggen has previously challenged for the title of Norway’s highest mountain. Some measurements have shown that Mount Glittertind is slightly higher, including a glacier on its summit.
However, in recent years this glacier has shrunk and Mount Glittertind is now only 2464m including its glacier. The dispute was thus resolved in favor of Galdhøpiggen. And it is the coldest mountain in Norway, and also in all of northern Europe.
Viršūnėje buvo pastatytas nedidelis namukas/kabina. Vasarą čia prekiaujama gaiviaisiais gėrimais, šokoladiniais batonėliais, atvirukais bei suvenyrais. Anksčiau Norvegijos pašto administracija čia turėjo nedidelį paštą – aukščiausią Šiaurės Europoje.
Saulėtomis liepos ir rugpjūčio pabaigos dienomis viršukalnę aplanko šimtai žmonių.
