Bitihorn

Bitihorn
Bitihorn
	Bitihorn in the winter from southeast.
Highest point
Elevation	1,607 m (5,272 ft)
Prominence	512 m (1,680 ft)
Coordinates	61°17′43″N 8°47′55″E
Geography
	Bitihorn Vang and Øystre Slidre, Innlandet, Norway
Parent range	Jotunheimen
Topo map	1617 IV Gjende and 1617 III Vangsmjøsi
Climbing
First ascent	1811 by Christen Smith (botanist)
Easiest route	Hike

Bitihorn (local pronunciation: [ˈbîːtɪhœdn̩]) 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.

Bitihorn seen from above and northeast.

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 harder gabbro 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, called phyllite. 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 and Olefjell.

Tourism and WW II

In 1811 the peak was climbed for the first time in recorded history by the botanist Christen Smith. Except for the expedition by Jens Esmark in 1798 this biological expedition was the first mountaineering effort in Norway. Smith also climbed the much higher Besshø, further north.

Tourism soared in the late 19th century after the erection of Raudfjordheim lodge and later the hotels Bygdin and Bygdisheim in the vicinity. The extraordinary scenery attracted tourists from far away, among them queen Wilhelmine of the Netherlands, who stayed at Bygdisheim. In 1905 the boat route on lake Bygdin (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 from Bygdin Hotel to Eidsbugarden 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 and Galdebergstind mountains dominates the view, and to the west you can see the forbidding spire of Falketind.

The name

The first element is derived from the verb bite 'bite', the last element is horn n 'horn, sharppointed mountain' - thus 'the bitten horn'.

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References

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