Gjendesheim Turisthytte has been a staffed lodge with Norwegian Mountain Touring Association

Norwegian Mountain Touring Association

The Norwegian Trekking Association 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 in this country". Today the goal is to work for simple, secure and environmentally friendly...

 (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

Gjende is a lake in the Jotunheimen mountains in Norway's Jotunheimen National Park. The proglacial lake shows typical characteristics of glacial formation, being long and narrow—in length 18 km and in breadth 1.5 km at the broadest point with steep walls...

 lake, 1000 meters above sea level by the in Vågå

Vågå

Vågå is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vågåmo....

 municipality. It is located about 2 km from Maurvangen

Maurvangen

Maurvangen is a campground by Øvre Sjodalsvatnet and a short distance from Gjendesheim. It is located about 1,000 meters above sea level and lies next to the river Sjoa which is a popular fishing area....

 off Riksvei 51.

Gjendesheim is a popular starting point for hiking over Besseggen

Besseggen

Besseggen, or Besseggi, is a mountain ridge in Vågå kommune in Oppland county. Besseggen lies east in Jotunheimen, between the lakes Gjende and Bessvatnet....

. Hikers either take one of the ferry boats to Memurubu

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, which lies at the mouth of the river Muru in the...

 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. 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
  Bessvatnet
  Bessvatnet is a lake in Vågå, Oppland, Norway. Bessvatnet is known to everyone that has hiked Besseggen, as one passes its southern end, while looking down on the green lake Gjende.-The name:...
  
  
• 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 -

External links

• Gjendesheim
• Gjende Boats
• The Norwegian Trekking Association information on Gjendesheim