In recent years, the mountaineer Ivar Holdal has seen several examples of vandalism in the traps in Lofoten. During a recent hike, he and another hiker documented several examples of vandalism in the field. Some of the carvings are complex, and one of them shows an eye carved into stone on the mountain Skottinden. The hiker suspects that he must have brought with him a battery-powered angle grinder or equivalent. The incident was first mentioned in Lofotenposten this weekend. – It is simply littering, vandalism. It is environmental crime I would say. I get sad when I come up and see something like that. See more photos of the vandalism in the Lofoten mountains by swiping to the right. At the top of the mountain Steinskammen in Vestvågøy municipality, someone has chosen to immortalize the mountain’s name in the stone. By the mountain Rishamran, Holdal believes the perpetrator has misunderstood and carved in “Ristindan” instead. On one of the affected mountains there is a guard book for hikers who take the trip all the way to the top. It is incomprehensible to Holdal that people do not sign in the guard book either. – The person in question has chosen to use the angle grinder to write the name of the mountain top instead of using the book. That is not what you want to see when you get to a mountain top, he says to news. Holdal says that the latest examples fit into a long list of similar cases in Lofoten. At these peaks, locals believe similar vandalism has been done: Skolmen Ristinden Østhimmeltinden Skottinden Vetten Yttersiden Rishamran Saupstadtinden Lille Skrådalstinden Berget Nordtinden Finnkjerka Blåtinden Middagstinden Steinskammen Kleivnesset – The place is called Rishamrene, he has carved in Ristindene. If he’s been in a hurry, no, you do not know. Obviously a crime, the Norwegian Environment Agency believes the Norwegian Environment Agency has seen the pictures and read Holdal’s statements about the case. Section leader Trond Flydal at the section for legal diversity, says he likes very badly what he sees. – These are boring cases of damage and vandalism. I understand well that people do not like it when such tracks are left. It is very unfortunate if this were to spread. The Norwegian Environment Agency believes that the examples from Lofoten are obviously about offenses. Photo: Stein Roar Leite / news He further says that these may be possible violations of both the Outdoor Activities Act, the Penal Code and the protection regulations. – It is obviously a violation of the Outdoor Activities Act and the provisions on trackless traffic. – Is this a criminal offense? – As I see it, what has been done here is a criminal offense. It is a violation of the Outdoor Activities Act, but it can also be defined as damage under the Penal Code, says Flydal. This is what the Outdoor Activities Act says: The Outdoor Activities Act § 11. shall act considerately and cautiously so as not to cause harm or inconvenience to the owner, user or others, or cause harm to the environment. He is obliged to make sure that he does not leave the place in a condition that may seem disfiguring or cause harm or inconvenience to someone. The owner or user of the land has the right to dismiss people who act ruthlessly or by improper conduct expose the property or legitimate interests to damage or inconvenience. Comparing vandalism with littering Holdal compares the extensive vandalism with littering. The difference is that the chocolate paper you threw away last time can be picked up, it can not. – It is the same as when you see rubbish elsewhere in nature. It cannot be repaired unless you take an angle grinder and wipe it out. But then they have destroyed much more of the stone again, Holdal believes. Ivar Holdal pictured at Ristinden earlier this summer. Photo: Private The mountain-accustomed man has decided to report the matter to the police. She says that there is a common perception that this is not okay, something several have stated. – There is a lot of damage that has been done. When you meet such things, much of the joy of the trip is gone. It has been like this since the last ice age and why should we not preserve it like this for posterity as well? he asks.
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Mountain peaks in Lofoten rammed with angle grinder – will report vandalism in nature – news Nordland
