Tromsdalstinden
Encyclopedia
Tromsdalstinden is a mountain east of the city Tromsø
, Norway
. The summit measures 1,238 meters (4,062 ft) above sea level. Snowfall varies from one year to another, but the peak is usually snow free only for a few months in the summer. The mountain is easily spotted from the city centre of Tromsø. The summit is a popular hike, requiring nothing more than good shoes, normal physical condition and plenty to drink.
", while the Sámi name is made up from the components Sálaš and Oaivi. The first word signifies a good hunting area, the second literally translates as "head" but when speaking of landscapes indicate a mountain that is rounded, i.e. does not have any jagged peaks.
, or from Ramfjorden. The slopes up are not technically difficult, though fog and rain can make the ascent complicated for those not familiar with the terrain. When approaching the mountain from the southeast (Ramfjorden), though, hikers and skiers must at one point move over the southwestern or northwestern (city-facing) sides of the mountain as the mountain becomes too steep. The best season for hiking is May through September. Skiers usually take the Fjellheisen
aerial tramway
to Storsteinen, and begin their ascent from there. There are two main treks, the Winter trek and the Summer trek.
Tromsø applied to host the 2014 Winter Olympics
. The proposal to the International Olympic Committee
featured plans to build an alpine skiing facility on the slopes of the mountain. This sparked immediate protests from some Sami
activists who claimed that Tromsdaltinden has been a Sami sacred mountain since ancient times. A heated debate ensued over whether Tromsdalstinden could be considered "holy" or not. The Sami Parliament
enacted a resolution declaring it a holy mountain in 2004
, and the plans were discontinued, however, the Sámi Parliament does not have any formal authority over this area. Lawyers discussed the possibility of defining a mountain as a cultural relic according to the definition of "cultural relic" in the law. Professor Siv Ellen Kraft from the department of Religious Studies
, University of Tromsø
wrote an article about how Tromsdalstind was made a holy mountain in recent times as a part of sami identity politics
The mountain was reckoned to have been sacred at one point by Sámis familiar with the region, and also bears the significant feature of a traditional sacred mountain - i.e. that it is the dominant mountain in the landscape. However, the Sámi religion
is long since dead and only survive through local vestiges and neo-shamanism
; so a good case can be made that it is no longer sacred in the traditional sense. However, the level of commitment to the preserving of the mountain shown by the Sámi - up to the point of having the Sámi parliament pronounce it sacred - quite effectively display the intense cultural significance of the mountain to modern Sámi also.
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The summit measures 1,238 meters (4,062 ft) above sea level. Snowfall varies from one year to another, but the peak is usually snow free only for a few months in the summer. The mountain is easily spotted from the city centre of Tromsø. The summit is a popular hike, requiring nothing more than good shoes, normal physical condition and plenty to drink.
Etymology
The Norwegian name Tromsdalstinden means "the peak above TromsdalenTromsdalen
Tromsdalen is a village area and valley in the municipality of Tromsø in Troms county, Norway. It is located just to the east of the city of Tromsø on the mainland along the coast of the Tromsøysundet. The population of Tromsdalen is 4,589....
", while the Sámi name is made up from the components Sálaš and Oaivi. The first word signifies a good hunting area, the second literally translates as "head" but when speaking of landscapes indicate a mountain that is rounded, i.e. does not have any jagged peaks.
Skiing and hiking
Hikers may summit Tromsdalstinden either from the suburb TromsdalenTromsdalen
Tromsdalen is a village area and valley in the municipality of Tromsø in Troms county, Norway. It is located just to the east of the city of Tromsø on the mainland along the coast of the Tromsøysundet. The population of Tromsdalen is 4,589....
, or from Ramfjorden. The slopes up are not technically difficult, though fog and rain can make the ascent complicated for those not familiar with the terrain. When approaching the mountain from the southeast (Ramfjorden), though, hikers and skiers must at one point move over the southwestern or northwestern (city-facing) sides of the mountain as the mountain becomes too steep. The best season for hiking is May through September. Skiers usually take the Fjellheisen
Fjellheisen
Fjellheisen is an aerial tramway located in the city of Tromsø, Norway.The lower station is located near sea-level in Tromsdalen, a suburb on the mainland. The upper station is located at Storsteinen , a mountain ledge about 420 m above sea-level...
aerial tramway
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
to Storsteinen, and begin their ascent from there. There are two main treks, the Winter trek and the Summer trek.
