Snøhetta

Infobox Mountain
Name = Snøhetta
Photo = Snohetta.jpg
Caption = Snøhetta. From the left, the peaks are Vesttoppen, Hettpiggen, Midttoppen and then Stortoppen (highest) to the right.
Elevation = convert|2286|m|ft|0|lk=on
Location = Dovre, Oppland, NOR
Range = Dovrefjell
Prominence = convert|1675|m|ft|0|abbr=on [ [http://www.ii.uib.no/~petter/mountains/scandinavia_finest.html Top 100 Mountains in Scandinavia ranked by primary factor ] ]
Coordinates = coord|62|19|12|N|9|16|6|E|type:mountain_region:NO|display=inline,title
First ascent = 1798, Jens Esmark
Topographic

Listing = Ultra, 3 at List of peaks in Norway by prominence, 24 at List of mountains in Norway by height

Snøhetta is the highest mountain in the mountain range of Dovrefjell, and the highest mountain in Norway outside of the Jotunheimen range, making it the 24th highest peak in Norway, based on a 30 metre topographic prominence cutoff. It also has Norways third largest primary factor.The mountain is inside Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park.

The mountain has several peaks [ [http://www.poppe-oldervoll.net/klatre/fjell2200.html Fjell i Norge over 2200moh ] ] :
* Stortoppen, the highest summit, 2,286 meters.
* Midttoppen, 2,278 meters, prominence 35 m
* Hettpiggen, 2,261 meters, prominence 50 m
* Vesttoppen, 2,253 meters, prominence 70 m

Vesttoppen and Stortoppen are easily available by hiking or skiing, and from Stortoppen Midttoppen is easily accessible. Traversing Midttoppen, via Hettpiggen and to Vesttoppen requires climbing with a rope.

On Stortoppen there is a radio link station, originally installed by the Norwegian Army, and now serving primarily civilian purposes. The station and its emergency diesel generator, as well as a nearby helipad, detract somewhat from the aesthetics of the summit. For this reason, many recommend Vesttoppen as a better destination.

A small moument for the Norwegian philosopher, humourist, author and mountaineer Peter Wessel Zapffe is located near the summit of Vesttoppen.

Under good conditions in both summer and winter, the ascent is relatively easy. Common starting points are the DNT-cabins Reinheim, Snøheim, or Åmotdalshytta.

External links

* [http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~berland/fjell/?fjell=snohetta Annotated photo-panoramas]
* [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/%5Cpanoramas%5CNOR%5CSnohetta-D--N.gifVirtual panorama from the summit, north]
* [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/%5Cpanoramas%5CNOR%5CSnohetta-D-S.gifVirtual panorama from the summit, south]

References

Guidebook

* A. Dyer et al "Walks and Scrambles in Norway", ISBN 1-904466-25-7.