- Bitihorn
Infobox Mountain
Name = Bitihorn
Photo = Bitihorn winter.jpg
Caption = Bitihorn in the winter from southeast.
Elevation = convert|1607|m|ft|0|lk=on
Location =Vang andØystre Slidre ,Oppland , NOR
Range =Jotunheimen
Prominence = convert|512|m|ft|0|abbr=on
Coordinates = coord|61|17|43|N|8|47|55|E|type:mountain_region:NO|display=inline,title
Topographic
Type =
Age =
First ascent = 1811 byChristen Smith
Easiest route = Hike
Listing =
Translation =
Language =Bitihorn is a mountain in the southernmost outskirts of
Jotunheimen ,Norway . It is situated due west of national route 51, and is therefore a landmark for tourists following that popular route.Geology
The mountain is steep towards south and east, and there is a subtle change in the rock layers between the
sparagmite foundation and the summit which consists of the much hardergabbro rock. The summit is one of the southernmost outcrops of gabbro in the vicinity, and Bitihorn is therefore significantly higher than its neighbors to the south and east. Underneath the sparagmite layer, lies a layer of extremely nutritious slate, calledphyllite . That layer and its subsequent plant cover is the reason for the many mountain pastures in the area.It is also quite easy to see how the different rock layers have been pushed upon each other from a north-northwest direction, so that the northern slope is quite easy, whereas the southern (and in this case the eastern) is extremely steep. This can be seen in all the neighboring peaks, like
Skyrifjell ,Heklefjell andOlefjell .Tourism and WW II
In 1811 the peak was climbed for the first time in recorded history by the famous biologist
Christen Smith . Except for the expedition byJens Esmark in 1798 this biological expedition was the first mountaineering effort in Norway. Smith also climbed the much higherBesshø , further north.Tourism soared in the late 19th century after the erection of
Raudfjordheim lodge and later the hotelsBygdin andBygdisheim in the vicinity. The extraordinary scenery attracted tourists from far away, among them queenWilhelmine of theNetherlands , who stayed atBygdisheim . In 1905 the boat route on lakeBygdin (1060 m above sea level - different elevations can be found since the lake is dammed), was opened. The boat, which is aptly named Bitihorn, still traffics the route fromBygdin Hotel toEidsbugarden hotel in the western end for about ten weeks each summer. This was in the beginning of the 20th century a remarkable feat since there were no roads leading to the lake, but the boat was dragged there.During WW II the steep east side was used by the German alpine troops for training. It is still possible to see at least one of the campsites used by them on the west side of the road. Earlier, until the 70s, paths of their mules could still be seen in the huge talus slope on the east side. The path is still there, but it is now made by sheep. Ruins of the mule stables, dug out in the soft soil on the east side of the road, are still visible. On the southern shoulder it is possible to find small one-man-shelters with holes for the guns. Some of these are probably built later as replicas, but some of them derives from 1941-1942.
Today
Bitihorn has become somewhat a symbolic sentry tower for the municipality of
Øystre Slidre . It can be seen from most of the valley and the mountain plains on both sides. At the tourist resort,Beitostølen , which is only some km distant, it is used as the symbol of the tourist industry. The peak is climbed by an enormous number of tourists and locals during the summer season, mostly. It is easy to ascend from the north, even in the winter it is accessible.It can also be climbed from the south, but good route knowledge is required in order to avoid technical climbing. From the northeast the route is well marked.
On the summit there is a huge antenna and a small cabin, which is closed to the public. The view from the summit is wonderful. To the south and east very little blocks the view to the rest of Valdres. To the north the
Rasletind ,Kalvehøgde ,Torfinnstindene andGaldebergstind mountains dominates the view, and to the west you can see the forbidding spire ofFalketind .References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.