Gjendesheim Turisthytte has been a staffed lodge with
Norwegian Mountain Touring Association
The Norwegian Trekking Association ( no, Den norske turistforening, DNT) is a Norwegian association which maintains mountain trails and cabins in Norway. The association was founded on 21 January 1868 with the scope "to help and develop tourism i ...
(In Norwegian, Den Norske Turistforening – DNT) Oslo og Omegn as proprietor since 1878, and is located in the heart of the Norwegian mountains. The lodge can accommodate 170 guests in bedrooms with 1, 2 and 4 beds and four dormitories. The standard is simple; with bunks and joint shower/WC.
Gjendesheim is situated at the east end of
Gjende
Gjende or Gjendin is a lake in Vågå Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the Jotunheimen mountain range and also inside Jotunheimen National Park. The proglacial lake shows typical characteristics of glacial formation, ...
lake, 1000 meters above sea level by the in
Vågå
Vågå () is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vågåmo. Other village areas in Vågå include Lalm and Besshe ...
municipality. It is located about 2 km from
Maurvangen off Riksvei 51.
Gjendesheim is a popular starting point for hiking over
Besseggen
Besseggen or Besseggi is a mountain ridge in Vågå Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. The tall mountain ridge is located in the Jotunheimen mountains within Jotunheimen National Park. The mountain sits about southwest of the village of ...
. Hikers either take one of the ferry boats to
Memurubu
Memurubu is a tourist hut in Norway, at the end or start of the famous Besseggen hiking trail. Memurubu is originally an old mountain pasture dating back to 1872, but has had tourists just as long. Cows are still grazing around the tourist hut, w ...
and hike back to Gejendesheim over Besseggen or alternatively start the hike at Gjendesheim and take the ferry boat back.
History
Originally Gjendesheim was planned for construction near
Leirungen which is located further up towards
Valdresflya
Valdresflye, also spelled Valdresflya and Valdresflyi, is a mountain plateau in the easternmost part of the Jotunheimen mountains in Norway. The plateau lies in Innlandet county, mostly in Øystre Slidre Municipality, but a small area extends in ...
. When securing a lot proved impossible, Gjendesheim was constructed at its current location.
*1868: The foundation of Norwegian Mountain Touring Association (DNT)
*1873: DNTs first cairn marked path established from
Memurudalen to
Bessvatnet
*1878: The opening of Gjendesheim
*1890: The first development and restoration with new cuisine, several renovations in 1898, 1904 - 05, 1910 - 11, 1916 and 1925
*1937: New main building and renovation of dormitories
*1974: Installation of electricity
*1976: New extensive renovation
Hosts at Gjendesheim:
*Anders Rusnes: 1878 - 1901
*Kari Rusnes: 1901 - 1920
*Ragnhild Repp: 1920 - 1950
*Bjørg Hult Nystrøm: 1950 - 1952
*Marit and Jens Skogstad: 1952 - 1958
*Åslaug and Nils Vole: 1959 - 1974
*Sonja and Olav Gaute Vole: 1975 - 1977
*Olav Gaute Vole: 1977 - 1980
*Bjørg Aaseng Vole and Olav Gaute Vole: 1980 - 2010
*Marius Haugaløkken and Anne Katrin Taagvold: 2010 -
External links
GjendesheimGjende BoatsThe Norwegian Trekking Association information on Gjendesheim
Tourist huts in Norway
Jotunheimen
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