The mountain was previously called «Norway’s most dangerous tourist destination». “This is not an easy trail, it is a climb on the mountain. I was afraid I would not get down alive. ” wrote a tourist on Tripadvisor in 2017. Several reported the same experience. Since then, NOK 7 million has been invested in a Sherpa staircase. However, the statistics show that the mountain has not become safer. The municipality of Moskenes is now considering new measures to improve the situation. – We hope we can get a collaboration around a trail patrol, or mountain guard patrol, this summer, says mayor Lillian Rasmussen. Have you been to Reinebringen? Yes, and it was a nice trip Yes, but I think the trip was scary No, but I really want No, and I do not want to go there either Show result No change after opening Sherpa stairs According to figures from the Main Rescue Center, the last In the ten years, 22 rescue operations have been carried out at Reinebringen. Eight of these were completed after the opening of the stairs in 2019. Since 2000, four people have died – two of these in the last six months. The last fatal accident happened last week. There are warnings on the way up to Reinebringen. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news – It was quite a lot of snow and not very nice weather, but still there were a lot of people on tour, Rasmussen explains. After the accident, the national park manager and the Norwegian Environment Agency have been in contact with Moskenes municipality to establish a collaboration around a stipate roll. – I do not think we can stop anyone from going up. But that people meet someone who can tell you that you might have to turn around or have other footwear are practical measures that can help prevent it, says Rasmussen. Should be open to all Sherpa stairs makes it much easier for many to walk on the mountain. It will be more accessible. – Do the statistics indicate that it also leads to inexperienced people taking the trip? Trygve Sunde Kolderup, section leader for nature management and sustainability in DNT, says that nature should be open to everyone – and that a mountain guard service should be set up to make it safer for inexperienced mountain people. – We see that mountain guard service has been a success elsewhere. On several hiking destinations with very many visitors, you have good experiences with this. Trygve Sunde Kolderup says mountain guards can be a cheap and effective measure to reduce the risk of accidents in the mountains. Photo: Private He describes that the mountain guards can stand both at the bottom of the mountain and at the top. – It is a fairly simple and affordable facilitation measure that does not require any infrastructure. In addition, in many cases you can get a grant from the Norwegian Environment Agency through the scheme «National tourist trails». – What do you think about the fact that Sherpa stairs can make demanding trips too easily accessible for inexperienced mountain people? – It is an important discussion. However, we do not have much experience with Sherpa stairs in Norwegian mountains. It is important that we provide good and sufficient information, so that people can decide whether the trip suits their own skill level. The view of Reinebringen is nothing to speak of, but the trip up is described by many as demanding. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news He adds: – In many cases, Sherpa stairs are also a good way to direct traffic in the right place and enable destinations to handle many visitors. Should avoid closure According to Ole-Jakob Kvalshaug, national park manager in Lofotodden National Park, there are around 90-100,000 visitors to Reinebringen every year. It has been discussed whether closing Reinebringen can be a solution in periods where the weather is worse – which also happened in periods before the Sherpa stairs opened. Kvalshaug points out that it must be possible to get other solutions. – There is no legislation that allows you to close a destination. I think it is possible to solve this in another way. Ole-Jakob Kvalshaug helps Moskenes municipality to look at any measures that can reduce the risk on Reinebringen. Photo: Benjamin Fredriksen / news He excludes guiding as too exclusive due to the visitor numbers, but points to other and simpler offers. – More information and presence. Hosts or patrols that come with and can give advice to people who, for example, are not properly dressed. Mayor Lillian Rasmussen says the Sherpa stairs of course make the mountain more accessible, but that the mountains in Lofoten do not become less steep and steep for that reason. It’s not just Reinebringen that is steep. Most mountains in Lofoten are demanding. This picture is from Festvågtinden. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news The work of making it safer continues, among other things, the presidency will discuss how one of the flags on one side of the top can make it safer. – But even if we inform both once and three times, we are dependent on people receiving the information – and caring about it, says Rasmussen and concludes: – We must try to find good solutions, we have no one to lose.
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Two fatal accidents in six months at Reinebringen – Moskenes looking for solutions – news Nordland