The Winter trek
A ski trip that starts on the southwest side of the mountain (on the right in the pictures) which is called Salen (the Saddle). When descending, skiers zig-zag down from the top until they reach the minor lake Tromsdalsvannet (nor.) or Moskojávri (sám.) in the innermost part of the Tromsdalen valley.The Summer trek
A hike that starts on the zig-zag trek used to descend when skiing. On the way back, hikers follow the narrow northeastern ridge of the mountain (left on the pictures). It is, of course, possible to walk the Winter trek in the summer as well.Straight up
Also, it is possible to ascend and descend from the northwest, i.e. straight up from the valley. Hikers then start at the Nerloftet (a low plateau above the Tromsdalen valley), proceed to the half-way stop Loftet (a protruding part of the mountain facing the city), and then go straight up. The names of these points mean, respectively, the Lower Attic and the Attic. This route is quite steep and thus demanding, but perfectly safe.Controversy over Sámi cultural significance
In 20032003 in Norway
-Incumbents:* Monarch - Harald V of Norway* Regent - Crown Prince Haakon - from 25 November until 12 April 2004 * Prime Minister - Kjell Magne Bondevik...
Tromsø applied to host the 2014 Winter Olympics
2014 Winter Olympics
The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially the XXII Olympic Winter Games, or the 22nd Winter Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event scheduled to be celebrated from 7 to 23 February 2014, in Sochi, Russia with some events held in the resort town of Krasnaya Polyana. Both the Olympic and...
. The proposal to the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
featured plans to build an alpine skiing facility on the slopes of the mountain. This sparked immediate protests from some Sami
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
activists who claimed that Tromsdaltinden has been a Sami sacred mountain since ancient times. A heated debate ensued over whether Tromsdalstinden could be considered "holy" or not. The Sami Parliament
Sami Parliament of Norway
The Sami Parliament of Norway is the representative body for people of Sami heritage in Norway. It acts as an institution of cultural autonomy for the indigenous Sami people....
enacted a resolution declaring it a holy mountain in 2004
2004 in Norway
-Incumbents:* Monarch - Harald V of Norway* Regent - Crown Prince Haakon - Crown Prince Haakon - from 25 November until 12 April 2004...
, and the plans were discontinued, however, the Sámi Parliament does not have any formal authority over this area. Lawyers discussed the possibility of defining a mountain as a cultural relic according to the definition of "cultural relic" in the law. Professor Siv Ellen Kraft from the department of Religious Studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
, University of Tromsø
University of Tromsø
The University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway...
wrote an article about how Tromsdalstind was made a holy mountain in recent times as a part of sami identity politics
Identity politics
Identity politics are political arguments that focus upon the self interest and perspectives of self-identified social interest groups and ways in which people's politics may be shaped by aspects of their identity through race, class, religion, sexual orientation or traditional dominance...
The mountain was reckoned to have been sacred at one point by Sámis familiar with the region, and also bears the significant feature of a traditional sacred mountain - i.e. that it is the dominant mountain in the landscape. However, the Sámi religion
Sami religion
Sámi shamanism is a Sámi neo-shamanistic or neo-paganistic religion. Though it varied considerably from region to region within Sápmi, it commonly emphasized ancestor worship and animal spirits, such as the bear cult...
is long since dead and only survive through local vestiges and neo-shamanism
Neoshamanism
Neoshamanism is a term signaling a "new" form or a revival of an old form of "shamanism", a system that comprises a range of beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spiritual world....
; so a good case can be made that it is no longer sacred in the traditional sense. However, the level of commitment to the preserving of the mountain shown by the Sámi - up to the point of having the Sámi parliament pronounce it sacred - quite effectively display the intense cultural significance of the mountain to modern Sámi also.