The view from Norway’s highest peak 2468 moh, Galdhøpiggen, is simply breathtaking. I often do this trip on Norways constitutionday 17 May. The towering giant is the tallest mountain in Norway, as well as the highest in Northern Europe. When the sky is clear, you’ll have panoramic views of the surrounding Jotunheimen mountains. This is a classic trip you can do by skiing, splitboarding or by foot. The shortest route, and the route I always go, begins at the Juvasshytta cabin. A guide is required since you’ll have to cross the Styggebreen glacier.

The Juvasshytta mountain lodge is situated on the mountain, about a 30-minute drive from the village of Lom. At 1,840 metres above sea level, the popular tourist cabin offers accommodation for tired hikers. Here, way above the treeline, the ground is solid permafrost, covered by rocks in all shapes and sizes.

Both Juvasshytta and Spiterstulen are natural starting points for hiking up Galhøpiggen. From here, you have a view of the mighty peak and the trail that snakes up through the boulders.

One of the highlights of the roughly three-hour long hike is the fascinating Styggebreen glacier. The glacier's name, composed of the words stygg and bre, means ‘ugly glacier’. The glacier itself is not ugly, though. The glacier got its name because the stygg also means ‘dangerous’ in the local dialect.

If you enter Galdhøpiggen by skiies or splitboard you can choose if you want to take them off after Styggbreen and just walk the last part by foot on the rocks, or if you want to go all the way.

The view is really stunning but be carefull of snow cornice on the top, be carefull near the edges.

Best season: May - October